For the 2024–2025 selection cycle, we returned to in‑person interviews, held over two days in late February at RCSI. Feedback from candidates and interviewers alike has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of face‑to‑face engagement in the selection process.

OSCE’s

In late January & early February 140 trainees were examined in their year two combined Operative Surgical Skills and Human Factors in Patient Safety OSCE by approx. 72 examiners across the third and fifth floors in the National Surgical Skills Centre at 26 York Street. 

Progression to ST2

Current ST1 trainees (98) will progress to their chosen specialty in year two in July, 93% of trainees have been appointed to their first choice specialty. All trainees will have an induction, either online or in person, with their ST2 Specialty Programme Director prior to commencing in post.

Surgical Bootcamp

Planning is underway for the revamped Surgical Bootcamp 2026 (three face to face days coupled with interactive online sessions) which will run across four iterations from Monday 15 June to Wednesday 8 July with 100 new Core Surgical Trainees who are due to start in their assigned rotations on Monday 13 July 2026. 

CST Induction

The incoming Core Surgical Trainees will also have their comprehensive CST Induction, led by the CST Chair Mr Dara Kavanagh and Prof Kevin Barry, the National Director of the Surgical Training Programmes in the week prior to commencing on the programme. This annual induction also includes talks from our Health and Wellbeing officer, Ms Sinead Dixon, and on our online resources with our Lead Technology Officer, Mr Donncha Ryan.

Mr Moore is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, Tallaght University Hospital and Blackrock Health. With over two decades of dedicated service in surgical practice, education and leadership, he is deeply committed to enhancing training programmes, advocating for surgical research and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within the surgical community.  

He has driven these priorities through his leadership roles including his current role as Chair of the Expert Group on Best Practice in Clinical Governance in Surgery, which earlier this month launched 'A Framework for Surgical Clinical Governance', a comprehensive national framework designed to strengthen patient safety, accountability and quality improvement across surgical services in Ireland. 

Mr Moore is Clinical Lead for Spinal Surgery at Children’s Health Ireland, where he is at the forefront of implementing vital care pathways that reflect the latest clinical standards while responding effectively to the evolving needs of Ireland's healthcare system. 

Mr Moore has held a number of leadership roles in his specialty including Past President of the Irish Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Past President of the Irish Paediatric Orthopaedic Society and inaugural Joint Clinical Lead in the National Trauma and Orthopaedic Programme.  

Since his election to the Council of RCSI in 2012, Mr Moore has contributed as a member and chair of several RCSI and national committees. He has chaired RCSI’s Academic Council for two terms, the Medicine and Health Sciences Board, the Irish Surgical Postgraduate Training Committee, the Audit and Risk Committee and the Governance and Nominations Committee.  

At an international level, he represented RCSI at the Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations and at the Joint Committee on Surgical Training. 

Please logon to mSurgery.

Take a few minutes to read through our Trainee Health and Well-Being Supports that are available to you during your Training Programme.

Contact us at our confidential e-mail address: wellbeing@rcsi.ie

Date: Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Time: 10am – 4:30pm

Suitable to: Surgical and Emergency Medicine Consultants in practice in Ireland

Location: RCSI 26 York Street

Course lead:

• Dr Dara O’Keeffe, Simulation lead in Postgraduate Surgical Education

Applications are now open for Advanced Train the Trainer Masterclass: Skills for Supporting Trainees in Difficulty which will take place on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

This one-day module is designed to equip trainers with the skills necessary to effectively support trainees facing personal or professional challenges.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the supports and resources available to both trainers and trainees, and will have the opportunity to develop and refine the skills needed to navigate complex and sensitive interactions with confidence and professionalism.

Fee: €200

To register, please visit: https://www.rcsi.com/online/find-a-course/cpd/t/r/consultant-masterclass-supporting-trainees-in-difficulty

For any queries, please email cpdss@rcsi.ie

Kind regards,

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland were pleased to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless to officially open 118 St Stephen’s Green.

