Cyberchondria is a phenomenon where a person, concerned he/she is suffering from certain symptoms, constantly turns to the internet to find out what is wrong with them - frequently diagnosing themselves with a worst-case scenario condition. This condition, more common among women, is ‘escalation from looking at a base symptom to a very serious condition, just by looking up information online, according to Mary Aiken.

According to a recent study, nearly half (46%) of Irish people use the internet for a medical diagnosis instead of visiting their GP . Aiken warns us that some of these individuals can go as far as to order medication via the web and take ‘excessive doses of the wrong medication for a condition that they did not have. So is there a safe way we can seek information on health issues on the internet?

Self-diagnosis, although discouraged by medics, can empower people who will feel they are taking control of their own health issues. However, Kate Kelly warns that those who look online for health solutions should exercise caution. She asks, ‘Why is the website being provided - is it educational or selling a product... Just because a website is popular doesnt make it a good site. Kelly says there are a handful of websites where one could find reliable information which is ‘content rich, youre able to look up conditions alphabetically and you have a lot of resources. Kate Kellys lecture, entitled "Finding health information on the Internet: the consumer approach" will precede Mary Aikens talk, "Cyberchondria: the Internet and Self-diagnosis".

The RCSI MiniMed Open Lecture Series is free of charge; however registration is essential in order to guarantee a place. Register online at www.rcsi.ie/minimed

The ‘RCSI Innovations expo will run from 2 pm to 5 pm and will feature demonstrations from leading experts from our Schools of Pharmacy and Physiotherapy; as well as from the Departments of Surgery, Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Physics, Cancer Genetics, MCT and the Clinical Research Centre.

‘RCSI Innovations will be educational for both adults and students who are interested in science, health, medicine and research. Attendees will be able to witness the simulation of surgical procedures, learn about the use of the Nintendo Wii Fit for rehabilitation, learn about nanomedicines, cardiovascular disease and craniofacial geometry to name just a few.

The RCSI Innovations exhibition is part of the Dublin City of Science 2012 Festival which is a year long celebration of science that brings together a community of cultural institutions, organisations and individuals to showcase the best of Irish culture, arts and science.

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RCSI Dubai Conferring Ceremony

RCSI-Dubai has seen the number of students graduating increase from 29 in 2011 to 49 in 2012 and this figure is expected to reach 70 students in 2013, a 141% increase over a two-year period.

Around 90% of students are female and the number of Emirati females graduating has risen almost threefold in 2012. These accredited, postgraduate degrees issued by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Institute of Leadership in Dubai put the new graduates in a prime position to help shape the regions healthcare sector.

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein & Professor Paddy Broe, RCSI President

RCSI is a not-for-profit global healthcare education organisation founded in 1784. The RCSI Institute of Leadership began operations in Dubai in 2006 and it is continuing to grow, with an increasing number of students graduating every year. This years graduation brings the number of health professionals who have graduated from the Institute in Dubai to around 350.

Professor Ciaran OBoyle, Director of the RCSI Institute of Leadership said, "We are delighted to see such a substantial increase in the number of students graduating from our programmes. The fact that 70% of our new students come from referrals is testament to the quality of the development our students receive and to the excellence of our administration team and faculty. We are especially proud of the fact that the vast majority of our graduates have achieved promotion in their jobs as a result of our programmes.

Mr Seamus OBoyle Director of RCSI Dubai added, ‘Our graduates report that they are now better leaders and managers and are more effective in making decisions and solving problems. They are also more aware of the importance of quality in healthcare, making them better equipped to spearhead the regions burgeoning healthcare industry."

RSCI-Dubai Alumni include, Dr. Ahmad Bin Kalban (CEO, Primary Healthcare Service Sector, DHA), Dr. Mohammad Al Redha, (Head of eHealth - DHA), IbtesamBastaki (Head of Health Section, Prime Ministers Office), Hayder Mohammed Khalaf Al Zubaidy (CEO Canadian Speciality hospital), Adele Smiddy (Chairperson, Irish Business Network Dubai), Diana Grobler (Director of Nursing, Welcare Hospital).

This years committee, headed by the president of the society, Helen Zidon (3rd Med) and Vice presidents, Scott Moses and Wendy Evans (2nd Med), decided to change the theme of the event to highlight the diverse cultural population of the college.



Chocolate Ball - The International Fashion Show was a chocolate-filled night displaying fashion and national costumes from Malaysia, S.E. Asia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, the UK, contemporary fashion and most especially the Caribbean and Africa.



This was accompanied by performances by the Dance Society, the Music Society and an awareness presentation by the Friends of MSF (Medecins Sans Frontier) of the college.



The event raised over €4000 for the AID AFRICA charity.


Corriena Brien (Student Services) and Anna McNicholl (daughter of Liz McNicholl, Estates) tuck into some of the chocolate at the Chocolate Ball.

