Professor Cathal Kelly takes up the role as CEO/Registrar of RCSI today as Michael Horgan, who has been CEO/Registrar of the College for the past five years, retires.

A graduate and Fellow of the College, Professor Cathal Kelly has been a Consultant General and Vascular surgeon in Beaumont Hospital as well as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in the College since 2006. Under Cathal’s leadership RCSI’s Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) in Medicine was the first in Ireland to be accredited by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). More recently, the Undergraduate Medical programme underwent its second quality assurance evaluation within three years. RCSI achieved standards of excellence in over 60% of the listed World Federation of Medical Education categories.

Cathal Kelly completed his basic and higher surgical training in Dublin and pursued a research Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. Professor Kelly has continued his academic development and earlier this year was awarded a Master of Business Administration by Instituto de Empressa of Madrid.

Cathal is married to Ruth and has three children, Mary Kate, Caroline and Charlie.  

“Cathal has demonstrated the kind of strategic and collaborative leadership skills needed to support the delivery of our vision to become one of Europe’s leading Biomedical Sciences Institute. I am confident that Cathal and his leadership team will have the commitment, energy, drive and passion to lead RCSI to many successes in the future,” commented Professor Frank Keane, President RCSI.

Speaking on his appointment, Cathal Kelly said: “It is a great honour for me to take up the position of CEO/Registrar of RCSI. While there is no doubt we are living in challenging times RCSI will look at new opportunities for growth and will continue to innovate and adapt to secure our future. It is these very attributes which underpin the very character of RCSI and its people.