Students from RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) have launched the 7th edition of the RCSI Student Medical Journal (RCSIsmj). The RCSIsmj is produced entirely by RCSI students for students and staff. The journal aims to promote student authorship and to foster research, innovation and student participation with healthcare issues.
Pictured (l-r) is Ramia Jameel, Vice-Director of the RCSIsmj, and Eoin Kelleher, Director of RCSIsmj
RCSIsmj is a multidisciplinary publication which includes articles and submissions from medical, physiotherapy, and pharmacy students. The articles range from original research, audits, and special interest pieces to the publication of abstracts, case reports, and elective reviews.
Article topics in this years edition include the role of serotonin in myocardial infarction, new roles for thalidomide, as well as original research on cognitive impairment. Other articles explore the future of the white coat in medicine, the transvaginal cholecystectomy, and the use of the placebos.
For the first time, a debate was held to mark the launch of this years RCSIsmj. The motion was This House believes that consenting individuals should be allowed to purchase and sell organs. Dr Siobhán OSullivan, Chief Bioethics Officer, Department of Health, chaired the debate. Professor David Smith, Professor of Ethics at RCSI, proposed the motion while Professor Peter Conlon, Clinical Director of Transplantation Urology and Nephrology, Beaumont Hospital spoke in opposition.
Pictured at the launch of the RCSIsmj is Eoin Kelleher and Dr Alice McGarvey, Vice Dean of Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
This year the Ethics Challenge competition focuses on the topic of organ trade, and whether individuals should be allowed to buy and sell organs. The debate provided a starting point for students to consider the issue, and write a submission for next years journal.
Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, praised the dedication of the student editorial team. ‘The high quality of the journal is a result of a very cohesive and hard-working student team and the committed academic staff who support the students.
The Executive Committee of the 2014 RCSI Student Medical Journal: Ramia Jameel,Vice-Director of RCSIsmj; Eoin Kelleher, Director of RCSIsmj; Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI; Melissa Schorr, Editor-in-Chief, RCSIsmj; and Natalie Achamallah, Senior Editor of the RCSIsmj
‘The RCSIsmj provides a forum for students to present their research skills and interests at an early stage in their career, it gives students a better understanding of how research can be translated from the bench to the patients bedside, which in turn leads to better clinical care and best practice patient care, Prof McGee continued.
The RCSIsmj is to provide a forum for RCSI student contributions to the field of medicine, in any discipline. The journal publishes student research ranging from basic laboratory science and clinical work to humanities analyses of medicine in society. The goal of the RCSIsmj is to encourage student research, writing and submission for publication, whilst reaching a broad international readership through both our print and electronic versions of the journal. For more information, visit www.rcsismj.com.
Founded in 1784, RCSIs mission is to develop healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide. RCSI is a not-for-profit health sciences organisation which focuses on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland.