Connected, RCSI Bahrain Newsletter, May 2016

RCSI Bahrain has been granted full membership of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU), following its 49th General Assembly meeting, attended by university President, Professor Sameer Otoom in Al Ain, UAE last month.

The membership award comes on the back of a self-assessment report submitted to the association and a site visit conducted by a representative delegation earlier this year.

The AARU works within the framework of the Arab League, with the objective of supporting and connecting its 280 member institutions from 22 countries around the region and enhancing cooperation among them.

RCSI Bahrain Recognition, Careers and Alumni

Manager, Fadi Ghosn, accepted the membership certificate from AARU Secretary General, Dr Sultan Abu Orabi.

RCSI Bahrain gains Arab association membership

Mr Ghosn receives the certificate from Dr Abu Orabi

His Excellency Simon Martin CMG, British Ambassador to The Kingdom of Bahrain, visited the university last month for a tour of the campus and a meeting with the Executive Committee (EXCO).

Chief Operating Officer (COO), Stephen Harrison- Mirfield guided Ambassador Martin on the tour, before a meeting with President, Professor Sameer Otoom and fellow EXCO members to discuss the university’s ongoing activities.

Previously the Deputy Private Secretary to Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, Mr Martin joined the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1984 and was appointed Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to The Kingdom of Bahrain in September 2015.

The visit coincided with a series of celebrations taking place across Bahrain on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of relations between Bahrain and the UK, including and a symposium to promote collaborations with UK institutions earlier this year.

British Ambassador visits RCSI Bahrain campus

Profesor Otoom presents a gift to Ambassador Martin

RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom and Institute of Leadership (IOL) Programmes Director and Senior Lecturer, Dr Michael Shannon, travelled to Irbid, Jordan last month, for Jordan University of Science and Technology’s (JUST) eighth international medical conference.

The conference was attended by more than 1000 participants from different countries and addressed a variety of subjects in medical practice and medical education.

Professor Otoom was one of a number of international speakers, alongside those from the UK, the US and Canada, as he presented the experience of RCSI Bahrain in professionalism and its integration in the medical curriculum and the graduate medical profile.

Dr Shannon and Professor Otoom also took the opportunity to meet with JUST President, Professor Mahmoud Al Sheyyab to discuss possible collaboration in relation to postgraduate programmes run by the IOL.

Professor Otoom speaks at JUST conference

Professor Otoom and Dr Shannon with Prof Al Shayyab, left

University President, Professor Sameer Otoom, visited the University of Bahrain (UoB) campus in Sakhir last month, where he met with its recently-appointed President, Professor Riyad Hamzah, and discussed potential collaborative projects between the two institutions.

Professor Otoom, who was accompanied by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin; Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman and Head of School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Professor Davinder Sandhu, took the opportunity to congratulate Professor Hamzah on his appointment, which was announced in a Royal Decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in late March.

Previously serving as Vice-president of Arabian Gulf University (AGU) from 1994 to 2005, Professor Hamzah has worked closely with RCSI Bahrain over the last five years, particularly in his role as Secretary General of the Higher Education Council (HEC).

Professors Cowman, McMenamin and Otoom with Professor Hamzah

EXCO members visit UoB

RCSI Bahrain extends portfolio of collaborators

RCSI Bahrain signed a pair of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) last month that will offer medical students further opportunities for valuable clinical experience at facilities around the country.

The first agreement saw the university team up with the German Orthopaedic Hospital to offer students the opportunity to apply to attend the Zinj-based facility for clinical and research electives and clinical training and experience.

The MoU was signed during a meeting between RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom and German Orthopaedic Hospital Acting Medical Director, Dr Heiner Abel.

As per the terms of the agreement, the two parties will jointly appoint a designated member of the hospital staff to coordinate and supervise the clinical electives, in liaison with RCSI Bahrain’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin.

Both parties are also keen to collaborate on joint research activities, conferences and other educational and academic activities.

This is a first working agreement between RCSI Bahrain and the German Orthopaedic Hospital and is a reflection of the hospital’s mission to expand into extensive patient care, research and education.

A second MoU was signed in April with the region’s first diabetes-devoted medical centre; Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center.

The main objective of this association is to promote international understanding and collaboration between the two parties with regard to educational, research and professional activities.

The MoU was signed during a meeting between Professor Otoom and Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center Medical Director, Dr Nasreen Al-Sayed.

Under the terms of the memorandum, RCSI Bahrain students will have the opportunity to apply for clinical or research electives at the centre.

The two parties are also hoping to work together on a series of collaborative research projects, joint-venture lectures and symposia, exchange academic information and materials and promote further academic cooperation down the line.

Opened in 2004, Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center is the region’s first medical facility devoted entirely to the treatment of diabetes and related complications.