The event included a tour of the building for the Taoiseach and the Minister who were both impressed with our state-of-the-art education, research and public engagement facilities. The €95 million development marks an important new chapter for our RCSI community. 

To mark the launch event a video has been produced to give members of the public a glimpse into 118 St Stephen’s Green and the important work that will be carried out within.

Surgical research in Ireland has received a significant uplift as the Health Research Board (HRB) has funded two international surgical trials for the first time through its Investigator-Led Clinical Trials (ILCT) programme. The RCSI National Surgical Research Support Centre (NSRSC), Ireland’s central coordinating hub for surgical trials, played a pivotal role in securing both awards. The centre supported the investigators throughout the application process and will now coordinate trial set-up and delivery across participating hospitals nationwide.

Professor Stewart Walsh, recipient of one of the ILCT awards, serves as the national lead for the WARRIORS trial, led by Imperial College London. This trial will evaluate whether earlier surgical intervention for women with aortic aneurysms improves outcomes. In collaboration with the University of Galway, the NSRSC will facilitate the study’s rollout across four Irish hospital sites.

The second ILCT award was received by Dr Oliver Boughton, who, together with Mr Rajiv Merchant from Children’s Health Ireland, will lead the Irish arm of the Op Non-Stop trial. Led internationally by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the University of Oxford, this study will investigate optimal surgical management strategies for children with Perthes disease. The NSRSC will support the opening of OpNonStop across paediatric orthopaedic centres nationally, ensuring access for children throughout Ireland.

Established in 2021 by Professor Walsh and Dr Anne-Marie Byrne, the NSRSC has rapidly expanded and now supports 14 surgical studies across Ireland. RCSI recently recognised the centre’s national impact with a €1.2 million investment to further enhance surgical research infrastructure and capacity.

These two HRB awards underscore the NSRSC’s growing influence in elevating the quality, coordination, and visibility of Irish surgical research. As the centre prepares to launch a National Surgical Trials Network and appoint a new Clinical Director, it continues to build on the strong foundations laid by Professor Walsh - strengthening collaboration, attracting international trials, and expanding opportunities for Irish patients and surgeons to participate in high-quality research.

In Conversation with Dr Czara Kennedy and Prof Kevin Barry on Surgical Training

Commencing Surgical Training – Getting the Basics Right

Hosted by Prof Kevin Barry in conversation with Dr Czara Kennedy a Higher Surgical Trainee in General Surgery. 

RCSI's Beyond the Theatre latest podcast episode addresses a number of topics designed to support those applying for Core Surgical Training and Tips and advice for those who have been recently appointed.

We are delighted to announce that the latest episode is now available to listen on Spotify podcasts:

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ROn8waulsHCel9NNtqZZb

The National Clinical Programmes Annual Report 2025, published by RCSI, outlines the significant progress made by the Programmes over the past year in improving patient care, strengthening clinical governance and supporting more consistent service delivery across Ireland’s health system.

The report details the work of the National Clinical Programmes across surgery, emergency medicine, trauma and orthopaedic surgery, interventional radiology and cardiothoracic surgery, delivered in partnership between RCSI, the HSE, health regions, hospitals and frontline clinical teams.

Key developments during the year included the publication and rollout of major national models of care, including updated frameworks for emergency medicine and interventional radiology, alongside continued expansion of modernised care pathways across multiple surgical specialties. These initiatives are designed to support earlier access to care, reduce unwarranted variation and improve alignment between community and hospital services.

The contribution made by the programmes to support the expansion of the elective surgery capacity by coordinating cross specialty programmes to agree national guidance for the new facilities is also outlined in the report.

The report also highlights the growing role of digital health in supporting clinical care and service planning. National dashboards, digital early warning systems and integrated patient flow platforms are now in use across a number of services, enabling real-time access to information to support clinical decision-making and operational oversight.

