Early Career Surgical Network (ECSN)

The network is for surgeons who are completing training, on fellowship and who have recently started practice as a consultant surgeon and is Chaired by Prof Christina Fleming.

The ECSN is a vibrant and supportive community where you can connect with peers, gain guidance, and share experiences as you navigate this exciting yet challenging phase of your career. It offers a safe space to discuss the unique demands of surgical practice and provides opportunities to build lasting professional relationships, with a strong social element to foster camaraderie.

The ECSN will have a dedicated session at Charter 2025, which will explore the theme of how emerging technologies are shaping the future of surgery.

If you would further information please email: ecsn@rcsi.ie

Health and Wellbeing Officer has recently been appointed with the goal of embedding health and wellbeing into all surgical training programmes. The key objective of this role is to provide support to trainees who may face challenges in their physical, emotional and mental health.

The Health and wellbeing officer can provide support, guidance and referrals pathways and tools to manage stress and, will provide a safe , non-judgemental space to discuss you concerns.

Contact Sinead at wellbeing@rcsi.com

The RCSI, accredited by the Medical Council to deliver Post Graduate Surgical Training in Ireland. This work is carried out by dedicated teams at the Department of Surgical Affairs who work diligently to oversee trainee recruitment, placement assignments, and the continuous assessment of trainees.

If you have any questions regarding your training, including placements, dates for courses, queries around flexible training or any of the RCSI policies that relate to both core and higher surgical training please feel free to contact us.

Other Useful contacts:
Irish Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery (ITOS), contact, Sean Johnson, info@iitos.ie

International Surgical Fellowship Programme Avril Cunningham, avrilcunningham@rcsi.ie

The Inaugural RCSI National Theatre Effectiveness Conference – Thursday, 12 December 2024

The inaugural National Theatre Effectiveness Meeting, hosted by RCSI Surgical Affairs was held in RCSI on 12 December 2024. Seven sites across three Health Regions showcased their work on improving theatre capacity, access and flow for surgical patients following implementation of the National Perioperative Patient Pathway Enhancement Programme (NPPPEP). NPPPEP is a joint collaboration between the HSEs Strategic Programmes Office and the Surgical Affairs Transforming Theatre team who are the Technical Partners for this programme. NPPPEP is a Quality Improvement programme based on the Transforming Theatre design using four key elements of Management Structure, Management Systems, System of Measures and Improvement Methodology.

RCSI President, Professor Deborah McNamara welcomed 117 attendees from various disciplines across all Health Regions. The opening address was given by Mr Bernard Gloster (CEO HSE) and Mr Robert Watt (Secretary General, Department of Health). Dr Colm Henry delivered an overview of the journey of theatre effectiveness programmes to-date. Professor Eleanor Carton (NPPPEP Clinical Lead) presented on the NPPPEP design and approach. Ms Bridget Egan (Clinical Director, Tallaght University Hospital) spoke about NPPPEP from a Clinical Director’s perspectivefollowed by Shane Russell (COO Tallaght University Hospital) who explained the programme’s importance in supporting daily operational challenges. 

Presentations on the outputs, outcomes and impact of the NPPPEP programme were delivered by Laura Connolly (University Hospital Galway), Louise Veitch (St Vincent’s University Hospital), Dr Wouter Yonker (Sligo University Hospital), Mr Muhammad Umair (Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore), Siobhan McCaffrey (St Michael’s Hospital), Darren Kenny (Roscommon University Hospital) and Alison Rothwell (Reeves Day Surgery Centre, Tallaght University Hospital).  The conference concluded with a panel discussion involving Mr David Mulvin and Cahal Flynn (St Vincent’s Hospital), Caroline Quinn (Sligo University Hospital), Ms Bridget Egan, and Noel Hemmings (Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore) with Kieran Ryan (Managing Director Surgical Affairs) as moderator. Sessions were chaired by Deirdre McNamara (Director Strategic Programmes HSE) and Padraig Kelly (Associate Director Operations and Planning, Department of Surgical Affairs). Congratulations and thank you to all involved on the day and to the participating sites for their continuous commitment to this programme with the aim of using the theatre resource to better serve our patients.

For more information about the National Perioperative Patient Pathway Enhancement Programme (NPPPEP), please click here.

The National Surgical Research Support Centre (NSRSC) was established to support surgical research and trials

The NSRSC has reached several milestones in 2024 with 5 Investigator-Led surgical trials open across 15 hospital sites. There are 27 consultant surgeon Principal Investigators and 77 surgical trainees and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) working on these trials.  

To date there have been >300 patients enrolled in NSRSC- supported trials and their current and upcoming trials span across multiple specialties such as Vascular, Orthopaedic, Neurology, Cancer and Paediatric surgery. 

The NSRSC is coordinating its first international trial investigating the best surgical management strategies for patients with oesophageal cancer which is now open in Irish and European sites. They opened a UK Breast Cancer surgical trial at one Irish hospital and will be opening in 2 further hospitals next year. 