These latest announcements mark a significant enhancement of RCSI Bahrain’s portfolio of collaborators, which already includes many of the country’s hospitals as well as entities overseas, and could attract students for clinical electives as soon as the upcoming summer break.

Professor Otoom with Dr Al-SayedDr Abel and Professor Otoom

A special workshop took place at the university last month to raise awareness of colorectal cancer.

Nursing students, local media and representatives of non-governmental organisations, including members of the Rotary Club of Manama, took part in the workshop, which was organised by the Community Engagement department, in collaboration with the Rufaida Honor Nursing Society and Hoffman-La Roche (Roche) pharmaceutical company.

The event featured a presentation by Roche Oncology Manager for the Gulf region, Dr Fahmi Bahgat, on some of the myths, facts and statistics behind colorectal cancer.

RCSI Bahrain Director of Nursing Bridging Programme and Vice President of the Rufaida Honor Nursing Society, Dr Husain Ali Nasaif, highlighted research findings of a new study on colorectal cancer awareness, while the Bahrain Cancer Society outlined its activities in fighting the disease and how the media can assist in highlighting the problem of colon cancer.

Roche representatives also took the opportunity to meet with RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, to discuss further collaboration between the two parties.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer – also commonly referred to as bowel cancer, colon cancer or rectal cancer – is the second most common cancer worldwide, after lung cancer and the third most common cancer in men and women in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Among causes found to contribute towards colorectal cancer are old age, high-calorie/fatty diet, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, high alcohol intake, Crohn’s Disease, previous history of cancer and genetics.

Following the conclusion of the workshop, organisers will make their way to Al Malkiyah Beach, where representatives of Roche will inflate a giant colon model, as an educational demonstration of colorectal cancer symptoms.

RCSI Bahrain hosts Colorectal Cancer workshop

Media Representatives Attending the Workshop Organisers and student volunteers at Malkiyah beach

A delegation from the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) visited the campus last month to discuss plans for collaborative efforts in support of the advancement of Bahraini women.

The delegation, which was led by SCW Assistant Secretary General, Her Excellency, Dhaweya Al Alawi, met with senior university officials, including President, Professor Sameer Otoom.

The SCW delivered a presentation on the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women, while Professional Development Unit (PDU) Coordinator, Sumaya Hashim, highlighted RCSI Bahrain’s efforts to support the advancement of Bahraini women.

Female Bahraini staff members; Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, Dr Ghufran Jassim; Quality Officer, Amal AlGallaf; Director of BSc (Hons) Nursing Programme, Eman Tawash; English Language Lecturer, Sireen AlAradi and Arabic Language Course Coordinator, Rabab AlMouqahwi, also spoke about the respective research projects they have undertaken on the back of support from the university.The meeting followed on from a visit by senior RCSI officials to the SCW offices at the end of March, when a proposal was presented for a number of collaborative

activities between the two parties.At the earlier meeting, the attendees agreed to initially

focus on Impact Factors of Quality of Life and Lifelong Learning.A joint committee, featuring Dr Jassim, Ms Hashim, RCSI Bahrain’s Head of Community Engagement, Julie Sprakel, and senior SCW representatives, was established at that time, with the aims of identifying opportunities for health awareness campaigns and outreach programmes; consider possible research topics and explore possibilities for a scholarship.

RCSI Bahrain and SCW supporting the advancement of Bahraini women

SCW representatives and RCSI Bahrain staff at the meeting

RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom joined fellow educators and business leaders in debating the merits of national curriculums at the inaugural Bett Middle East Leadership Forum and Expo in Abu Dhabi last month.

Organised by global education technology exhibition and congress series, Bett, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the event aimed to discuss the transformation of education in the Middle East, whilst promoting the discovery of technology and knowledge to enhance lifelong learning across the regional academic landscape.

Representatives of a host of well-known global organisations and regional educational bodies attended the event, which included a series of keynote addresses, speeches, and interactive panel discussions.

Among the keynote speakers were British Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency, Philip Parham; Abu Dhabi Education Council Director General, Dr Ali Rashid Al

Nuaimi, and Microsoft Worldwide Education Vice President, Anthony Salcito.

Topics covered included the influence of game- changing EdTech (Education Technology) on the quality of education in the region, management of security risks in a digital learning environment, and improving standards of English and Arabic through digital language learning.

Professor Sameer Otoom attends international education debate in Abu Dhabi

N3 students Zainab Mohamed Ahmed, Farah Sunji and Ayesha Barakat will attend the Complementary Therapy Programme at the National Tapei University of Nursing and Health Sciences (NTUNHS) in Taiwan in July.

The news was announced during the visit of the des-ignated representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan, Michael Chen, to the campus last month.

RCSI Bahrain and NTUNHS signed a collaboration agreement back in 2012 and this year marks the first time students from Bahrain will have the opportunity to visit the institution.