Patient safety and quality improvement remained central to programme activity in 2025. Work continued to strengthen national audit and governance structures, expand clinical databases and support education and training initiatives aligned with national standards and best practice.

Alongside service delivery improvements, the Programmes contributed to workforce planning and sustainability initiatives, including assessment of future workforce needs, expansion of advanced practice roles and continued development of education pathways to support evolving models of care. Environmental sustainability also remained a focus, with continued rollout of the Green Emergency Medicine programme across emergency departments and injury units.

Professor Deborah McNamara, RCSI President, welcomed the publication of the annual report: “The RCSI National Clinical Programmes support clinicians and services to implement evidence-based care in a consistent and practical way across the health system. The progress outlined in this report reflects strong clinical leadership and collaboration, demonstrating how nationally agreed models of care can deliver meaningful, high-quality improvements for patients and services.”

The Annual Report also outlines priorities for 2026, including scaling the implementation of national models of care, further development of digital infrastructure, continued support for workforce planning and expanded use of data to support quality improvement and service performance.

The RCSI National Clinical Programmes Annual Report 2025 is available here.

The programme is supported by a significant institutional investment of €2.3 million by RCSI in robotic surgical education. This includes the purchase of three robotic platforms, the refurbishment of a dedicated robotic training suite within the National Surgical and Clinical Skills Centre on the St Stephen’s Green campus, and the appointment of a specialist robotics educator to support delivery of the programme.

The curriculum has been designed as a vendor-agnostic, multi-platform training pathway to ensure that trainees develop transferable skills applicable across current and future robotic systems. Training will combine console simulation, model-based practice, and structured hands-on teaching, together with dedicated sessions on human factors, communication, teamwork, and emergency management in the robotic operating environment.

Since the launch in February, work has been ongoing to develop the detailed structure of the curriculum, including the design of individual training modules, simulation exercises, and assessment processes. The programme is scheduled to commence in September, when the first cohort of trainees will undertake the initial phase of training.

In addition to the core curriculum for trainees, RCSI is developing advanced training days for higher specialist trainees, multi-platform exposure courses, and a series of standalone robotic skills courses that will allow wider access to structured robotic training within Ireland. These developments are supported by the new dedicated robotic training facility, which has been designed to provide a high-fidelity, immersive learning environment.

The curriculum forms a key part of the wider National Governance Framework for Robotic Surgery published by RCSI, and aims to ensure that the continued expansion of robotic surgery across Irish hospitals is supported by consistent national standards in safety, training, and clinical practice.

There has already been significant interest in the programme from international centres, and discussions are ongoing regarding future academic collaborations and training partnerships.

The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland will provide further updates as the programme progresses towards its first intake in September.

1000+ NCHDs enrolled across Ireland 🏥🥳

We are pleased to announce that the RCSI CPD Team can confirm that we have over 1000+ NCHDs in Surgery and Emergency Medicine enrolled in our CPD Support Scheme which is a record high enrolment.

Starting with 300+ NCHDs only a couple of years ago we are delighted to support over 1000+ NCHDs in Ireland with technical and non-technical skills training. With over 160+ courses (and growing), we are delighted to continue to support the educational pathways of NCHDs in Ireland.

Applications for both our Master of Surgery (MCh) by Module FT and PT programmes are now open and will close on Monday, 18 May 2026.
 
RCSI’s established MCh by Module programme runs full-time over one year or part time over 2 years on a hybrid model, with 80% online with 20% face to face days on campus. Each module will have at least one- or two days' face to face.

The research component pushes you to focus on your individual interests and professional development within the greater healthcare context, and as the first programme in Ireland to incorporate a taught component you'll develop a skill set that cannot be adequately developed through research alone.

For more information, please visit: www.rcsi.com/mcht

The RCSI Surgery team were delighted to attend this year's Sylvester O'Halloran Meeting at the University of Limerick (School of Medicine). It was great to meet and chat to many of of our RCSI Trainees, NCHDs and Consultants who attended.  

