The Emily Winifred Dickson Award
l RCSI Bahrain celebrated the tenth
anniversary of its first conferring ceremony over recent months with the hosting of its 10x10 Alumni Gathering series. Unfortunately, the series had to be cut short due to the outbreak of COVID-19 but not before successful events in Kuwait, Dubai and a first ever visit to Abuja, Nigeria. During the events, graduates shared stories of their time at University and their experiences of life since graduation, while University staff were on hand to provide updates on the latest developments on campus and opportunities available to alumni.
School of Physiotherapy RCSI has appointed Professor Suzanne McDonough as its new Head of the School of Physiotherapy. Professor McDonough, an expert in the development and evaluation of rehabilitation interventions in clinical populations, brings with her over a decade of experience as Professor of Health and Rehabilitation at Ulster University. Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive, RCSI, said: “Professor McDonough brings with her a wealth of experience in both education and research.” Professor McDonough said: “I look forward to joining the ranks of the high-calibre professors, researchers and students in RCSI’s School of Physiotherapy.”
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In November 2019, Samantha Power received the Emily Winifred Dickson Award at a ceremony at RCSI. Irish-born Samantha Power began her career as a war correspondent and in 2003 won a Pulitzer Prize for her book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. In 2005, her critiques of US foreign policy caught the attention of newly elected Senator Barack Obama who invited her to work with him on Capitol Hill. Following Obama’s succession to the Oval Office, Power became his human rights adviser and, in 2013, the youngest ever US ambassador to the UN. She has recently published The Education of an Idealist, a personal account of her journey from Irish immigrant to UN Ambassador. At the ceremony, Chief Executive, RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly said: “Emily Winifred Dickson broke boundaries when she became the first female Fellow of RCSI in 1893. For the contribution she has made to global politics, Samantha Power is a most worthy recipient of this award.” Hannah McGee, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, Kenneth Mealy, President, RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive, RCSI and Samantha Power
OPEN DAY More than 600 Leaving Certificate students from schools throughout Ireland learned about life as a medical, pharmacy and physiotherapy student at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Open Day 2020 in January. Students explored Europe’s most advanced clinical simulation centre at 26 York Street before attending interactive workshops. In the medicine workshop, students experienced a delivery by a birthing mannequin and performed surgical stitching on dummy patients. The physiotherapy workshops used hands-on methods to show students the role of a physiotherapist in the management of people with lung conditions. Students also got the chance to experience the art of drug formulation and delivery in the pharmacy workshop.
WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
RCSI students from over 60 countries were successful in their Guinness World Record-breaking attempt, becoming the recordholders for the “Most Nationalities in a Health Awareness Lesson”, on the 80th anniversary of International Students’ Day at RCSI on November 17 2019. This was the first time that students from all undergraduate and postgraduate schools at RCSI came together in support of a singular goal.