The programme is open to international students from sister and partner schools overseas, as well as individuals with a particular interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Taiwanese culture, and provides a special opportunity to focus on such learnings through lectures, hands-on practices and hospital visits.

Nursing students to attend Taiwan training

Professor Otoom during the debate

Mr Chen is received by RCSI Bahrain staff members

RCSI Bahrain welcomes Rotary delegationSenior officials from Rotary International’s regional governing body visited the university earlier this year for an introduction to the campus and the ongoing collaboration with the Rotary Club of Manama.

The delegation was led by Rotary International District 2452 Governor, Mustafa Nasereddin and Deputy Governor Sebahat Isik, and also included Rotary Club of Manama President, Raj Damani.

The meeting focused on the work of the Paediatric Mobile Diabetes Unit, which is run by RCSI Bahrain’s Community Engagement Department, in association with the Bahrain Diabetes Society.

The mobile unit was originally donated to the Bahrain Diabetes Society by the Rotary Club of Manama in 2012.

The delegation also met with RCSI Bahrain senior management, including President, Professor Sameer Otoom, Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin, Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman and Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield.

During the meeting, Professor Otoom acknowledged the long-standing relationship between the university and the Rotary Club and opened discussion on further collaboration and the formation of a joint-board.

Rotary officials and RCSI Bahrain staff during the visit

Sara Hussain Nasaif, daughter of RCSI Bahrain Director of Nursing Bridging programme, Dr Husain Ali Nasaif, has been announced as one of the winners of the prestigious Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) for 2016.

The 17-year-old Hamad Town Secondary School pupil was one of ten selected for the coveted prize from a group of more than 60 private and government school

students that took part in training sessions, courses and a number of tests over recent months.

All applicants were required to have a GPA of 97% or higher, with Sara’s personal GPA currently standing at 99%.

Set to graduate in June, Sara plans to attend the Hun School of Princeton in the US for two years, before enrolilng to study Industrial Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Harvard University.

Sara Hussain Nasaif wins Crown Prince’s Scholarship

RCSI Bahrain Associate Professor of Medicine, BDF Hospital Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Consultant and RCSI alumnus, Professor Manaf Al Qahtani, has been elected Vice President of the Bahrain Medical Society (BMS).

Having served as BMS General Secretary since 2014,

Professor Al Qahtani was re-elected to the board as Vice President for the next two years in last month’s election.

In his new role, Professor Al Qahtani will be tasked with liaising with healthcare organisations in Bahrain with a view to promoting the highest professional ethics and standards and ongoing medical research, as well as communicating with international medical societies.

Founded in 1972 and recognised under the Ministry of Health, BMS is the official and authorised medical society and currently has more than 1800 active members.

Professor Manaf Al Qahtani new BMS Vice President

Professor Al Qahtani

Sara, front row, fourth from left, and Dr Nasaif, front row, second from right, pictured alongside His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister and fellow scholars and family

members

RCSI Bahrain students will take up half of the available places on this year’s RCSI International Research Summer School (IRSS) programme.

IC1 students Maryam Alzeera, Yousef Ashraf Ishaq Abousedu, Fatema Ahmed Hamza Ahmed Ali and Maryam Shaikh Nasser will travel to Asia in July, after finishing among the eight highest-scoring of the 54 applicants – 20 from RCSI Bahrain – for this, the second edition of the IRSS.

Maryam and Yousef will join two colleagues from RCSI on an eight-week research project at the University of Hoshi in Tokyo, Japan, as Fatema and Maryam attend Soochow University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

in Suzhou, China for the same period.Groups of students from those host universities

meanwhile, will travel to RCSI in Dublin.Organised through RCSI’s School of Pharmacy, the IRSS

is a student exchange programme open to Intermediate Cycle medical students from across RCSI’s international campuses.

RCSI Bahrain’s Ahmed Bassim Dhaif was among six candidates who took part in the inaugural IRSS, which was launched as part of a wider collaboration on teaching, innovative scientific research, student training, and technology development over the coming years.

Four RCSI Bahrain students to take part in summer research initiative

As part of RCSI Bahrain’s focus on encouraging medical research and development, the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research recently launched a programme of research cluster groups, focusing on a variety of areas.

In this edition, we take a look at the two of the five cluster groups:

The Health Professions Education cluster is led by Associate Professor in Physiology, Fiza Rashid-Doubell, and is made up of a number of RCSI Bahrain faculty interested in conducting research in medical education.

More than 20 participants attended the first meeting, where they addressed key issues revolving around moving the research forward. From there, participants have been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss, explore and develop potential research ideas.

Professor Rashid-Doubell is particularly focused on facilitating educational research at RCSI Bahrain and developing key areas for research projects. One of the key areas that the cluster is exploring is student engagement in the classroom and in clinic practice.

Associate Professor of Physics, Professor Fryad Henari has been chosen to take the lead on the Bio Science cluster group, which has also drawn in a host of faculty

members and external collaborators interested in laboratory research.

