350 Alumni spanning seven decades will be welcomed back to RCSI over the next three days, for the annual RCSI Alumni Gathering.

Alumni from the classes of 1946, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006 have the opportunity to participate in a vibrant programme of social and academic activities, to re-establish connections and reminisce with former classmates and lecturers.

This weekend RCSI brings together the largest and most diverse cohort of graduates, hailing from 22 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA, highlighting the global reach of our doctors and surgeons.

Aíne Gibbons, Director, Development & Alumni Relations, RCSI said: "We are extremely proud of our Alumni, the quality of patient care and scale of medical breakthroughs owes much to the experience and expertise of generations of RCSI Alumni who are making an outstanding impact worldwide. The Alumni Gathering provides an opportunity to reunite to celebrate and share in these successes. This unique group of distinguished individuals have made enduring contributions to the improvement of human health and are united by their time spent together in RCSI. This year's reunion is our largest to date; a testament to the strength of the ties between the College and our global community of Alumni."

The annual RCSI Alumni Gathering is the highlight of the Alumni calendar; a calendar which has expanded significantly over the past year to include an extensive variety of Alumni events, both in Ireland and worldwide, organised by the Alumni Relations team.

The Alumni Gathering's comprehensive three-day programme of activities includes a Jubilee Lunch; welcome reception; scientific meeting; Alumni memorial service; tours of the College and of Dublin; reunion class dinners; golf outing; and a black tie gala dinner.

The celebrations will begin today with a commemorative lunch for those celebrating their 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries as Alumni of RCSI. In recognition of this special occasion each jubilarian will be presented with a certificate. The first day of celebrations will conclude with a Welcome Reception in the College Hall.

On Friday, 26 August, the Scientific Meeting will open with a welcome address from Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO followed by feature presentations by RCSI Alumni making an outstanding impact on healthcare delivery worldwide. Alumni will discuss their clinical experiences and their specific areas of research from Cardiac Rehabilitation and Haematology to Robotic Surgery, Genetics of Gigantism and Percutaneous Vertebroplasty.

On Friday evening, reunion class dinners will be held in a variety of locations in and around the College. Tours of RCSI, a game of golf, and a black tie gala dinner in RCSI on Saturday night will close the weekend's celebrations.