Commenting on the event, Corriena Brien, Student Services Manager commended all the students involved especially the CAS committee - Helen Zidon, Scott Moses and Wendy Evans. She went on to add ‘the organising committee put countless of planning and organising into the show and it certainly paid off on the night. This was one of the best Chocolate Balls in recent years and the catwalk fashions were the best treat of all.

The Centre for Primary Care Research has developed a suite of decision-support tools, that could be rolled out to physicians in Ireland and abroad, which will help diagnosis and prescribing in primary care.

The research, whose principal investigator is Prof Tom Fahey, Department of General Practice, RCSI, led to the establishment of the Irish Primary Care Research Network. This network seeks to assess and provide comparative clinical data that enable health professionals to enhance the quality of care they provide to their patients.

On the publication of the 2012 Picture of Health report, Enda Connolly, Chief Executive at the HRB, said:
‘The governments continued investment in research must be recognised as a vital step to encourage innovation and help reinvigorate the economy. Researchers must see this investment as a vote of confidence in their ability to deliver change and embrace the opportunity to continue to demonstrate that the work that they do has real impact.
In the past few years, the HRB has taken a strategic decision to focus our funding on research that has a positive impact on peoples health, patient care and the health service. The outcomes highlighted in this report show the difference our funded researchers are making in these areas.

Pictured (l-r) are Mr. Declan Magee, Vice-President, RCSI; Mr. Ruairi Mac Niocaill; recipient of the Sir Walter Mercer Medal; Professor Patrick Broe, President, RCSI; Mr. Keith Synnott, RCSI Council Member and previous recipient of the Sir Walter Mercer Medal.

These included Fellowships of RCSI in Cardiothoracic, General Surgery; Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery; Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery); Paediatric Surgery; Plastic Surgery; Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery; and Urology. Fellowships of RCSI Ad Eundem were awarded to Mr. Marcus Choo and Mr. Arkan Sam Sayed-Noor.

Pictured (l-r) are Professor Marie Carney; Professor Seamus Cowman; Dr. Maura Pidgeon, Fellowship of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ad Eundem; Ms. Edna Woolhead, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery; Dr. Michael Shannon, Fellowship of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ad Eundem; and Ms. Mary Jacob.

The Sir Walter Mercer Medal was awarded to Mr. Ruairi MacNiocaill at the ceremony for his outstanding performance in the November Intercollegiate Specialty Exam in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery. He is the second Irish Orthopaedic Trainee to win this medal since it was established in 1991, the first being Mr. Keith Synnott, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and RCSI Council Member, who received the medal in 2001.

Pictured are recipients of Fellowships of the Faculty of Radiologists with the Dean of Faculty of Radiologists: (l-r) Dr. Kevin Murphy; Dr. Michael Breen; Dr Barry Kelly, Dean, Faculty of Radiologists; and Dr. Siobhan Hoare.

Other awards conferred at the ceremony included Memberships of RCSI including Ophthalmology and Diplomas in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Ms. Claragh Healy was awarded with the RCSI Surgical Travel Grant 2012.

Pictured (l-r) are Professor Eilis McGovern, immediate Past-President, RCSI and Ms. Sarah Early, Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Fellowships of the Faculty of Radiologists (Radiodiagnosis) as well as Memberships and Fellowships of the Faculty of Dentistry were also conferred. Fellowships of the Faculty of Dentistry Ad Eundem were awarded to Dr. Ebrahim Al-Awadhi, Dr. Ahed Al-Wahadni and Dr. Patrick Palacci.

Pictured (l-r) are Dr Patrick Palacci, Fellowship of the Faculty of Dentistry Ad Eundem; Professor Gerard Kearns, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry; Dr. Una Lally, Fellowship of the Faculty of Dentistry (Prosthodontics); and Dr. Damien Broderick, Fellowship of the Faculty of Dentistry (Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine)

Fellowships of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Ad Eundem were awarded to Dr. Maura Pidgeon and Dr. Michael Shannon.

Pictured (l-r) are Mr Tze Kong, Fellowship in Plastic Surgery; Professor Patrick Broe, President, RCSI; and Mr. Gary Lim, Fellowship in General Surgery

Addressing the candidates at the conferring ceremony, Professor Patrick Broe, President of RCSI said "Congratulations to you all on your achievements and on reaching this important and exciting stage in your careers. For some of you this is a milestone that places you securely on a further training ladder; for others amongst you - the majority - it is a statement that you have completed a comprehensive training programme and a rigorous assessment process and that you now possess the necessary qualifications required to practice as a specialist."

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Annual Meeting for UAE (United Arab Emirates) Alumni took place on Tuesday, 26th November 2012 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Dubai. The event, entitled Social Responsibility: A Noble Cause, highlighted RCSIs worldwide social responsibility efforts.


Pictured addressing the Annual Meeting for UAE Alumni was Prof Patrick Broe

The event was attended by RCSI Alumni along with special guests from across the United Arab Emirates. They were joined by the Guest of Honour, Irish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Mr. Ciaran Madden and President of RCSI, Professor Patrick Broe. On the night Mr. Madden was presented with the Golden Traditional Coffee Pot, by Dr. Mohammad Al Redha, in recognition of his support of RCSI Alumni.