After introductions and discussion on the status of research and equipment available at RCSI Bahrain, participants presented a number of research topic areas, including regenerative medicine, use of curcumin and lasers.

In addition, the group put forward proposals regarding future collaboration between members of staff within RCSI Bahrain as well as those with RCSI in Dublin, Arabian Gulf University (AGU) and University of Bahrain (UoB).

Research clusters in focus

The Health Professions Education cluster in session

International visits reach out to prospective studentsRCSI Bahrain’s annual international school visits were in full swing over the course of the second semester, as Head of Student Recruitment, Frank McCarthy, met with potential future students from around the region

Aimed at secondary school counsellors and potential healthcare students, the visits offered an opportunity for those interested in studying at RCSI Bahrain to meet with university officials face-to-face and ask important questions.

Mr McCarthy was joined on the visits, which kicked off in Oman in March, by RCSI Bahrain Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield and Academic Director of Admissions, Dr Declan Gaynor.

Undeterred by the torrential weather conditions in Oman, the team visited and delivered information packs to a host of schools across the city of Muscat.

Next on the schedule was a trip to Qatar, where Mr McCarthy took part in the annual careers fair at the Gulf English School in Doha before hosting an information open evening at the Marriott Hotel.

After attending the Education and Training International Exhibition (Edutex Bahrain) 2016, the team was on the road again in April as it visited schools in Kuwait and Jordan respectively.

Dr Gaynor, Mr Harrison-Mirfield and Mr McCarthy in Muscat Mr McCarthy pictured at the Gulf English School Career Day

University staff and students last month had the opportunity to view the world’s first virtual reality live-stream operation, with thanks to the UK-based medical training group, Medical Realities.

The procedure – to remove cancerous tissue from the bowel of a male patient – was performed by Dr Shafi Ahmed at the Royal London Hospital in the UK and screened live around the world via the Medical Realities website, of which Dr Ahmed is a co-founder.

Using virtual reality headsets, the Student Council, with the assistance of IC3 student Latifa Sanad, transformed room 441 unto a ‘viewing station’ as staff and students joined hundreds of thousands of people in experiencing the procedure from the 360-degree view of one of the surgeons in the operating theatre.

Shot using two 360-degree cameras and a number of

lenses arranged around the theatre, the operation could be viewed through the “VR in OR” app, using a virtual reality headset that can be paired with a smartphone. Those who did not have a headset could watch the feed live online.

The initiative was launched by Medical Realities as a means to allow medical students, trainee surgeons and curious members of the public to immerse themselves in the procedure in real time, albeit with a one-minute delay incorporated into the broadcast in case of any complications.

According to Dr Ahmed, the new approach brings a valuable new feature to education, allowing viewers to focus not just on what the surgeon is doing, but also on what other members of the team are up to.

Students and staff experience virtual reality surgery

Professors Frank and Wayne Cunningham catch a glimpseStudent Council members view the live surgery

Twenty-five primary school students from Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS) visited the campus last month for the final ‘Mad Science’ session of the school year.

The ARKIS contingent was met by RCSI Bahrain Foundation Year medical students taking part in the Professionalism module, in conjunction with the Community Engagement department.

After donning their own lab coats and safety goggles, the Year 4 children were brought to the multi-purpose laboratory, where the medical students demonstrated a series of science experiments.

The main aim of these sessions is to develop children’s interest in science by showing them fun and challenging

activities, while also examining students’ professionalism in engaging with the wider community in Bahrain.

The undergraduates are required to organise and conduct the science fair themselves, under the supervision and assessment of their elective coordinators, and prepare a reflective report noting their experiences and how the programme might be improved.

The latest visit followed on from that by a group from Nadeen School last month and brought to 215 the number of school kids to have taken part in the programme since it was launched by RCSI Bahrain back in 2013.Among previous schools to participate include Riffa Views International School, Al Mahd Day Boarding School and Lycee Francais de Bahrain.

RCSI Bahrain welcomes ‘mad scientists’

The young scientists look on intently

Students and staff donated 39 units of blood to the Cen-tral Blood Bank last month, through the second and final blood donation drive of the academic year organised by the Community Engagement department.

The latest effort brings to 288 the total number of units of blood donated to the Central Blood Bank since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties back in 2012.

RCSI Bahrain hosts blood donation drive

Maintenence technician Mansoor Ahmed Tariq giving blood

Professor Rashid-Doubell gains BMJ publicationRCSI Bahrain Associate Professor in Physiology, Professor Fiza Rashid Doubell, along with former colleagues, Dr Catherine O’ Neill, Dr Khalifa Elmusharaf and MSc Nursing graduate, Shereen Mohamed, have had their study focusing on the use of mobile devices in the clinical setting accepted by the BMJ Open online journal.

