Class Call

from RCSI Alumni Magazine 2022

RCSI Alumni Magazine 2022

At RCSI, we love to hear news about your career achievements and information about you and your life after University. Find out what some of your classmates have been doing

2020s

■ DR E CHIN MAK (MEDICINE, 2020) Since virtual graduation in 2020, Dr E Chin Mak has undertaken an emergency medicine residency in Ohio. A member of the hospital’s ethics committee, she recently received the 2021 Trauma Surgery Compassion Award. While working hard, playing hard is also important, and she was a member of the winning team in the 2021 Midwest Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (MedWARS) competition. She is looking forward to completing this residency in June 2023 with tentative plans to obtain a hospice and palliative care fellowship in the future.

2010s

■ DR TURKI AL-AHBABI (MEDICINE, 2012) Dr Turki Al-Ahbabi is a consultant at Hamad General Hospital and the first ever Qatari doctor to finish a fellowship in, and specialise in, bariatric medicine.

■ DR MOIRA SARAH SELKE (MEDICINE, 2012) Dr Moira Sarah Selke (Pantelidis) works as an attending physician at Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, serving the Ontario population with myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). She is a member of the Canada-wide research network ICanCME, with the goal to significantly improve care for those with ME in in Canada and the rest of the world. Dr Selke and her husband Frank also have a busy home life with three young daughters.

■ ÁINE O’KEEFE (PHARMACY, 2013) After five years as a pharmacist at St James’s Hospital Dublin, Áine swapped Ireland for the west coast of Dr Turki Al-Ahbabi Canada to explore new opportunities in Vancouver, British Columbia. Joining BC Cancer as a Clinical Pharmacy Informatics Specialist, she had a leading role in the implementation of electronic chemotherapy ordering at the BC Cancer centre and recently supported the launch of electronic prescribing in paediatric oncology at BC Children’s Hospital.

■ DR OMAR EL KAWKGI (MEDICINE, 2015) Since graduation, Dr El Kawkgi completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts, Baystate, and an endocrinology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In July 2021, he joined the Mayo Clinic as a consultant endocrinologist and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Medicine. He is currently working on clinical research to develop clinical tools to individualise therapy in Graves’ disease and other thyroid conditions. Dr El Kawkgi is a scientific reviewer for the BMJ Case Reports and Thyroid Journal and is an active member of the American Thyroid Association. He is married and has two children.

■ DR SHAZIA SAMANANI (MEDICINE, 2015) Dr Samanani completed her residency training in internal medicine in Massachusetts, as well as geriatrics and internal medicine fellowships at the University of Toronto. She worked in general internal medicine as an Academic Hospitalist Attending and lecturer for the University of Toronto and completed her Masters in Medical Education at the University of Dundee. Dr Samanani has just accepted a position at George Washington University in Washington DC as an Assistant Professor and Academic Attending working closely with the GW Internal Medicine Residency Programme.

■ DR FEDJA ROCHLING (MEDICINE, 1989), DR FARUQ PRADHAN (MEDICINE, 2014) and DR MUHANNAD ABBASI (MEDICINE, 2018) In July 2021, for the very first time, three RCSI alumni – Dr Faruq Pradhan, Dr Muhannad Abbasi and Dr Fedja Rochling – staffed the Hepatology Outpatient Clinic at the Nebraska Medical Centre. Almost 7,000km from St Stephen’s Green, it is great to see three alumni flying the flag for RCSI!

■ DR SIMRAAJ KAUR POWAR (MEDICINE, 2018) Congratulations to Dr Simraaj Kaur Powar on her marriage to Mr Ramendeep Singh Minhas. The couple married in July 2021 in a Sikh Anand Karaj ceremony and are excited to continue their lives together and develop their respective professional careers in Ontario, Canada.

■ DR ANDREA TOU (MEDICINE, 2019) Dr Andrea Tou is graduating from the pediatrics residency programme at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth- Hitchcock, and was recently accepted as a Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania (Perelman School of Medicine), which this year was ranked as the top pediatric programme in the US.