Cathal Kelly, CEO / Registrar, RCSI, speaks at the meeting

Dr. Mohammad Al Redha, President of RCSIs UAE Alumni Committee, delivered the opening address and spoke on the strategic objectives of the committee. Speaking about the theme of the event, Magi Livadaris, RCSI UAE Alumni Committee, said ‘It is hard for corporations to maintain a balance between economy and ecosystem. It takes resilience and determination. The UAE should be proud of all they have accomplished and prepared for all that is still to do.


Pictured at the Annual Meeting for UAE Alumni is Prof Tom Collins, President of RCSI Bahrain.

Also present at the event were guests from three organizations that, against the backdrop of the on-going financial crisis, have not only led the social responsibility efforts in the UAE but helped shape them. These VIP guests included His Excellency Mr. Mirza Al Sayegh, Member of the Board of Trustees, Al Maktoum Foundation; Khalid Al Halyan, Chairman of the Al Noor Training Center for Children with Special Needs; and Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares. The Alumni thanked each of the three organizations at the event for their valuable contributions to social responsibility in Dubai and in the UAE. The RCSI UAE Alumni Committee was also delighted to welcome Marwan Abedin, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City to the event.

President of RCSI, Professor Patrick Broe spoke on the topic of RCSI Community Engagement while Director of the Institute of Leadership, Professor Ciaran OBoyle delivered a speech on Corporate Social Responsibility. Other speakers included the President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Tom Collins (who spoke about Higher Education and Community Engagement) and Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO / Registrar (who gave a talk called 228 Years of Leadership in Healthcare Education: Growth & Excellence RCSI: Medical Education for Tomorrows World.

"This is an important step towards the integration of different disciplines that increasingly share common goals," said Dr. Daniel Kelly, Director of the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering. "Biomedical engineering in the three Institutions has already attracted a large number of outstanding academics from Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Natural Sciences and Dental Sciences who all share the objective of translating creative ideas into new clinical diagnostics, devices and therapeutics that will transform patient care."

The new Dublin Biomedical Engineering Research Initiative will intersect broad areas of research and focus on new approaches to disease identification, simulation, clinical testing together with the development of new interventions and the discovery of new therapies.

Professor Fergal OBrien, Head of the Bone and Tissue Engineering Research Group at RCSI, sees the Dublin Biomedical Engineering Research Initiative as a leader in designing next-generation therapies and devices.

"The next giant leap in patient care is going to happen through the joint efforts of engineering, life sciences, medicine and pharmacy specialists, applying their expertise to expand approaches for preventing, diagnosing and treating disease and injury," said Prof. OBrien. "Even though this formalised effort is still in its formative stage, were already seeing exciting results from these collaborations that will have a profound impact on patient care."

The Dublin Biomedical Engineering Research Initiative aligns with award winning educational programmes offered by the three institutes. The M.Sc. in Bioengineering programme received two awards in 2012, the Engineers Ireland Excellence in Education Award & the GradIreland Best Postgraduate Course of the Year 2012 in Engineering. These awards recognise the scale and diversity that the course delivers in terms of the student experience, its contribution to the Irish economy and making an impact on global healthcare challenges.

"With our top-ranked engineering and medical schools and our close ties to the countrys strong life sciences and technology industries, the Dublin Biomedical Engineering Research Initiative is uniquely positioned to make a significant contribution to the advancement of technologies to improve medicine and save lives," said Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO and Registrar of RCSI.

The levels of collaborative engagement required within the biomedical engineering field are typified by the activities within and between the DRERI partners that have existed over several decades. By generating a platform for formal engagement, the initiative will see significant gains in the collective ability to introduce innovative applications of engineering into the clinical domain, and the establishment of successful spin-out companies, such as BiancaMed that originated from research in Biomedical Engineering in UCD, giving the medical device sector significant impetus in the region.

"Putting the existing levels of collaborative activity onto a formal footing through this initiative enhances the capacity for further research and education programme delivery relating to the design and development of medical devices, diagnostics and therapies in the fields of orthopaedic, cardiovascular, rehabilitation and neural engineering." said Professor David FitzPatrick, Director of the UCD Bioengineering Research Centre.

The Technology Transfer Offices across the three founding institutions have helped to license and spin off knowledge, technology and developments to medical device companies based in Ireland. Two patented technologies from Prof. OBriens laboratory in RCSI for bone and cartilage repair are being commercialised through a spin-out campus company, SurgaColl Technologies. Patented technologies related to novel vascular stents from Dr. Kellys laboratory were licensed to another spin-out company, Synergy Flow.

The ability to combine complementary skills across institutions to translate research outcomes facilitates the process of commercialising the Institutions innovations. "DBERI has the capability to identify medical needs, conceive solutions, prototype innovative devices and then link with development partners to move healthcare products from university to patient as quickly as possible", said Dr Gordon Elliott of the Technology Transfer Office in Trinity College.

