Almost 200 students from RCSI were conferred with medical degrees and postgraduate awards at a special graduation ceremony in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Thursday, 31 May.

Among them was Felipe Contepomi, rugby player for Leinster and Argentina, who received a Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics (MB, BCh and BAO).

The graduates received their degrees from RCSI President Professor Gerald O’Sullivan who presided over a packed ceremony which was attended by almost 1,000 family members, friends and well-wishers. 22 students were conferred with masters and PhDs following extensive research in a wide number of areas. The very first Degrees of Bachelor of Medical Science (MSc) were conferred on four candidates who had undertaken a substantive research process over a number of years.

Commenting on the ceremony, Professor Cathal Kelly, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, said: "The conferring is a joyous occasions for the graduates, their families and friends and for the academic staff who have guided them to their degrees. The ceremony here today is the mark of another successful year for us at RCSI. The College is renowned for the excellence of its academic and training programmes and for the high regard in which its graduates are held both here in Ireland and worldwide and this year’s graduates are no exception.”