From Monday, 15-17 August 2016, the RCSI's Institute of Leadership was proud to host its first International Leadership Summer School at the RCSI St Stephen's Green campus in Dublin, Ireland.

Bringing together Leadership Masters students from RCSI's Dublin, Dubai and Bahrain campuses, the Summer School provided a unique opportunity for participants to develop their leadership competencies while building an international network of future healthcare leaders.

Professor Ciaran O'Boyle, Director of the Institute of Leadership, said: "The mission of the RCSI is to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health. The Institute of Leadership draws its own mission directly from this as ‘Advancing Healthcare Leadership: Making a Difference’. This Summer School is important in that it provides our students with an international forum and opportunity to share their experiences and to learn from each other. The Summer School provides time-out from busy work schedules and allows students to broaden their vision of what constitutes quality healthcare." 

With 50 attendees from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and the Pacific, the Summer School provided an ideal forum for students to share their knowledge about healthcare delivery internationally, identifying global trends and areas of difference and opportunity. Through a range of interactive activities, participants were challenged to consider their own leadership capabilities while learning how to work more effectively with their colleagues. Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO/Registrar, RCSI remarked, "Congratulations on such a great idea and wonderful programme. What a remarkable event for students to network internationally and develop their leadership competencies."

Eminent key note speakers included Mr Tony O'Brien, HSE Director General; Dr Áine Carroll, HSE National Director of Clinical Care Programmes; and Dr Phillip Crowley and Ms Maureen Flynn of the HSE Quality Improvement Division.

Prof Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences affirmed, "What an impressive set of speakers for the International Summer School, I wish the event every success."

As a result of the Summer School, a virtual Future Leaders Network will be created in order to share best practices in leadership across cultures to meet the growing complexity of healthcare delivery.

RCSI would like to thank the Steering Group, Guest Speakers and Participants for making the first International Leadership Summer School such a thought-provoking and enjoyable event.

Join the conversation at #ILSS16.