Among the examples of ongoing Biomedical Engineering projects that have recently received funding across the institutes include:

• Spinal disc repair - Dr Conor Buckley (TCD) is developing an injectable microparticle biomaterial product that can be delivered to a degenerated disc using minimally invasive techniques. The product will potentially stimulate repair and regeneration of the disc by utilising a patients own cells.

• Heart valve repair - Currently the standard treatment for mitral valve disease is open heart surgery; however the mortality rate during the surgical procedure for patients over 75 is approximately 25%. Dr Bruce Murphy (TCD) is developing a minimally invasive mitral valve replacement device.

• Hypertension - Dr Bruce Murphy (TCD) is leading a project to develop a second generation renal denervation catheter. The project goal is to produce a catheter that will reduce the arterial wall injury that is associated with current thermal renal denervation systems.

• Corneal repair - Prof. Fergal OBrien (RCSI), in collaboration with colleagues in the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology in DCU and the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital is developing scaffold-based systems for the regeneration damaged cornea in the eye. This is funded by an SFI TIDA and the 3U Partnership - a recently launched initiative between DCU, NUI Maynooth and RCSI.

• Cardiac regeneration - Dr. Garry Duffy (RCSI) is leading a project supported by Enterprise Ireland which aims to develop a bio-therapeutic loaded patch and surgical delivery system to treat heart failure by augmenting the hearts inherent healing capacity.

• Hearing loss and Cochlear Implants - Prof. Richard Reilly (TCD) is developing new objective methods to assess speech perception in Cochlear Implant users. The basis here is to record electrophysiological information from users to provide patient specific tuning of cochlear implants.

• Deep Brain Stimulation: Deep brain stimulation is an effective therapy for treating motor disorders including Parkinsons disease. Dr. Madeleine Lowery (UCD) and her research group are developing computational models to understand the mechanisms by which DBS works and identify effective stimulation protocols.

The Dublin Biomedical Engineering Research Initiative will allow the best students from Ireland and abroad to obtain joint MSc and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering. To train future healthcare technologists, the Initiative will look to further integrate engineering and medical courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as delivering short courses relevant to industry and the continuing professional development of medical device professionals. Seminars and a "Distinguished Lecture Series" will also explore topics related to regenerative medicine, neural engineering, medical devices and instrumentation, and a wide range of other areas.

Welcoming Dr Loves appointment Mr Lynch said, "The Board of MMI is confident that Dr Loves specialist expertise and experience will help MMI to build on existing collaborative programmes to increase Irelands capacity in clinical and translational research and benefit healthcare and the economy. We view Dr Love as an outstanding appointment in view of his academic qualification in clinical pharmacology and his distinguished career in Accenture and Science Foundation Ireland which has become a mainstream state agency despite its short history and the uniquely challenging times for the public exchequer".

Dr Graham Love said, "I look forward to driving the clinical & translational research agenda at the heart of MMI. Bridging research and improved health outcomes via its partner institutions and teaching hospitals is a great opportunity for Ireland."

Dr Love is currently Director of Policy and Communications incorporating Discover, Science & Engineering at Science Foundation Ireland. He has held a number of senior management roles at SFI including Interim Director General, Special Advisor to the Director General, Head of Strategy and Programme Implementation.

Dr Love graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology from University College Dublin followed by a PhD in Vascular Cell Biology in 1997. He joined the management consulting firm, Accenture, where he worked with multinational clients across Europe before joining SFI in 2007.

Further information on Molecular Medicine Ireland
The mission of Molecular Medicine Ireland is to mobilise the strengths of the five partner institutions - National University of Ireland Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Cork, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin and their associated academic hospitals - to build a national system to coordinate, support and promote translational and clinical research that will facilitate the translation of advances in science into better health outcomes for patients.

Since its establishment in 2002, and working with its partner academic institutions, public bodies, funders and industry, MMI has successfully developed and delivered collaborative programmes in clinical and translation research and education and training. These have included:
• The MMI co-ordinated Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme and the Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Programme both funded by the Governments Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions;
• The support, advice and training provided by the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network with the central objective of creating a harmonised and co-ordinated clinical research infrastructure in Ireland; and
• The Wellcome Trust/Health Research Board Dublin Centre for Clinical Research, a city-wide clinical research network involving the RCSI Clinical Research Centre at Beaumont Hospital, the UCD Clinical Research Centre at Mater Misericordae and St. Vincents University Hospitals, and the new clinical research facility at St. Jamess Hospital currently under construction and due to open in Spring 2013.

More than 400 students from second-level schools throughout Ireland got a taste for life as a medical, pharmacy and physiotherapy student today at the annual Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Open Day.


Pictured are Aisling Molloy and Eleanor Kirwan from Our Ladys College, Drogheda, Co Louth standing in front of x-rays at the Radiology stand at the RCSI Open Day.

