321 new doctors from 33 countries will don caps and gowns to celebrate their graduation from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences today.

The virtual School of Medicine conferring ceremony will be streamed from 2pm via rcsi.com/dublin.

RCSI’s School of Medicine conferring ceremony sees the largest number of doctors in Ireland graduate each year and today’s event is a celebration for students and their families.

The founder of the field of positive psychology, Professor Martin Seligman will be awarded an RCSI Honorary Doctorate at the ceremony.  Professor Seligman, the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology and Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, will deliver an inspiring address to the new graduates as they embark on their medical careers.

Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive/Registrar, RCSI, congratulated all those graduating on their success: “We are immensely proud of our Class of 2021 graduates for showing extraordinary maturity and determination to complete their studies during the pandemic. Not only have these future doctors remain committed to their final year training on the frontline during the greatest health crisis of our lifetimes, they have benefitted from learning in an environment where patient-centred care is the priority from day one, equipping them with the all the necessary knowledge and skills required to be rounded and clinically distinguished clinicians.

“I am confident that our graduates will be extraordinarily resilient and compassionate doctors and we look forward to watching them progress on the next phase of their journey as healthcare leaders of the future.”

Commenting on the RCSI Honorary Doctorate award, Professor Kelly said: “In the course of his distinguished 55-year career in psychology and as the founder of the field of positive psychology, Professor Martin Seligman’s mission has been the attempt to transform social science to work on the best things in life – strengths, positive emotion, good relationships, meaning, and human flourishing. We are delighted to honour Professor Seligman here today in recognition of his exceptional contributions and advancement in this important field of human health.”

322 Honours Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Obstetrics MB, BCh, BAO (NUI, RCSI), LRCP and SI will be conferred at the ceremony, including one posthumous award.

Ali Hejazi, final year medical student, who died following a tragic accident in April, will be remembered by the RCSI community at the ceremony. In recognition of the medical programme completed by Ali, he will be conferred with his medical degree posthumously.

The ceremony will be streamed from 2pm via the RCSI Dublin homepage.