■ DR DOUGLAS MONROE (MEDICINE, 2005) and DR MARIA GULE-MONROE (MEDICINE, 2005) Dr Doug Monroe recently founded Healthcare Advisory Collaborative, a healthcare management consulting firm focusing on clinical quality and physician engagement. Dr Maria Gule- Monroe is an Associate Professor of Neuroradiology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Medical Director of Woodlands MD Anderson. Maria and Doug send their good wishes to all their friends around the world.

■ DR ZUBIN DARUWALLA (MEDICINE, 2005) Dr Zubin Daruwalla brings a global perspective to his role as PwC Singapore’s Health Industries Leader while also balancing his commitments as a clinician and family man. He is passionate about the New Health Economy (NHE).

■ DR GABRIEL BIETZ (MEDICINE, 2006) Dr Amita Kumar, wife of Dr Gabriel Bietz, shared the news that Dr Bietz has written a children’s book, Th e Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish, which began life as a bedtime story for their children Arya and Krishna.

**DR AMITA KUMAR (MEDICINE, 2007) AND DR GABRIEL BIETZ (MEDICINE, 2006)**

■ DR PHILIP J O’HALLORAN (MEDICINE, 2008) Dr Philip J O’Halloran was the recipient of the Rooney Concussion Fellowship, established in honour of the late American Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney. The two-year fellowship will take Dr O’Halloran to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to develop baseline clinical knowledge of concussions, as well as studying clinical research methods. On his return he will work with Dr Helen French and Louise Keating in the RCSI School of Physiotherapy and across the UPMC Concussion Network in Ireland.

■ DR RACHEL KIDNEY (MEDICINE, 1991) Dr Rachel Kidney, a consultant in St James’s Hospital who took early retirement in 2019 due to ill health, gave an interview to RCSI last year about the sense of grief experienced upon retirement, how sea swimming helped her to adjust and the benefits of taking time to be present on a daily basis.

■ PROFESSOR MARK SHERLOCK (MEDICINE, 2000) Professor Mark Sherlock has been appointed Director of the RCSI Clinical Research Centre, following the retirement of Professor Dermot Kenny. Announcing the appointment, Professor Fergal J O’Brien said: “I have no doubt that Professor Sherlock, together with the excellent and dedicated CRC staff, will deliver our ambition in growing the number of impactful trials in our core clinical areas, facilitate established and emerging investigators to lead clinical trials and expand our education programmes in clinical trial management.”

■ DR SHARMILA SACHITHANANDAN (MEDICINE, 1993) and PROFESSOR FERGA GLEESON (MEDICINE, 1995) International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on 8 March, an opportunity to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year, Dr Sharmila Sachithanandan and Professor Ferga Gleeson produced a short video recognising 22 women from around the world practicing in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology, including four RCSI alumnae.

■ DR ANDREW BAKER (MEDICINE, 1993) Colonel Andrew Baker is currently serving as a medical officer with the UN in Cyprus, responsible for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for UN troops. Colonel Baker has served in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone and NE Nigeria. Proud of his heritage, Colonel Baker has kept an important keepsake of his time at RCSI: a pair of rugby shorts from his time representing the University on a trip to France still accompanies him on operational tours. Although far from home, he is in regular contact with the Garda Síochána who provide some policing to the UN so he is never too far away from a familiar accent!

■ DR RONAN KELLY (MEDICINE, 1998) Dr Ronan Kelly was the lead author on a groundbreaking study into treatment for gastroesophageal cancer. Dr Kelly, who is Director of the Charles A Sammons Cancer Center and the WW Caruth Jr Endowed Chair of Immunology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and his team, discovered that the immunotherapy drug Nivolumab doubled disease-free survival times for those with operable oesophageal or gastroesophageal junction tumours and lowered the risk of recurrence of death by almost a third, with the results being referred to as the first true advance for post-surgical treatment of these conditions. You can read more about the study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

■ DR PHILIP WIEHE (MEDICINE, 1980) Thanks to Dr Philip Wiehe for taking the time to send us a great update about his team working with six RCSI student volunteers at COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Dublin. Dr Wiehe described the help provided by the six students, who ranged from second to final year, as “invaluable”.