During the day-long event, Leaving Certificate and A Level students got the opportunity to meet with RCSI staff, students and graduates, to give them an idea of what it is like to study medicine, pharmacy and physiotherapy and take up careers in these areas. A series of talks were held on the range of courses available at RCSI and how to apply to RCSI through the CAO system. An exhibition was hosted by faculties and staff, who were on hand to answer any questions the students had.


Pictured is Alanah Quinsey, from Loreto College, Dublin, keeping an eye on the medical models at the Open Day


Pictured is Rosemary Salaja, from Athlone, sharing a tune with a skeleton at the Open Day

Information was provided on the wide choice of clubs and societies available in RCSI as well as information on student accommodation, library and sports facilities. Other highlights of the day included a student panel discussion, whereby current students gave their perspectives on studying at RCSI. Students also heard about the experiences of junior doctors, who have recently graduated from RCSI.


Pictured at the RCSI Open Day is Simon Vuong of Moyle Park College, Clondalkin being supervised by Dr. Doireann Joyce, Surgical Registrar in Beaumont Hospital, using a surgical simulator.

Philip Curtis, Head of Admissions at RCSI said "The annual Open Day provides second level students with a great opportunity to get a sense of life, both academic and social at RCSI. With talks from staff, current students and graduates, students are able to get a real sense of what life as a medical, physiotherapy or pharmacy student is really like."


Pictured are Sarah Keegan, Institute of Education; Conall Mooney, St Aidans College, Griffith Ave; and Emma Thompson, Institute of Education; after watching a 3D medical video at the Anatomy stand at the RCSI Open Day.

The students were addressed and welcomed by Professor Kevin Nolan, Head of School of Postgraduate Studies, RCSI and were than given an induction to the MIPS course by the programme director, Dr. Zeibun Ramtoola.


Pictured (l-r) at the MSc Industrial Pharmaceutical Science induction day are Lydia Fennessy, Melanie Lynch, Suzanne Culleton and Dr James Barlow, School Pharmacy, RCSI.

The Pharmaceutical Industry is a key sector in the Irish and European Economy and accounts for over 50% of Irelands exports. In Ireland, the sector employs over 25000 people directly. The sustainability of this sector relies on the on-going availability of a talented pool of Pharmaceutical Scientists with the necessary tertiary educational formation, skill-set and professional experience to undertake the various key roles within pharmaceutical manufacture and regulation. This course meets the educational requirements for ‘Qualified Person status, a role specified in European Union legislation and unique to European Pharmaceutical Manufacture.


Pictured is the MSc Industrial Pharmaceutical Science group at their induction day at RCSI.

The MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Science course is run over two years, primarily online, and is suitable for candidates wishing to undergo further training and improve their knowledge of and gain further skills in the pharmaceutical sciences. The course, jointly offered between RCSI and the School of Science at the Institute of Technology Sligo, was launched in response to the needs of the pharmaceutical healthcare sector in Ireland. In recent years, the course has attracted students from outside Ireland including UK, Europe, Africa and Australia.


Pictured (l-r) at the MSc Industrial Pharmaceutical Science induction day are Ross Gallagher, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI; Fiona Duffy, Dr. Fiona OBrien, MIPS Programme Director of Studies; and Sinead Kiernan.

The second Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) Open Day took place at Connolly Hospital on Saturday 12th January 2013. A total of 60 potential GEP students, from a diverse range of academic backgrounds, attended the Open Day. The format of the day was based around small group interactive sessions which provided participants with the opportunity to experience ‘a day in the life of an RCSI GEP Student. The theme for the day was diabetes.


Pictured (l-r) are Dr Asiya Suleiman, GEP Clinical Tutor; Prof Seamus Sreenan, Director of GEP & Consultant Endocrinologist at Connolly Hospital; with current RCSI GEP students.

The event was opened by Professor Seamus Sreenan, Director of GEP, who welcomed the attendees and provided an overview of RCSI. This was followed by a series of short talks about the GEP programme, RCSI facilities, the structure and style of the curriculum, details of the CAO application process, GAMSAT and bank loan facilities presented by Prof. Sreenan and Céleste Golden, EU Admissions Officer, RCSI.

Prof. Sreenan, a Consultant Endocrinologist at Connolly Hospital, introduced a diabetes patient to the attendees in the style of the ‘case of the week; a weekly clinical case presented each Monday during the first two years of the programme which informs the teaching for the week. The case was followed by a series of small group interactive sessions.


GEP participants were introduced to basic clinical skills relevant to diabetes.

Dr. Wan Mahmood and Nurse Eithne Kavanagh introduced the prospective students to Diagnostic Investigations, which provided an introduction to basic clinical skills with an emphasis on endocrinology. Other break-out sessions included an introduction to how the RCSI Virtual Learning Environment Moodle supports learning in the programme, delivered by Eric Clarke, Lecturer in Health Informatics at RCSI and a session focusing on the importance of good communication skills to clinical practice, given by Dr. Asiya Suleiman, GEP Clinical Tutor and RCSI Graduate. Attendees also met current GEP students for to hear their experiences of the programme. Dr. Martin Rourke, (RCSI GEP Graduate) presented and discussed the transition from Medical Student to Internship. The Open Day concluded with a question and answer session.

