Yvonne Senior bids a fond farewell and looks to new horizons in aesthetics

The Private Independent Aesthetic Practices Association (PIAPA) has been a part of my life for 15 years now, from the very first time a small group of nurses met in South Yorkshire armed with cups of tea and coffee ready to discuss aesthetic practice. Back then I remember still feeling bewildered, estranged and under a lot of pressure to support a young family after leaving a managerial role in the NHS to enter into aesthetics. Those emotions were equally matched by ones of passion, drive and a thirst for learning. I was so lucky to meet some fellow nurses who, just like me, were looking for greater recognition for our role in aesthetics. We looked to establish the best practice we were accustomed to in our previous healthcare settings by seeking out education, arranging clinical supervision, creating protocols, sharing resources and generally encouraging each other.

The Journal of Aesthetic Nursing has been a part of my long journey and today I publish my resignation as Chair of PIAPA. I do this with some sadness but mostly great pride of an association which has grown in number and spirit over the years. The association started when the number of nurses in aesthetics was just a fraction of what it is today, and accessing the same educational opportunities as doctors and surgeons was not easily achieved—particularly in the north of the UK. Since then, we have grown in number and nature as we expanded to allow membership to other medical professionals, and I am honoured to have led a group of practitioners who above all have shown integrity, heart and professionalism in a difficult and conflicted area of medicine.