The publication, entitled:

“A Balancing Act: A Phenomenological Exploration of Medical Students’ Experiences of Using Mobile Devices in the Clinical Setting”, went live on the BMJ Open website last week.

The BMJ Open is an online, open access journal, dedicated to publishing medical research from all disciplines and therapeutics areas and is part of the British Medical Journal group of publications.

Upon acceptance of the article, Professor Rashid-Doubell reserved special thanks for Head of School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Professor Davinder Sandhu for his contribution.

Prof Rashid-Doubell

ARKIS students with the FY participants

RCSI Bahrain presented a cheque for over BD1200 to the Bahrain Red Crescent (BRC) Society in late March, thanks to funds raised through the university’s second annual Health Week, Community Engagement and clubs and societies activities

The cheque was presented to BRC Secretary General, Dr Fawzi Amin, by RCSI Bahrain’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Stephen Harrison-Mirfield and will be directed towards providing dignity kits to displaced people, both locally and regionally, in crisis situations.

Launched by the SRC team in 2015 with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyle among staff and students, RCSI Bahrain’s Health Week programme falls in line with the university’s overall objective of advancing human health in Bahrain.

RCSI Bahrain donates to Red Crescent Society

Dr Amin receives the cheque from Mr Harrison-Mirfield

University hosts latest surgical courseRCSI Bahrain conducted the latest of its Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) courses in March, with 16 participants from hospitals across the country attending the two-day workshop.

Coordinated by Department of Surgery Professor and Chairman, Professor Martin Corbally, the course is designed to introduce surgical trainees to safe surgical practice within a controlled environment and aims to teach, assess and certify the ability of trainees to use safe and sound surgical techniques that are common to all forms of surgery.

The latest workshop focused on elements of open surgery, endoscopic surgery and laparoscopic surgery and featured small group workstations to focus on basic skills and techniques as well as hands-on practice and review sessions.

Attendees at the workshop

Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy bid farewell

While small changes and developments are an inevitable part of life here at RCSI Bahrain over the summer break, those returning to the campus next September are sure to notice a huge change, in the absence of two of the university’s most recognisable faces.

As anyone who has stepped foot inside RCSI Bahrain since it first opened its doors back in 2004 will know, Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy have been integral parts of the university experience in that time and indeed, have become something of an institution in their own right.

Sadly, the time has come to bid farewell to two of our most dedicated staff over the coming weeks and it’s safe to say that this place will never be the same again.

While staff members will undoubtedly be hugely sorry to see them go, it is their rapport with the students themselves that will likely be most difficult to replicate and it was fitting to see such a huge and emotional turnout for Dr Cassidy’s final lecture last month.

Before their departure, we took the opportunity to speak to Dr and Mrs Cassidy, who reflected on the changes they have witnessed, what they will miss the most and what they are most looking forward to back home in Ireland.

“We arrived in September 2004 and the heat was unbelievable, I’d never experienced anything like it before,” recalls Claire. “The drive to the hotel is something I will never forgot, my heart was in my mouth.

“The university was in Seef, it was small and intimate and the atmosphere was lovely. Bahrain was so beautiful in its own way and after living in a green country, the contrast was amazing.”

“Our first location was in the Al Saffah building in Seef,” adds Dr Seamas. “The university had rented the first two floors but these had to be reconstructed and converted into lecture rooms, staff rooms, laboratories etc.

“On our first visit there we were met by Pearce Cole of Mercury Construction, the company who later were to build our present building. It was a typical building site at that time but he assured us that everything would be in place for the start of term on October 9th and he was true to his word.”

“I remember our first staff meeting,” Dr Seamas goes on. “It was a gathering of our all staff at the time; three academics, five administrators, and three visitors from Dublin. It was a short ad rem discussion admirably chaired by Professor Kevin O’Malley and the main topic was whether we would have lectures on Christmas Day.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly to many, the couple were in total agreement as to what they would miss most about RCSI Bahrain.

“The students and my interaction with them. They are

Dr Seamas and Claire with Professor Kevin O’Malley, Seamus O’Boyle and Professor Sameer Otoom at the

Tenth Anniversary Gala Dinner

Claire flying the Irish flag on St Patrick’s Day

Dr Seamas in the lab

Claire and Dr Seamas

great and I loved every moment with them, I will miss that so much,” states Claire without hesitation.

“I have been teaching for fifty five years at all levels, on a number of continents and the students in RCSI Bahrain have been the most respectful, mannerly and appreciative learners I have ever come across,” claims Dr Seamas. “They are enthusiastic, eager to learn and grateful for all that is done for them. I wish them all well and I will miss them.”

Looking ahead to their next adventure back in ‘the Emerald Isle’, their sporting passions particularly come to the fore.

“I’m looking forward to going back to my home, my family and my friends, going to the National Concert Hall and going to see Dublin play both in hurling and football,” says Claire.