Speaking about the GEP Open Day, Céleste Golden said, ‘Open Days are important showpiece events for RCSI and no doubt result in many students deciding that medicine and more specifically, RCSI GEP is for them. GEP Open Days undoubtedly contribute to the success of the programme which was recognised in 2010 by accreditation by the Irish Medical Council.

The GEP Open Day evaluation was very positive with some feedback comments below:

"Thanks for a great day, it was fantastically organised and incredibly informative. I am crossing all fingers and toes that I get offered a place in RCSI in August. It would be a dream come true. Its so refreshing to see a medical programme that is focused on patient needs, communication and clinical practice from such an early stage.

Thanks so much for today I found it particularly enlightening and comprehensive.

I found this day very useful. I thought it gave a good flavor of what all aspects of the four year programme contains from teaching methods and facilities to the practicalities of student life.

Well organized, well timed, excellent interaction.

Really helpful all were very enthusiastic and welcoming.

Very organized, well presented. I thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Brilliant! Cleared up a lot of burning questions.

Great day good to speak to current students.

Intern speaker was very good and helped understand whats involved."

As part of the programme, students will witness a live operation, attend interactive lectures, gain hands-on training in clinical skills as well as practical experience in medicine and scientific tutorials. Topics covered include human anatomy, cardiology, psychiatry, trauma and orthopaedics.


Pictured is Bryan Horan, Transition Year student from Kylemore College, Ballyfermot; with a model ear at the first day of the TY programme.

Leading medical professionals from RCSI and Beaumont Hospital will deliver the programme, including Professor Marie Cassidy, State Pathologist and Head of Forensic Medicine, RCSI who will give a lecture on Forensic Medicine.


Pictured is Tawfiq Cali, Transition Year, Firhouse Community College; practicing key hole surgery in the Surgical Skils lab.

Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI said "The TY Mini-Med programme is a great opportunity for students to experience what it is like to train as a medical professional. This is the 6th year of the programme and demand for the programme outweighs the number of places available. Students will have an opportunity to use innovative technology and learn from some of Irelands top healthcare professionals from RCSI and Beaumont Hospital, giving them an excellent insight into careers in medicine, science and research. Thanks to the School of Postgraduate Studies for organising the programme and to the staff involved for enabling this exciting opportunity".

Study published in ‘Cancer Research

Scientists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Beaumont Hospital have developed a new method of predicting which patients with bowel (colorectal) cancer will respond effectively to chemotherapy. The results of this study are published in the current issue of the prestigious Cancer Research journal.

The discovery could, in the future, help identify individuals who will not respond to chemotherapy, before they commence treatment, and may therefore require additional therapies. The new tool measures the amount of drug required for a cancer cell to die without harming healthy tissue. This prediction tool may also be used in clinical trails to develop new drugs to treat bowel cancer.

Commenting on the results, lead researcher, Professor Jochen Prehn, Director of the Centre for Systems Medicine at RCSI said: "Our study has enabled us to predict which patients are likely to be resistant to chemotherapy by examining how certain proteins in their cancer cells interact. We hope that the clinical decision-making tool that we have designed will enable doctors to develop personalised therapies for patients to ensure the best outcomes and potentially avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy and the negative side effects that go with it."

Professor Jochen Prehn, Director of the Centre for Systems Medicine at RCSI

Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells by bringing on a process of programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. However, sometimes mutations in cancer cells alter the levels of certain proteins and prevent this process of cell death occurring which results in chemotherapy being ineffective in some individuals with bowel cancer. In other patients, mutations in cancer cells have the opposite effect and promote the destruction of the cancer cells.

"The prediction tool also has the potential to be used in clinical trials so that new drugs can be developed for bowel cancer patients who are resistant to chemotherapy. The model we developed in this study could eventually be applied in other cancers." Professor Prehn concluded.

The first author on the study is Andreas Linder, a PhD researcher who carried out the research with Professor Prehn and RCSI colleagues (Dr. Caoimhin Concannon, Dr. Gerhardt Boukes, Dr. Suzanne Hector, Dr. Heinrich Huber) in collaboration with clinicians (Deborah Ryan, Mary Cannon, Karen Boland, Ms. Deborah McNamara, Professor Elaine Kay, Prof Frank Murray) and research nurse Joan Kehoe at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and collaborators at St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (Dr Fabien Llambi and Professor Douglas Green).

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Ireland. In 2009, 2,271 people were diagnosed with the disease. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland. ⁽¹⁾

The research was funded by grants from the Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland, European Union FP7 and a Higher Education Authority PRTLI Cycle 4- Clinician Scientist Fellowship Award.

(1) Source: Irish Cancer Society

Prof Clive Lee welcomed as new Society President

The 80th Biological Society Meeting was held on Friday 25th January in the Albert Lecture Theatre at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). The Biological Society is the oldest student society in RCSI and this annual event was organised by the Biological Society Committee with assistance from the Student Services team.

