RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science’s 2022 summer conferring ceremonies began yesterday with a new cohort of medical students being officially conferred in a ceremony in the Convention Centre Dublin.
RCSI’s School of Medicine conferring ceremony sees the largest number of doctors in Ireland graduate each year. Candidates were presented by the Vice Chancellor and CEO/Registrar of RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, and conferred by RCSI President, Professor P. Ronan O’Connell.
Over 330 degrees were conferred across Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Medical Sciences, Honours Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) and LRCP & SI.
The graduands were addressed by Dr Trish Scanlan, who was receiving RCSI’s highest academic award – the Honorary Doctorate in Science. Dr Scanlan is Director of TLM Paediatric Oncology Programme in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, and Interim Director of Global Health at Children’s Health Ireland, and is currently assisting the movement of sick Ukrainian children from Kiev to Dublin.
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at RCSI, Professor Hannah McGee, introduced the Honorary Doctorate: “Dr Scanlan’s achievements have been truly exceptional. Against a background of very poor facilities, limited or no access to chemotherapeutic drugs, diagnostic tests and blood transfusions, Dr Scanlan undertook a long-term project to improve cancer care for the children of Tanzania. Her work has significantly improved the cancer survival rates for the children of Tanzania.”
Professor Kelly congratulated all those graduating today on their success: “Since RCSI was founded, our graduates have continuously pursued excellence and have pushed the barriers of healthcare innovation, with many going on to become worldwide leaders in their field. Today, they join RCSI’s community of more than 28,000 alumni across 98 countries who are connected by a shared experience of studying together.”
RCSI President Professor O’Connell said: “I congratulate the Class of 2022 on their very significant achievements. Today’s ceremony recognises their commitment, dedication and hard work. It is an important milestone in their careers as doctors; that all of this was achieved during a global pandemic makes today all the more special.”
The graduates were also addressed by the Class of 2022 valedictorian, Maria Mahfouz.
As part of the conferring, the NUI Degree of Doctor of Medicine (DMed) on Published Work was awarded to Mr Brendan Moran for his research which focuses on peritoneal malignancy, and Professor Peter Conlon for his important research work that has made a major contribution to advancing nephrology. The DMed is the highest qualification awarded by NUI and it signifies scholarship of international distinction.
