The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) 2024 Charter Week gets underway today with this year’s theme of 'Rising to Challenges in a Changing World’.

The annual meeting is held at RCSI’s St Stephen’s Green campus in Dublin to mark the anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter to the College in 1784.

The meeting will commence on Tuesday, 6 February with the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) conference, the theme of which is ‘Quality Healthcare Data in Ireland: A Revolution of an Evolution?’ NOCA is a publicly funded independent institution, based in and supported by RCSI. A variety of speakers will explore topics on the overall theme including use of AI and population-health approaches to care.

Tuesday concludes with the Intercollegiate Case Competitions, an annual competition that brings together the surgical societies of Irish medical schools.

Wednesday, 7 February will open with a meeting of the National Clinical Programmes in Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, and Emergency Medicine, where topics will include the launch of clinical guidance for surgical hubs, modernised care pathways and management of soft tissue trauma.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Irish Surgical Training Group (ISTG) meeting will take place. ISTG is an independent entity run by surgical trainees. The ISTG meeting will conclude with the Bosco O’Mahony Lecture delivered by Professor Conrad Timon on the topic ‘Consultant Surgery Uncovered’ . The lecture is named in honour of Mr John Bosco O’Mahony, one of the longest serving members of the RCSI Council.

On Thursday, 8 February the annual Johnson & Johnson Lecture will be delivered by Mr Michael Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health, New York, who will explore ‘Leading Healthcare into Transformational Change’. The day will finish out with the 34th Annual Videosurgery Meeting.

Keynote speakers

The keynote speakers on the final day of Charter Week will present on the topic of healthcare provision during times of war. BBC Correspondent Fergal Keane will deliver the 31st Carmichael Lecture entitled ‘The Necessity of Hope: Finding Light in a World of Pain’. The annual lecture is named after former President of RCSI Richard Carmichael, with previous speakers including Michael O’Leary, Catríona Perry, and Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammad.

On Friday afternoon, the 99th Colles Lecture will be presented by Professor David Nott. This lecture is named after Abraham Colles, RCSI Professor of Surgery after whom the Colles fracture is named. Professor Nott is Professor of Practice (Surgery) and consultant surgeon in Imperial College, London and his lecture is entitled ‘Leaving a Legacy in War Zones’.

Key symposiums will be held across the week in the areas of ‘Surgery Responding to Global and Environmental Change’; ‘Transitions in a Surgical Career’; ‘Crisis Management: What Have we Learnt?’ and ‘Technology of the Future for Irish Surgery’. 

Parallel sessions during the meeting include general surgery, neurosurgery, urology, RCSI postgraduate faculties and the Irish Institute of Pharmacy, ophthalmic surgery, trauma and orthopaedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, emergency medicine, ENT/otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery and vascular surgery.

Throughout Charter Week, RCSI will play host to Close to the Bone, a touring photographic exhibition. Close to the Bone is a collection of poignant moments captured on camera by photographer Caroline Seymour, who has worked closely with patients, their families, and medical teams to bring their stories to light. A free public talk about the collection will take place on Tuesday, 6 February at 5pm.

RCSI President Professor Laura Viani commented on the importance of Charter Week, saying: “This annual event not only celebrates the granting of the Royal Charter to RCSI in 1784, but it is also an opportunity to for us to gather as a community of surgeons and reflect on the opportunities and challenges we face together, in a changing world.”

For the full programme visit: rcsi.com/Charter2024