The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) conferred over 550 healthcare professionals yesterday, in two ceremonies that took place in the College’s St Stephen’s Green campus.

The first ceremony saw the conferring of candidates by the Faculties of Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists, Dentistry, Nursing and Midwifery, and Sports and Exercise Medicine.

In surgery, the awards conferred included Fellowship of RCSI (JSCFE; including General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery), (Ad Eundem, General Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedic, Urology and Vascular Surgery), Membership of RCSI (including ENT and Ophthalmology). All were awarded in the second ceremony of the day.

The new Fellows and Members were admitted by RCSI Vice President, Professor Deborah McNamara. Addressing the candidates, Professor McNamara said: “Together, we must remain ambitious for Ireland’s future. Working together we can re-build the health service that our country so desperately needs. It won’t happen overnight but slowly, incrementally, we can make things better. And we can’t do it without you. So today we celebrate your success. And tomorrow, together, we continue the work.”

In a message to the candidates, RCSI President Professor Laura Viani said: “The legacy of healthcare innovations by our Fellows and Members over our 238-year history illustrates how each and every one of you has the potential to shape the delivery of excellence in patient care. This is a great responsibility and also a privilege.

“You are now in a most exciting place as you embark on the next phase in your professional life, as part of RCSI’s global network of over 10,000 Fellows and Members across 87 countries.”

The second ceremony also included presentation of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) medal to Danielle McLaughlin, RCSI Fellow. The BAPS medal was awarded by the Intercollegiate Board in Paediatric Surgery for outstanding performance at the Intercollegiate Specialty Examination in Paediatric Surgery held in Edinburgh in March 2022.

To watch a recording of the ceremony, visit the RCSI YouTube channel.