“I will enjoy getting back to probably the best hidden gem of a links course called The Island in North Dublin,” reveals Dr Seamas. “Hail, rain or snow, it is a beautiful place with wonderful memories. Claire and I will hope to have many of our golfing colleagues from RCSI Bahrain join us there for challenging golf, long chats and current stories of how the university is progressing.”

“As we know, Dr Seamas and Claire are leaving us, their second family - RCSI Bahrain, to rejoin their first family in both Dublin and France! I would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their immense dedication and loyalty over all the years, and indeed since the very inauguration of our university. This is definitely the end of an era for us all and I know they will both be very much missed by staff and students – and of course the Royal Golf Club, as well as by all the very good friends they are leaving behind. I know I speak on behalf of all of us, to wish them the happiest of retirements and many, many years of enjoying the leisurely life that they so deserve.”

- RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom.

“Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy have not just been a part of the RCSI Bahrain family, they have been the very heart of it from our inception in 2004. Many a person has received a winning smile and a warm welcome from Claire and the influence Dr Seamas has had on the many students that have passed through his classrooms can never be underestimated. They will both be missed and we wish them a fantastic and relaxing retirement.”

- COO, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield

“Dr Seamus has been an excellent teacher, loved by his students and always available to give them extra academic support when needed. Claire is the Irish face of the University as you enter its door. Claire gets to know the students like a mother figure and is always willing to help with whatever problem they have”

- Head of School of Medicine and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Joe McMenamin

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with both Dr Seamas and Claire. They are not only great colleagues who inspire others around them but are among my very close friends. Dr Seamas is a dedicated and talented teacher who is second to none in the university in his display of dedication to the academic success of our students. Claire is not just a joyful and friendly presence on the front desk but also my conduit to everything that is happening on the grapevine at RCSI Bahrain. I will truly miss them both.”

- Senior Chemistry Lecturer and last of the original staff members at RCSI Bahrain, Dr Declan Gaynor

Surrounded by students after Dr Seamas’ final lecture

Claire receives a gift on her last day

On the golf course with Professor James Finnucane and Professor Joe McMenamin

A message from the students

The university drew the curtain on its clubs and societies activities for the 2015/2016 academic year with the annual Student Council Awards ceremony last month.

The Medical Research and Surgical Societies shared the spoils in being named Club/Society of the Year and Students’ Choice Club/Society of the Year respectively.

The Medical Research Society also took the Event of the Year award, alongside the Medics in Leadership Society, for their joint efforts in organising the Oncology Symposium earlier this year, while the Surgical Society retained the Students’ Choice Event of the Year title for its second annual Surgical Careers Conference back in January.

The Marine Conservation and Diving Club took the honours for the New Club/Society of the Year, the Neuroscience Society received the Julie Sprakel Charity Award, while Student Council Vice-President Zoha Ahmed won the Mahwesh Niaz Award for the second successive year.

In the sports categories, there was no surprise when the Men’s Basketball Team took home the coveted Team of the Year trophy after their historic championship victory last month, nor when the team’s hero-of-the-hour Zaid Marcos was named Men’s Basketball MVP.

Stephanie Hsu received the Ladies’ Basketball MVP award for the third year running, with Basil Othman and Sarah Al Shehabi taking the MVP gongs for Men’s Football and Ladies’ Football respectively.

The Student Athlete of the Year award went to Zainab Saad Ali, in recognition of her achievements in sports and academia, while Mehrunissa Kaiser Anis won the Alex Rodrigues Award for her outstanding contribution towards the university’s sports programme.

There was also time to present a special award to Senior Lecturer in Physics, Dr Seamas Cassidy, who will be retiring in the coming weeks, having been part of the university staff since it first opened its doors back in 2004.

Student clubs and societies honoured

Nursing students celebrate White Uniform Ceremony

Sixty-four nursing students celebrated a seminal moment in their training and future careers last month, as they donned their white uniforms for the first time.

The annual White Uniform Ceremony is a symbolic event based around the presentation of the uniforms and marks the entrance of first year nursing students into clinical training.

Addressing the assembled students in the presence of their family members, university staff and guests, RCSI Bahrain Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman spoke about the professional roles and responsibilities of nurses, stressing the code of conduct for nursing in Bahrain.

He said it was important for students to be aware of their responsibilities and understand that the profession they are joining has a lot of sanctity attached to it.

The ceremony concluded with the students’ recital of the professional declaration, through which they vowed to maintain professional attitudes and behaviours in work and relationships with classmates, teachers, patients and the community.

Nursing students recite the professional declaration

Zainab Saad Ali receives the Student Athlete of the Year award from SRC manager Adam Wallace

Maryam Fareed Ashoor receives the Club/Society of the Year award from Professor Wayne Cunningham

Outgoing IC3 medical student, Karthikaikumar Sivakumar, has been announced as the next RCSI Bahrain Student Council President, following the university’s most hotly-contested election last month.

