RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) conferred more than 390 healthcare professionals with postgraduate awards at a conferring ceremony in the College which took place on Monday, 6 July.

In surgery, these awards included Fellowships of RCSI in General Surgery; Otolaryngology; Plastic Surgery; Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery; Urology; and Fellowships Ad Eundem. Memberships of RCSI were awarded including Memberships in ENT and Ophthalmology. Diplomas in Otolaryngology were also conferred.

Fellowships of the Faculty of Radiologists were awarded in Radiodiagnosis. In Dentistry, Fellowships were awarded in Operative & Restorative Dentistry; Oral Surgery with Oral Medicine; Orthodontics; and Fellowships of the Faculty of Dentistry Ad Eundem. Memberships of the Faculty of Dentistry and Diplomas of Primary Care Dentistry were also awarded. The Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine awarded a Fellowship by Election and Fellowships Ad Eundem. Memberships of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine were also conferred.

Dr Alain Diméglio was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of RCSI at the ceremony. Professor at the Medical School of Montpellier since 1968, he was Chief of the Paediatric Orthopaedic Department and also held the role of President of the National Paediatric Surgery Society. He is engaged in a range of humanitarian missions: first in Africa and now in Asia, particularly in Vietnam where he has trained many paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. Dr Diméglio's numerous international publications focus on the topics of growth, clubfoot and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and he is driven by his life motto, ‘We have to believe every morning in the magic of the impossible'.

Mr Declan J. Magee, President of RCSI said: "I would like to congratulate all of our conferring candidates on their achievements and on reaching this important and exciting stage in their careers. For some, today is an important milestone which places them securely on the training ladder and for others it is a statement of completion of a comprehensive training programme and rigorous assessment process to the highest standards, enabling them to now practice as a specialist. Today we recognise our candidates' application to their training and their dedication and commitment to their patients and their profession."

"I congratulate Dr Alain Diméglio, on his award of Honorary Fellowship of RCSI. In his long and impactful career, he has shared his expertise with hundreds of fellows, whom he has trained from around the world. His humanitarian work to improve paediatric orthopaedic surgery in developing countries is truly an inspiration and I hope it will encourage many of our candidates being conferred today, to make a contribution to the advancement of global health, during the course of their careers," Mr Magee concluded.

RCSI plays a prominent role in the provision of postgraduate education in the medical and healthcare sciences, both in Ireland and overseas. The College actively promotes continuing professional education and is increasingly successful in attracting a growing body of postgraduate students, who bring with them a substantial body of varied professional experience, gained both in Ireland and internationally. For more than 230 years, RCSI has set the highest standards in education and training to ensure its trainees are educated, mentored and tutored to the highest possible standard.