More than 120 Transition Year students from the South-East of Ireland took part in the Waterford RCSI Transition Year MiniMed training programme from 17-20 February 2015, held in University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and Waterford Institute of Technology.

This interactive programme gave 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.

During the programme, students attended interactive lectures; received 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 a live operation video-linked in from Beaumont Hospital on Wednesday 18th February. During this unique MiniMed learning event, students were able to ask questions directly to the surgical team, who were able to talk them through the surgical procedure. Other topics that were covered over the action-packed four days included human anatomy, forensic medicine, psychiatry, radiology, neurology, paediatrics, otolaryngology and surgery to name but a few.

The 2014 Waterford MiniMed Programme was coordinated by Professor Riona Mulcahy, Undergraduate Dean, Senior Lecturer in Medicine, RCSI and UHW; and Professor Fred Jackson, Department of Medicine, RCSI and UHW; and Mr Joe O'Beirne, RCSI Council Member and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedics at RCSI and UHW.

Speaking on the transition year initiative in Waterford, Professor Arnold Hill, Head of the RCSI School of Medicine said: “The TY MiniMed programme is an excellent opportunity for students in the south-east of the country to experience what it is like to train as a medical professional. Students will have an opportunity to use innovative technology and learn from some of Ireland's top healthcare professionals from RCSI and University Hospital Waterford, giving them an excellent insight into careers in medicine, science and research.”