RCSI Bahrain held its first on-campus award ceremony to recognise the achievements of 21 School of Medicine students who completed the RCSI Bahrain International Citizenship Award programme (ICA). The ICA ceremony was attended and supported by Ms Hajar Shaaban, Muharraq Branch Leader of the Dream Big charity, who acknowledged the support provided to local communities by RCSI Bahrain students.

Dr Wendy Maddison, Head of Student Development and Wellbeing and Director of the ICA Programme, congratulated the students who had completed the programme and said, “An RCSI Bahrain International Citizen demonstrates the skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively in the diverse world of healthcare, and demonstrates an understanding of the complexity of the public, patient and professional perspectives involved in an increasingly challenging and globalised healthcare environment. International Citizens are leaders in their communities; they have an ‘international outlook’ and embrace cultural diversity. We wish our International Citizens well in their future personal and professional endeavours.”

The International Citizenship Award programme is a two-year mentored programme, managed by the Department of Student Development and Wellbeing. Students submit reflective assignments on their experiences, based on five activity streams, and outline which skills and competencies of an International Citizen they have demonstrated. All students from Year Two of the School of Medicine and Year Three of the School of Nursing & Midwifery are eligible to participate in the ICA programme. Students must first attend compulsory workshops on cultural competency and reflective writing, then they submit their portfolio and a final reflective essay on what makes them RCSI International Citizens.

During the Award ceremony, Year Three medicine student and ICA recipient, Ms Prianna Menezes, shared her experience of the programme, “Personally, the ICA programme has opened doors for me to explore limitless opportunities through engagement in a multitude of varied activities. On a professional level and as a future physician, participation in the ICA programme has deepened and strengthened my leadership skills and maturity of perspective.”

The 21 participants who completed the ICA programme this year were presented with their Awards by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Alfred Nicholson, and Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, Professor Rebecca Jester.

To date, 67 students have received the RCSI Bahrain International Citizenship Award. Students who had previously completed the award and attended the ceremony were presented with their award by RCSI Bahrain Chief Operating Officer, Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield. The International Citizenship Award programme Mentors and Board Members were also presented with tokens of appreciation in their support of the students’ ICA journey.

RCSI Bahrain’s extracurricular programmes aim to shape students' personal and professional development as future global healthcare practitioners who make a difference in the future of healthcare in Bahrain and beyond.