Pictured at the RCSI 80th Biological Society Meeting (far right) is Mr Tom Doorley with members of the Biological Society

The keynote speaker at the event was RTEs The Restaurant resident critic, Mr Tom Doorley. Mr Doorley, also a columnist with the Irish Daily Mail, marketing consultant and copywriter, addressed the audience with a talk entitled ‘Balance in which he spoke about the importance of balance in lifestyle and diet.


Pictured at the RCSI 80th Biological Society Meeting is the winner of the Dr Arthur Stephen ffrench-OCarroll Medal, David Hakim (centre) with Stephanie & Paul ffrench-OCarroll.

In the absence of outgoing President of the Biological Society, Mr Harold Browne, Professor Mary Leader, Department of Pathology, RCSI stood in to give the opening address in which she highlighted Mr Brownes contribution to the Biological Society over the past year, and his contribution to the college over the last sixty years.


The RCSI 80th Biological Society Meeting

Incoming President of the Biological Society, Professor Clive Lee spoke on The Art of Anatomy. In this humorous talk, Prof Lee spoke on the history of art in anatomy which ranged from the Ancient Green Bronzes to the artistic achievements of some of RCSIs current Council Members currently on display in the Royal Hibernian Academy. Prof Lee said, ‘I am very honoured to have been invited by the students of the Biological Society to be their President and I look forward to working with Correspondence Secretary, Kieran Lohan, and his committee on their case competitions and quizzes over the coming year. I was delighted to welcome our guest speaker, Mr Tom Doorley who spoke on food, wine and a balanced life. Toms talk was seasoned with humorous anecdotes from his career as a journalist and broadcaster and he encouraged his audience in the Albert Theatre to always question received wisdom. Evidence-based diet is the essential first step in evidence-based healthcare.


Pictured (l-r) at the RCSI 80th Biological Society Meeting is Professor Clive Lee, Incoming President of the Biological Society, and Professor Mary Leader, Department of Pathology, RCSI

Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, took to the stage to propose the motion: ‘That the Biological Society is worthy of support of the students of the College. Prof McGee also took the opportunity to commend the Biological Society on their continued activity in college life at RCSI. This was echoed by Mr Kieran Lohan, Honorary Correspondence Secretary, who thanked the participants at all biological society events throughout the year.


Pictured is Professor Mary Leader (far left) Department of Pathology, RCSI; and Mr Kieran Lohan, Honorary Correspondence Secretary (far left) with the Harold Brown Anatomy quiz winners Taylor Petropoulos, Angela Verrelli & May-Anh Nguyen.

Prof Leader presented awards to a number of students at the meeting. These included Zaid Almarzouq (RCPI Council Medal); Constantin Bartels (Alan Browne Medal in Obstetrics and Gynaecology); Jennifer Billington (Denis Gill Medal in Paediatrics); and David Hakim (Dr Arthur Stephen ffrench-OCarroll Medal).

Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO/ Register of RCSI, closed the event and expressed his thanks to those who made the evening possible. The 80th Biological Society Meeting concluded with a reception in the Board Room.

As January comes to a close, many of us have made the same old New Year resolutions to finally get fit or at least step our exercise levels up a gear. Whether or not weve kept up these promises, we are all aware of how exercise is an essential part of maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise can also play an important role in preventing or treating various diseases.

Exercise is frequently prescribed by doctors as a management strategy for ailments such as back injury, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity. Apart from the obvious benefit of improved well-being, physical activity can also lead to stress reduction, improved sleep and better function of the immune system. Physiotherapists, such as Dr. Helen French, play a key role in exercise prescription for health and wellness, as well as treating various conditions. Dr. French states that although there is a vast array of exercise types available to the public, not every kind is going to suit every person.

She said, ‘There are a plethora of exercise types available and it can be a minefield to navigate in deciding which type is best for an individual. In her lecture, Dr. French will discuss the different types of exercise and how they can be used to manage disease across a range of clinical specialties such as musculoskeletal & neurological conditions, heart & lung disease and cancers.

Dr. L. Joe Conway, who has previously worked with an array of professional athletes, emphasizes the importance of achieving the balance between exercise and recovery in sustaining a healthy lifestyle. He said, ‘As humans we have evolved as hunter gatherers and we physiologically remain as such and exercise is probably our most effective medicine. He warns that most people do not take enough exercise, while some people need to better manage their exercise routines by balancing training load with adequate recovery to enhance the benefits and reduce problems with exercise. Appropriate fluid intake, eating properly and reducing excess negativity are also key to being healthy. Dr. Conway believes that investment is needed in seven key areas[i] (Schools, Transport, Urban Design, Healthcare, Public Education, Community and Sports for All) to improve physical activity in society.

Dr. Conway continues, ‘We as doctors, those in the health care systems and the legislators need to work out how we can facilitate changes in the seven areas as well as working closely with our colleagues in the health and fitness world. This is a lifestyle choice, where a sedentary lifestyle will come at a potentially high cost to individuals and society as a whole, not just in terms of quality of life.