Two days of intense campaigning brought out the best in the competing teams, ‘Super Council Returns’, ‘United Council’ and ‘Action Potential: Students for Students’ but when the votes were cast through the VLE, it was Karthikaikumar and his United Council team, that emerged victorious.

Along with fellow core members, Vice-President, Raheel Siddiqui (IC3), Nursing Academic Officer, Farah Sunji (N2) and Medical Academic Officer Ahmed Osama Alsayed

(SC1), the new Student Council President will set about assembling the full team in time for the 2016/17 academic year.

The new council will officially take office as of July 15th.Speaking after making the announcement, Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, congratulated the winning team and express his thanks to all of the competing teams for their contribution to the election.

In a message issued to staff and students, the new council expressed its thanks to all who supported its campaign and expressed its excitement and hopes to build on the excellent work done by the outgoing council.

New Student Council elected

Students turn out in force for the election campaign

The victoriuos United Council team

The latest Alumni Talks event featured a bumper series focusing on North American applications with three RCSI Bahrain graduates, joined by one of our SC2 students and an alumnus of RCSI.

The talks were hosted by the Careers and Alumni Office, in collaboration with Canadian Students Society, and attracted a substantial crowd of students interested in working in the US and Canada.

Participants received information on examinations leading to applications, the process and planning, visas to consider and helpful tips to take on when attending observerships and electives from RCSI Bahrain Alumni: Houston Methodist Hospital Internal Medicine Resident (July 2016), Dr Emily Gammoh; Brooklyn Hospital Center Resident, Dr Karim AlSabek and University of Ottowa Resident, Dr Tala Abu-Hijleh.

RCSI alumnus and Tufts Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Fahad AlSindi meanwhile, discussed a range of topics from developments in Cardiology to how to read an ECG and current SC2 student Hari Hullur spoke about prepar-ing for Canadian exams.

During the same week, Dr AlSindi conducted a series of one-on-one sessions for CV improvement and direction, while the Canadian Students Society hosted its JC2 Mock OSCE.

Following the culmination of these events, students were encouraged to visit the newly-created RCSI Bahrain

North American Match Facebook group, for further engagement with alumni on the medical school journey.

Last month also saw RCSI Bahrain graduate and former staff member, Dr Alex Rodrigues, return to deliver an Alumni Talk on the subject of Sports Medicine in the UK.

Alumni Talks discuss North American applications

Dr AlSabek, Dr Gammoh and Dr Abu-Hijlah with fellow RCSI Bahrain alumni, Dr Anthony Habib and Dr Alma Hajar

Over the course of the last semester, the Department of Student Development and Wellbeing has awarded several conference and travel awards to students to fund them in their professional development activities.

Following N3 student Maryam Abdulhameed Abdulla’s attendance at the 35th annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education conference in Dublin in March, JC2’s Maria Mustafa also travelled to Dublin for the RCSI Research Day.

Maria exhibited a poster on her research on the SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) effect on Turbid Water, which was supported by RCSI Bahrain Human Biology Lecturer and Research Laboratory Manager, Dr Michael Keogh and Senior Demonstrator and Research Assistant, Preeti Borde.

Elsewhere, Alaa Mohamed Mahdi Alakri from IC3 and Hussain Mustafa Alsroo from SC2 attended the Medical Students Forum: Gulf Thoraic Congress in Dubai, while IC3 student Kiara Rebekka Verhagen will be taking part in the 12th International Tropical Medicine Summer School in Indonesia in August.

Congratulations must also go to N3 students Zainab Mohamed Ahmed, Farah Sunji and Ayesha Barakat, who were selected to attend the Complementary Therapy Programme at the National Tapei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan in July.

Students interested in applying for a Student Conference and Travel Award can find information on the VLE or ask at the Centre for Student Success.

Student Conference and Travel Awards

Maria Mustafa pictured at the RCSI Research Day in Dublin

Students make a splash at charity raft raceA group of intrepid medicine and nursing students took

to the waters of the Al Bander Hotel and Resort in Sitra last month, for the 40th Charity Raft Race, organised by the Rotary Club of Salmaniya.

Some 30 teams from local schools, universities, banks, hotels, businesses and government entities from around the country took part in this year event, which raised funds for local diabetes charities.

The RCSI Bahrain team was made up of Hanaa Iftikhar, Nalin Mathur, Mohammed Al Reefy, Manpreet Dadwal,

Ali Ayaz, Toshimitzu Yue, Samreen Afroz, Bushra Ahmed, Anjali Nair and Uzma Ahmed.

First held in the 1970s, the raft race has established itself as the Rotary Club’s main fund-raising event of the year and, to date, has raised more than BD2 million for local charity projects such as the Isa Town Rehabilitation Centre, the Ministry of Health, Al Noor Institute, Uco Parents Care Centre and the Bahraini Society for Mental Retardation.