■ DR RICHARD NORA (MEDICINE, 1980) Dr Richard Nora was recently interviewed in Alumni eNews where he shared stories about his time at RCSI and spoke about his life currently. He is married to Lucille and – although he is semi-retired – he splits his time between teaching and minding his grandchildren.

■ DR DERMOT O’HARA (MEDICINE, 1981) Dr Dermot O’Hara worked as a GP for 26 years until he retired in 2015. Dr Philip Wiehe’s volunteer team Now he is enjoying learning German and skiing in his spare time.

■ PROFESSOR CAMILLA CARROLL (MEDICINE, 1985) Professor Carroll was editor of the first Global Surgery Edition of the Journal of RCSI and RCSEd, The Surgeon, which brought together many of the stakeholders involved in addressing the issues of unmet surgical need in low- to middle-income countries. The College of Subsaharan East and Central Africa and South Africa (COSECSA) discussed the success of their surgical education and training programme in partnership with RCSI. The NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Programme was highlighted in an article by Stuart Fergusson who wrote about his personal experience in Malawi and how the Global Citizenship Programme demonstrates best practice when it comes to integrating surgical training between high-income and low-income countries, for the benefit of patients in both jurisdictions. Professor Sharma discussed the experience of surgeons working in India who are delivering sustainable surgical innovation and the utility of technological advances in LMICs. The American College of Surgeons presented their “Giving Back Program” and their role in mentoring Women in Surgery in Africa. Professor Carroll suggests alumni take time to read this publication, especially if you are interested in becoming a Global Surgery advocate, and strongly encourages you to stay connected to the RCSI Global Community.

■ DR EMMA MEAGHER (MEDICINE, 1987) Dr Emma Meagher, Vice-Dean and Chief Clinical Research Officer at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has taken up a new role as Vice-President of Clinical Research. In her new role, Emma will develop and implement a research strategy throughout the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and lead the integration and alignment of clinical research and clinical practice across the health system.

■ DR NADEEM MOGHAL (MEDICINE, 1989) In 2018, Dr Nadeem Moghal shared his account of overcoming cancerwith his fellow alumni. This year, Dr Moghal shared his journey of recovery, his decision to retire early – sort of – and his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

**Dr Nadeem Moghal with his partner Gertrud Buerstedde (Medicine, 1989).**

■ DR TONY DUCKER (MEDICINE, 1970) Dr Ducker is married with three children and five grandchildren and has lived in Devon, England since his retirement in 2006, pursuing his interests in photography and walking. He worked in various junior jobs in the NHS before spending five years as a lecturer in the Department of Child Life and Health at St George’s Medical School and 22 years as consultant neonatal paediatrician in Kent. He also served on various hospital and regional and national committees including a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline group. Dr Ducker was a member of the Territorial Army for 27 years, including five years as commanding officer of 220 Field Ambulance in Maidstone. He has worked as Lead Clinician for the appraisal of neonatal units in East and South West England and served as a governor at the Royal Exeter and Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

■ DR MICHAEL ROSEN (MEDICINE, 1970) Dr Michael Rosen shared a photo of himself and his wife alongside four of his fellow classmates from the class of 1970 – Dr Bryn John, Dr Rodney Wade-Thomas, Dr John Doherty and Dr Michael Parker, with their partners on a trip to Portmeirion in North Wales. Dr Rosen described how they “reminisced over wine and food and with great camaraderie!” A wonderful testament to the strong links between RCSI alumni.

■ DR NIZAR LADHA (MEDICINE, 1972) Dr Nizar Ladha will be 50 years in medical practice in Newfoundland and Labrador – and will celebrate his 80th birthday – this year. He retired from the Psychiatry department of Memorial University some years ago and now practises privately.

■ DR BOBBY BRAUNSTEIN (MEDICINE, 1972) Dr Bobby Braunstein spent time teaching in China, where his interest was piqued by an article about the history of Jewish people in the country, and in particular a reference to a European Jewish doctor who became a general in Mao’s Revolutionary Army. His research inspired him to write Luo Shente, a screenplay about the doctor and the events of this period, for which he was awarded a London Independent Story Prize for Feature Screenplay.