The NSRSC also showcased Irish surgical research at this year’s Millin meeting.  5 surgeons presented their research to compete for the RCSI National Surgical Research medal which was awarded to Mr Patrick Boland for his research onIntratumoural variability of fluorescent signals in classifying rectal neoplasia.

2025 will be a busy year for the NSRSC as they plan to open further multi-site Investigator-Led trials, provide research training courses and continue to help showcase Irish surgical research.

"I am delighted with the NSRSC achievements in 2024 expanding surgical trial activity in Ireland. The enthusiasm of the trainees and support from their trainers in getting involved in trials makes for a promising future for surgical research which will ultimately benefit patients in Ireland." - Dr Anne Marie Byrne - Operations Director, RCSI National Surgical Research Support Centre (NSRSC)

To learn more about the NSRSC, please visit: www.rcsi.com/NSRSC

Follow us on Social Media

• X: @RCSI_NSRSC 
• LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/nsrsc
• Instagram: NSRSC_RCSI

MRCS Exams Update

The MRCS Exam is a key milestone in surgical training that all trainees work towards completing successfully during their first two years of Surgical Training.

The exam is an intercollegiate exam, so there is a common syllabus with the Royal Colleges in Ireland and the UK. There are two parts to the exam Part A which aims to assess trainees on the breadth of both basic sciences and the principles of surgery.  Part B which is an OSCE exam covers topics such as anatomy and surgical pathology, applied surgical science and critical care.

With our growing demand, we have now increased to 3-day diets in our key RCSI MRCS Part B OSCE Centres in Dublin and international centres such as Bahrain and Cairo.

RCSI is also pleased to announce our new MRCS-resource collaboration with TeachMe Series which will provide MRCS candidates free access to TeachMe Surgery and TeachMe Anatomy (including both question banks with over 2000+ MCQs combined).

Applications are now open for the 2025 MRCS Exams, candidates are encouraged to submit early applications to the Part B and Prep Course diets.

https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/professional-exams

The MRCS (ENT) examination is being discontinued, the last diet of the MRCS (ENT) OSCE will be delivered in February 2026.  Further details can be found on:

https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/professional-exams/otolaryngology

If you have any queries please contact mrcsexams@rcsi.ie

Dear Colleagues,

As we celebrate the Christmas season, I want to take a moment to extend my gratitude for your unwavering dedication to surgical training throughout the past year. Your commitment to nurturing the next generation of surgeons is the cornerstone of the success of our surgical training programme. This dedication is reflected in the programme's remarkable reputation, evidenced by a record number of applications for the 2025 intake.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce a planned increase in training opportunities, with 100 places in core surgical training for next July. Furthermore, the ever-evolving landscape of surgery, driven by advancements in technology, has prompted the RCSI to introduce a Robotic Training Programme and expand simulation-based training. Over the next year, we will be developing Regional Simulation Training sites to enhance accessibility and provide state-of-the-art learning environments.

The establishment of surgical hubs in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, and Galway represents another step forward. These hubs will improve the delivery of surgical services across Ireland and also create opportunities for training by ensuring access to cases unimpeded by bed availability.

Of course, the delivery of surgical training is not without its challenges. Pressures within the service, including winter demands on A&E, bed shortages, and financial constraints, persist. However, surgeon-led initiatives such as the growth of same-day admissions, the increasing number of day-case procedures, and the adoption of new technologies are helping to mitigate these challenges and support both service delivery and training.

As we look ahead to 2025, there will undoubtedly be obstacles to navigate. However, with your continued commitment and dedication to excellence in training, I am confident that we can make it another successful year.

Mr Kieran Ryan,

Managing Director, RCSI Surgical Affairs

Confirm your place today | Emergency Abdominal Surgery Course (EASC) | 24 January 2025

The Emergency Abdominal Surgery Course (EASC) aims to enhance the skills of the large international and national faculty who are at the coalface in emergency surgery. The EASC curriculum focuses on the acute abdomen, in a multidisciplinary, shared learning approach.

This course will enhance your ability on-duty as a surgeon, gastroenterologist or radiologist – either as a trainee or a specialist. The course is endorsed by many societies and regularly updated with the latest advances in emergency surgery care. 

Course Programme

Suitable to: SHOs in all surgical specialties, emergency medicine doctors

To register, please click here.

Kind regards,

RCSI CPD Team

RCSI-National Surgical Research Medal awarded to Patrick Boland for his presentation- Intratumoural variability of fluorescent signals may accurately classify rectal neoplasia

There were 65 posters presented at this year’s RCSI Millin Meeting whereby the top prizes being awarded to Gavin P. Dowling (First place), Alexander Ribbits (2^nd place) and Niall Murnaghan (3^rd Place)

"The quality of the abstracts submitted to the Millin meeting competing for the RCSI National Surgical Research Medal  highlighted the innovative surgical research ongoing in Ireland. The medal awarded to Mr Patrick Boland for his innovative research was well deserved." - Dr Anne Marie Byrne, Operations Director, RCSI National Surgical Research Support Centre (NSRSC).

