Welcome to the BSA Medical Sociology Group 45th Annual Conference 2013

The BSA Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference is always an essential networking event for Medical Sociology academics and professionals. The group celebrates its 45th Anniversary conference in 2013 and interest in the field of Medical Sociology continues to increase. The conference programme includes research papers from all areas of study within the field of medicine, health and illness.  As always, high profile plenary speakers have been selected for the 2013 conference:

• Professor Catherine Pope, University of Southampton
• Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley, University of Edinburgh

**ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE BSA MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY GROUP**
The BSA Medical Sociology Group has received an unprecedented number of abstracts for its 2013 Annual Conference in York (almost double the number received in previous years!). The committee would like to thank everyone for their interest.

The programme group judge all abstracts on key criteria (relevance to medical sociology, clarity, rigour and the potential to promote discussion).

Approximately two thirds of abstracts will be offered a slot for oral presentation in the first instance. Based on previous experience, we anticipate that a proportion of people on the reserve list will be offered slots in due course. Additional ways in which we will be optimising both the number of delegates and the quality of the programme include:

• Increasing the number of poster presentation slots offered, having a dedicated poster session with a wine reception and offering prizes for best and most innovative posters 
• Increasing the size of the reserve list for oral presentations
• Adding an additional early morning session with an 8.30am start on the middle day of the conference

We are planning to solicit feedback from delegates on the potential to expand the conference in future years, should this level of interest be sustained (for example, extending it to 2½ days).

Abstract decision letters will be emailed to authors by 10 June 2013.

A broad and varied programme including symposia, poster presentations and social events ensures we continue to host the leading UK event for medical sociologists.  The conference will take place at the University of York, from 11-13 September 2013. 

Contact Information

BSA Events Team

Email: events@britsoc.org.uk

Tel: 0191 383 0839

Fax:  0191 383 0782