Scope News

NEW APPOINTMENTS, UPDATES AND REPORTS

Launch Of The Rcsi Surgery For Ireland Report

Earlier this year, RCSI launched the RCSI Surgery for Ireland Report. This proposes new networks for emergency surgery and sets out a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring equitable regional access to higherquality emergency surgical services, while ensuring smoother transitions of care for people who require complex emergency surgery. Key to the report are recommendations designed to help create a working environment that is optimal for the training, recruitment and retention of staff. Find the report on www.rcsi.com

Project Connect Update

In March, a significant and visible milestone was reached in our new Project Connect site at 118 St Stephen’s Green with the first of two tower cranes being erected just behind the Unitarian Church. This will remain in position for the duration of construction until completion of Project Connect in June 2025.

Launch of Postgraduate Medical Training in Ireland

Professor Oscar Traynor, Professor of Postgraduate Surgical Training, and Brenda Farrell, Development Executive in RCSI’s Department of Surgical Affairs, along with representatives of four other postgraduate training bodies in Ireland, travelled to the Gulf in February 2023 for the formal launch of a new collaborative website promoting opportunities for postgraduate clinical training in Ireland.

APPOINTMENT O’BRIEN CHAIR OF GLOBAL SURGERY

Professor Juan Carlos Puyana has been appointed O’Brien Chair of Global Surgery at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Professor Puyana will lead RCSI’s Institute of Global Surgery in its work to improve access to high-quality, essential surgical care for underserved populations. Professor Puyana joins RCSI from the University of Pittsburgh where he was Director of Global Health-Surgery.

Cardiac Surgery Simulator For 2023

Dr Niamh Keenan, Lecturer in Postgraduate Surgical Education, was delighted to welcome Professor Paul Ramphal of the University of the West Indies to RCSI, to facilitate a two-day cardiac surgical skills course for our cardiothoracic trainees. Professor Ramphal, a cardiothoracic surgeon, well known in the field of simulation, has developed the Ramphal Cardiac Surgery Simulator, a high-fidelity simulator allowing trainees to practice complete cardiac operations in a realistic environment. Dr Keenan and many of our own cardiac surgeons and trainees were hugely enthusiastic about the experience of bringing cardiac surgical theatre to the RCSI wetlab, a wonderful learning and teaching experience. We are extremely grateful to Professor Ramphal, who has allowed us the use of his simulator for the next year.

Honorary Fellowships conferred at RCSI Charter Meeting

RCSI conferred five new Honorary Fellows at ceremonies which took place during Charter Week 2023. The fellowships were awarded to Dr Vivian McAlister, Dr Ajit K Sachdeva, Professor Maria B. Majella Doyle, Professor Richard Irving and Dr John G. Meara. Honorary Fellowship is the highest distinction the College bestows, recognising outstanding achievement in surgery and other areas.

Guidelines For Surgery Abroad

RCSI published guidance for patients travelling abroad for surgery, given the signi cant increase in the number of patients admitted through emergency departments in Ireland with complications of surgery undertaken abroad. “ e guidelines are aimed at helping people understand and manage the greater risk involved in having an operation in another country,” says RCSI Vice President, Professor Deborah McNamara. See www.rcsi.com for further details.

Operation Childlife Travel Fellowship

Ms Danielle McLaughlin, FRCSI and Dr Dawn Deacy, MRCSI have been announced by Operation Childlife and RCSI as the rst recipients of the Operation Childlife Fellowship. is prestigious bursary, awarded jointly by RCSI and Operation Childlife, aims at supporting surgical trainees or medical professionals in gaining additional expertise by participating in international paediatric healthcare missions, while also conducting research into the areas of altruism and global health in collaboration with local medical professional and Operation Childlife members.

A Gift To Rcsi Library

Earlier this year, Professor P. Ronan O’Connell kindly donated a 28th Edition of Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery to RCSI Library Heritage Collection and the 2019 Hunterian Orator Gold Medallion to RCSI. Both the book and medallion are currently on display in RCSI.

RCSI President, Professor Laura Viani, Professor P. Ronan O’Connell, immediate past President RCSI, Ms Aíne Gibbons, Director of Development, RCSI and Ms Kate Kelly, Director of Library Services.