1^st  Place Gavin P. Dowling Laparoscopic-Assisted Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Versus Port-Site Infiltration in Appendectomy: a Multicentre, Single-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial

2^nd place: Alexander Ribbits
Therapeutic Endoluminal Vacuum Therapy (EVT): A gold standard management for oesophageal and selected gastric and duodenal perforations

3^rd Place Niall Murnaghan; The role of interns in surgical handover and implications for patient

Spotlight on the RCSI Charter Meeting 2025 – 100th Abraham Colles Lecture – Friday, 7 February 2025

Join RCSI on Friday, 7 February 2025 for the 100th Abraham Colles Lecture.

Titled “From Colles’ Fracture to Gene-Activated Biomaterials: A Journey Through Tissue Engineering at RCSI”, the lecture will be delivered by Professor Fergal J. O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, RCSI.

Celebrating the 100th Abraham Colles lecture, this year's Charter Meeting will spotlight key advancements in Irish medicine, building on the legacy of Abraham Colles.

Colles revolutionised the teaching of anatomy during his lifetime, paving the way for new insights into the structure and workings of the human body. His legacy is evident in his two major contributions to anatomical knowledge: the development of a regional approach to the study of anatomy, and the eponymous Colles fracture.

For more information on how to register, please visit: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/events/event/2025/charter-meeting-2025

Applications now open - Online PG Diploma/MSc. in Human Factors in Patient Safety - September 2025 intake.

RCSI's Human Factors in Patient Safety programme provides a greater awareness of risk and error in the workplace by providing participants with skills required to mitigate risk and prevent adverse outcomes. 

Our flexible online programme also offers access to an interprofessional team of experts in surgery, psychology, nursing, pharmacy and the related fields of medical ethics, medical litigation, leadership, professionalism and communication, amongst others. 

Scholars will attend online interactive sessions and workshops one day per month. The rest of the multi-disciplinary programme including didactic teaching, discussion boards, reading, and resources are offered online, which you can access it in your own time. 

This inter-professional programme is suitable for surgeons, physicians, anaesthesiologists, emergency medicine doctors, obstetricians, pharmacists, nurses and midwives working in the hospital setting, as well as safety and quality managers. Graduates achieve an in-depth understanding of error and risk in healthcare systems, you will acquire the skills to be safer and more efficient in your own practice, and gain the knowledge and skills to improve the safety and quality of care in your work systems. 

We advise prospective candidates who are thinking about applying for either programme to submit your applications as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

• Application link
• Programme Flyer - September 2025 intake
• Course page

Career progression

The Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety is an ideal qualification for anyone who currently works, or plans to work, in leadership in healthcare. An understanding of the theory around patient safety, errors, and the individual and system level factors which contribute to these, is vital for healthcare leaders. With growing understanding of the importance of patient safety in our healthcare, a qualification such as this can be very useful to develop your career in healthcare. Alumni of the programme have published their research, brought their learning back to their workplaces, and even used the programme to progress within their own area of work. 

Help us, help you – Please do not hesitate to contact us at PostgradSA@rcsi.ie for any queries relating to this programme. By submitting your questions now, we will be able to provide you with key information you need in relation to applying for this programme.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes

Human Factors in Patient Safety Team

New programme brochure – Clinicians as Educators – Effective Teaching Skills – March 2025 intake

RCSI is pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new Clinicians as Educators – Effective Teaching Skills Brochure for March 2025 intake.

RCSI’s new micro-credential is practical in its approach and will ensure improvement of your clinical bedside and classroom teaching and assessing skills.

Scholars will have lots of opportunity for peer and faculty discussions on clinical teaching experiences and challenges and will gain insights into developing solutions. Tips for engaging large and small groups, using technology to enhance student learning and practicing giving feedback, are all components of this practical skills-based course.

Please note applications for our new micro-credential with limited spaces will close on Friday 21 February 2025. We advise all prospective applicants to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please visit: https://www.rcsi.com/online/find-a-course/micro-credential/c/l/clinicians-as-educators-effective-teaching-skills

The RCSI Court of Examiners are currently looking to recruit new basic, clinical and lay examiners to join our surgical examining committee and help deliver our MRCS Part B OSCE diets in Ireland and overseas in Malaysia, Bahrain, the UAE and our newly launched centre in Egypt. 

Examiners play a key role in the progression of our surgical trainees domestically and internationally. The support of our basic, clinical, and lay examiners is integral to our ability to deliver the MRCS exams and ensuring that the surgical quality standard of our surgeons in training is assessed to the highest efficiency.

Prospective examiners can find more information such as eligibility criteria for each of our examiner vacancies on our Court of Examiners. Applications forms for each of our examiner vacancies can be seen below:

• Basic Science or Clinical Examiner – Application Form
• Lay Examiner – Application Form
• Examiner Recruitment Brochure

In order to apply, prospective examiners will need to fill out the application form for the vacancy of your choice and send it to courtofexaminers@rcsi.ie.