The RCSI MiniMed Open Lecture Series is free of charge; however registration is essential in order to guarantee a place. Attendees can register online at www.rcsi.ie/minimed and you can join the conversation online, on the night, on Twitter at #RCSIMiniMed. To view previous MiniMed lectures from this series on the RCSI YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TheRCSI123.

His Excellency Dr. Nayf Al-Hajraf, Kuwaits Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education paid a visit to RCSI today. This was his Excellencys first visit to RCSI. A lunch was held to recognise the long and significant partnership between the College and the Ministry of Higher Education in Kuwait.

(L-R) Dr Kenny Winser, RCSI Department of Physiology & Medical Physics; Prof Kevin Nolan, Head of the School of Postgraduate Studies & Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry; Dr Helen McVeigh, RCSI School of Postgraduate Studies; Mr Declan Magee, RCSI Vice-President; Dr. Nayf Al-Hajraf, Kuwait Minister of Education & Minister of Higher Education; Prof Waleed Shuaib, Kuwait Cultural Attaché in Dublin; Mr Philip Curtis, RCSI Head of Admissions; Mr Michael McGrail, RCSI Director of Corporate Strategy.

Dr. Nayf Al-Hajraf (right), Kuwait Minister of Education & Minister of Higher Education signs the RCSI Visitor book with Mr Declan Magee, RCSI Vice-President

Professor Ciaran OBoyle, Director of the Institute of Leadership, RCSI, attended an opening ceremony in the University of Sharjah, as it celebrated the opening of its new Institute of Health Professions Education, Leadership and Research on 26th January 2013.


Pictured (l-r) are HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, President of Sharjah University; and Professor Ciaran OBoyle, Director of the Institute of Leadership, RCSI.

The Institute was opened by H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University. Also in attendance were Professor Samy A. Mahmoud, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and Professor Hossam Hamdy, Vice Chancellor and Dean.

The RCSI signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Sharjah in 2012 and the two institutions will offer an MSc in Leadership in Health Professions Education from September 2013.

The day will kick off with five speciality parallel sessions focussing on trauma and orthopaedics, colorectal surgery, neurosurgery, ENT & plastics and urology. The Johnson & Johnson lecture will be given by Prof Ralph G. Dacey, Jnr, Chairman of Neurosurgery, Washington University Hospital, Missouri. Prof Daceys lecture will focus on "Training Surgeons for the 21st Century: Current Challenges for Surgical Educators."

In 2004, Prof Dacey along with two of his colleagues established a two way resident rotation between Neurosurgery in Beaumont Hospital and Barnes Hospital in Washington University. Neurosurgery residents from the United States and Ireland rotate between the departments every six months. To date, 24 US and four Irish residents have exchanges on this very successful programme.

The afternoon plenary session addresses "Infection and the Surgeon: current and future challenges". Later in the afternoon Professor Patrick Broe, RCSI President will give his Presidential Address to Fellows and Members. Prof Broe said "As part of my Presidential agenda, my number one item is to shorten the duration of surgical training in Ireland. A lot of work has been done to date to implement these changes and we plan to launch the new programme in July 2013. One of the most crucial changes to the programme is the elimination of the gap years between Basic and Higher Surgical Training."

"There is still considerable work to be done in terms of clarifying selection criteria, establishing robust methodologies of assessment and identifying high quality training posts, but it is intended that the new training paradigm will place the trainee centrally in all clinical operative and scientific pursuits within the surgical department," Prof Broe continued.

Charter Day will continue on Friday evening when Professor Michael Solomon, a graduate of RCSI and Professor of Surgery at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia will give the 88th Abraham Colles Lecture on "The Evolution of Radical Pelvic Exenteration".

On Saturday, the Irish Higher Surgical Training Group (IHSTG) will hold their annual meeting. The topic for discussion is surgical training and mentorship and the meeting will discuss further the new surgical training pathway.

On Saturday evening, Professors Dacey and Solomon will be presented with Honorary Fellowships of the College. Reading Professor Solomons citation, RCSI Council Member Professor P. Ronan OConnell said "Michael has published widely with more than 200 publications on all aspects of colorectal surgery, focusing particularly on clinical outcomes and quality of life. Michael is considered a world authority on exenterative techniques, and yet, in the midst of such great achievements it is his humility and humanity that come through his writings and teaching."

Reading Prof Daceys citation, RCSI Council Member Mr Ken Mealy said "Dr. Dacey is internationally recognised for his contributions to the understanding and treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels in and around the brain. In 1998 he performed the first human magnetic neurological surgery." Prof Broe said "The RCSI Charter Day meetings are held to commemorate the establishment of RCSI by Royal Charter on 11th February 1784. The meetings provide the surgical community with an opportunity to come together and discuss the challenges, issues and new developments within surgery. This year we have the largest number of attendees at Charter Day and it is great to see such interest and enthusiasm for the meeting."

View the Charter Day programme here