■ PROFESSOR CAROLINE DE COSTA (MEDICINE, 1973) Professor Caroline de Costa has led a fascinating life and has had an equally interesting career as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The first Australian to study at RCSI and a trailblazer in women’s health and reproductive rights, she recently memorialised her life and career experiences in The Women’s Doc – a witty, wonderful read.

■ DR JAN LANGE (MEDICINE, 1977) Dr Jan Lange retired three years ago after nearly 40 years of family practice and 20 years as a medical director in Yakima, Washington. Married for 53 years to Cherri, he has two daughters who were both born in Dublin when he was a student at RCSI, and five grandchildren.

■ DR SAAD HABBA (MEDICINE, 1978) Dr Saad Habba was honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order of Malta in June 2021. The honour was bestowed on him by the Sovereign Order of Malta and is the highest designation of the Order of Malta.

■ PROFESSOR MANAF ALQAHTANI (MEDICINE, 1999) In recognition of his various contributions, including research impact at national and global level, for the past two years, Professor Manaf Alqahtani, Clinical Professor in Microbiology, was presented with a Special Recognition Award during the RCSI Bahrain Annual Staff Awards ceremony. With the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and through his role as a member of the Bahrain National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Professor Alqahtani has completed a total of 43 research projects related to COVID-19 in Bahrain, of which 20 were conducted in collaboration with RCSI Bahrain faculty, alumni and students, with a focus on epidemiology and public health, diagnostics, vaccines and clinical and treatment projects.

■ DR DAVID BARNES (MEDICINE, 1965) In his 60th year delivering babies, Dr David Barnes was promoted to adjunct professor at WVU (West Virginia University). He boasts that he never had a surgery nor a serious illness (except two days of COVID-19!) and found time last winter to downhill ski and mountain hike with fellow octogenarians. He has signed up to celebrate his 85th birthday by doing his 21st marathon. His third book, COVID for Children and Others, comes out soon. He is looking forward to seeing fellow alumni at the Alumni Gathering in August and sends his best wishes to all.

RCSI BAHRAIN NEWS

INSPIRING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Congratulations to Class of 2013 graduate, Dr Ali Abdulnabi Mohamed, who was selected as the recipient of the Inspiring Excellence awards for 2021. Dr Mohamed was selected from a shortlist of outstanding candidates and his portrait will now be added alongside those of previous winners on the walls of the main campus building.

**Dr Ali Abdulnabi Mohamed (RCSI Bahrain, Class of 2013)**

HH STEWART MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP

2021 graduate Dr Hajar Abdulla recently became the latest in a line of RCSI Bahrain representatives to be recognised in the annual National University of Ireland (NUI) awards. Currently completing her internship at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Dr Abdulla was awarded third prize in the Dr HH Stewart Medical Scholarship in Anaesthesia.

**Dr Hajar Abdulla (RCSI Bahrain, Class of 2021)**

GRADUATES MAKING WAVES AT DALHOUSIE

Two Medicine graduates of RCSI Bahrain are currently making their presence felt at Dalhousie University in Canada. Dr Nicholyn Selvanayagam and Dr Fares Alfares were awarded the titles of Program Chief Resident of Family Medicine and Pediatrics Resident Teacher of the Year respectively.

INTERN AWARD WINNER

Congratulations to 2020 graduate, Dr Rand Bashar Abdulrahman, who was named as the winner of the annual Intern Award for 2021. Dr Abdulrahman was selected from a competitive group of applicants this year, after completing her internship at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH). ■

Next Article

RCSI Alumni Magazine 2022

At RCSI, we love to hear news about your career achievements and information about you and your life after University. Find out what some of your classmates have been doing

2020s

2010s

RCSI BAHRAIN NEWS

INSPIRING EXCELLENCE AWARD

HH STEWART MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP

GRADUATES MAKING WAVES AT DALHOUSIE

INTERN AWARD WINNER

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This article is from:

RCSI Alumni Magazine 2022