Approximately 190 Transition Year (TY) students from 90 schools across Ireland have been taking part in a week long TY MiniMed training programme this week at RCSI and Beaumont Hospital.

The week-long interactive programme, which is running from 12-16 January, gives Transition Year students the opportunity to step out of their usual classroom setting and experience what it is like to train and work as a doctor in the setting of a real hospital.

As part of the programme, students have been attending interactive lectures, receiving hands-on training in clinical skills as well as getting practical experience in medicine and scientific tutorials. The highlight of the TY MiniMed initiative was where students got to witness the birth of a baby from a caesarean section via a live video link, from the Rotunda Hospital. The following day, the young people took to the operating theatre and watched a live laparoscopic surgical procedure, this time being broadcast from Beaumont Hospital.

During both events, students were able to ask questions to the surgical team, who were able to talk them through both procedures. Other topics covered over the action-packed five days include human anatomy, forensic medicine, psychiatry, epilepsy, tropical medicine and surgery.

Leading medical professionals from RCSI and Beaumont Hospital are delivering the programme, including Professor Arnold Hill, Consultant Breast, Endocrine and General surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, Chair of RCSI's Department of Surgery and Head of the School of Medicine, RCSI.

Speaking on the initiative, Professor Hill, said: “RCSI's TY MiniMed programme is now in its eight year and is a fantastic opportunity for young people in transition year to experience what it is really like to train as a medical professional in a real hospital environment. This week students have used and learned about the latest innovative technology in medicine from some of Ireland's top healthcare professionals in RCSI and Beaumont Hospital. This experience will have given them an excellent insight into prospective careers in medicine, science and research.”

Dr Steve Kerrigan, Academic co-ordinator of the programme and Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology at RCSI, said: “I'm delighted to welcome all 190 students to RCSI to take part in the 2015 RCSI TY MiniMed Programme. We have put together a very busy programme of events where the students will spend two days at RCSI in St Stephens Green and the other three days in Beaumont Hospital. The organisation of the five-day programme is a result of a College-wide collaboration involving more than 100 staff who volunteered their time to ensure that this is the best possible experience for the young students. I really hope they learn a lot during the week and it assists them in making the correct career choice.”