Professor Gerry O'Sullivan, Past-President of RCSI, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) on Monday, 9 May 2011 at a ceremony which took place in RCSI in Dublin.

Professor O'Sullivan was responsible for establishing links between RCSI and COSECSA which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Colleges in 2007 with the objective of enhancing surgical training and standards in the East, Central and Southern African region.

Reading the Citation for Professor O'Sullivan, Professor Krikor Erzingatsian, CEO/ Registrar of COSECSA, said: "The honour which COSECSA is about to bestow on Professor O'Sullivan is a fitting tribute coming from the surgical fraternity in East Central and Southern Africa, who think it essential to express their gratitude and respect to an outstanding representative of Irish Surgery."

Professor O'Sullivan completed his Higher Surgical Training in 1979, following which he spent time in the Middle East and North America before returning to Ireland. Since then he has devoted his life to cancer work in Ireland and became Director of the Cancer Research Centre in Cork.

Professor O'Sullivan has a remarkable curriculum vitae with 229 publications to his name; nine postgraduate qualifications; 37 awards, achievements and titles; 44 memberships of learned societies and committees; 29 keynote invited lectures; 7 patents, and has developed 11 new surgical techniques, mainly in gastrointestinal oncology.

Professor O'Sullivan was President of RCSI from 2006-2008.