Prof Sean Johnston delivered the highly regarded Sylvester O'Halloran Lecture that was very thought-provoking and insightful. RCSI being present at many of these surgical conferences shows our commitment to supporting the showcasing of surgical excellence and development across Ireland.

RCSI have launched a new online Self-paced course - Introduction To Surgical Skills and Operating Theatre Practice. 

This course is suitable for early surgical practice or first-year post-internship training. 

This online course will provide you with the introductory knowledge needed to navigate the safe care of the surgical patient in an operating theatre environment and the essential knowledge and skills needed for an early career surgical NCHD.

To learn more, visit: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/cpdss/introduction-to-surgical-skills-and-operating-theatre-practice/course-details

Applications now open - MRCS Part A September 2026

Closing: Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Please note applications to sit the MRCS Part A in September 2026 with RCSI is now open. Claim your MRCS Resources benefits today and join our global community

Candidates sitting the MRCS Part A April 2026 Diet with RCSI will receive an array of resources to help you pass the examination including:

🏥Free access to our exclusive Affiliate Membership with 100+ resources

🏥Free access to TeachMe Surgery and TeachMe Anatomy with over 2000+ Mock MCQs and revision guides

🏥15% off MRCS Part A Pastest Resources

🏥And More

Learn more: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/professional-exams/surgery/mrcs-part-a

Application link: https://booking.kaizenep.com/portal/rcsi/3ca58899-43ed-4e20-a00b-6d45712ebe17

Heart disease affects thousands of people in Ireland every year, but understanding your heart doesn’t have to be complicated. 

We’ll be talking about everything from the early warning signs of heart trouble, to what happens during a cardiac event, to how you can live well with a long‑term heart condition. If you’ve ever wondered what symptoms you shouldn’t ignore, how treatments work, or what you can do to protect your heart every day, this conversation is for you.

With insights from cardiology experts along with lived‑experience stories, this event will leave you feeling better informed and empowered to look after your heart.

Arrive early and explore 
Guests are invited to come along from 5.30pm to visit the Humanarium exhibition, Heart: more than a beat, and engage with the Irish Heart Foundation and CRY Ireland, who will host support stands with helpful resources and information in advance of the event. 

Event details 

📅 Wednesday, 22 April 2026 
⏰ Doors open at 5.30pm. Event starts at 6.00pm. (Ends approx. 7.30pm) 
📍 Learning Studio, RCSI 118 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 X0N1 
📝 Check-in required at the registration desk 
♿ Fully accessible venue  

This is a free, in-person event and everyone is welcome, but places are limited.

Please register your attendance using the link below to secure your spot.

REGISTER HERE

RCSI is delighted to announce that Episode 6 of our Safe and Sound podcast is OUT NOW featuring DrJessica M RyanPhD, General Surgery (Hepatobiliary) Higher Specialist Trainee SH-CORE Study Coordinator. With a high number of listeners from across different countries and specialties, Season 3 will again provide a spotlight on key pillars within the ecosystem of Human Factors in Patient Safety.

RCSI's latest podcast episode was hosted by Dr Fardod O'Kelly MD MA MSc MBA, RCSI Safe and Sound Podcast Host and Senior Lecturer in Surgical Education.

Available on Spotify and Apple podcasts, we are delighted to announce that the Season 3, Episode 6 is now available to listen on the below audio channels:

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/0Zys1Mbf7FojYB4qdFwVPw

Apple Podcasts
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/safe--sound-podcast1

Kind regards,

RCSI Human Factors in Patient Safety Academy

• Professor Antonio Toesca (keynote speaker)
  Direttore, Divisione di Senologia Chirurgica, Istituto Oncologico di Candiolo FPO-IRCCS, Torino, Italy
• Professor Margaret Flanagan (keynote speaker)
  Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, USA