RCSI Bahrain students dive into the lagoon for the start of the raft race

RCSI Bahrain students dive into the lagoon for the start of the raft race

Nursing Lecturer, Catherine Abouzaid, joined a group of students in accepting an award from Bapco in March, on behalf of the Community Engagement team that took part in the biennial Family Day event at Bahrain International Circuit last October.

The event was part of a wider Health and Safety Week, organised by Bapco for its employees and their families and saw more than 4,000 through the gates of the BIC, where nursing and medical students joined Ms Abouzaid and Head of Community Engagement, Julie Sprakel, at the giveaway booth.

The Family Day is seen as an ideal opportunity for stu-dents to interact with the general public and work on their

communication skills and the most recent edition marked six years since RCSI Bahrain first got involved.

Bapco honours RCSI Bahrain volunteers

Ms Abouzaid and student volunteers receive the award

MCP students reach out to communitiesA group of Medical Commencement Programme (MCP) students donated more than BD150 in cash to the Palm Association as part of the inaugural MCP Community Charity Project module.

The donation – raised through a flower sale in the atrium – was one of a number of charity drives to emerge from the nine-week module, which included a 40% assess-ment criteria mark and consisted of group work, proposal development and a report presentation.

The programme aimed to provide students, as future healthcare leaders, with a snapshot of local non-govern-mental organisations available in Bahrain that support dif-ferent arenas of the community; an important insight when understanding what support mechanisms are available to support their patients.

Among the other local non-governmental organisations that benefited from the project were Alia: For Early Inter-vention; Bahrain Down’s Syndrome Society; Hidd Charity;

Al Kawther Charity; the Royal Charity Organistaion; Al Sanabel Orphan Care Society; Durrat Al Riffa Senior Social Club and Migrant Workers Protection Society.

Palm Association Chairperson Karen Tennant, right, receives the cash from MCP student Aqsa Patel and MCP Director, Dr

Caroline Holden-Rachiotis

The Mobile Diabetes Unit school visits restarted last month, with a team of N3 students visiting Zallaq Girls Primary School.

Organised by the Community Engagement department, the school visits are aimed at educating primary school students about Type II diabetes through a host of

interactive games and activities.Since its launch, more than 2,000 primary school stu-

dents from 34 government and private schools have taken part in the activities, which have now become part of RCSI Bahrain’s nursing curriculum.

Mobile Diabetes Unit hits the road

N3 students at Zallaq Girls Primary School Children take part in games as part of the Mobile Diabetes Unit visit to Zallaq Girls Primary School

Now you can view this issue online..... www.rcsibahrain.edu.bh/newsletter

Student Development and Wellbeing department play stress-bustersStudent Development and Wellbeing department play stress-busters

The Student Development and Wellbeing Department conducted a trio of events in April for all nursing and medical students to help manage stress ahead of the end-of-year exams.

The series started with a ‘Stress Buster and Exam Preparation Workshop’, in which presentations were made by department staff members Paddy Behan, Asal Kazerooni, Donna Rice, Gilbert Salacup and Dr Zina Haddad, RCSI Bahrain alumni, as well as Alana

McConalogue from the SRC.The second event was held in conjunction with the Art

Society, under the title; ‘Art Therapy – Wanna Querkle?’ and generated great interest and enthusiasm from the 27 student ‘artists’, who painted their own Querkles to soothing music and tasty pizza.

The final event of the series saw Mr Salacup conduct a Laughter therapy session, where students learned of the impact of laughter in coping with stress and acquired skills to incorporate humour into everyday life.

Mr Salacup with students at the laughter therapy session

The Student Development and Wellbeing Unit hosted a ‘No Smoking Day’ back in March, in collaboration with The Ministry of Health’s Public Health Department.

Set up in the main atrium, the team offered information leaflets and advice on how to quit smoking and what kinds of treatments and clinics are available in Bahrain.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health were also on

hand to offer students and staff the opportunity to test their CO levels and lung function.

In the wake of the event, a proposal has been made to introduce a no smoking policy across the entirety of the RCSI Bahrain campus, which is set to be implemented over the summer break.

No Smoking campaign paves way for campus policy

A student tests his lung capacity

Students de-stress with some art therapy

Staff with student volunteers during the ‘ No Smoking’ campaign

Medicine students Nazha AlFaraj (FY), Mohammed Al Shammari (FY) and Toshimitzu Yue (JC2), joined Human Biology Lecturer, Ebrahim Rajab and the rest of the Intouch Clinic team at the inaugural Bahrain Spartan Sprint event at the Bahrain International Endurance Village last month.

The trio got the opportunity to observe, as athletes of all ages and abilities were treated for the likes of cramp, muscle strains, rope burns and minor abrasions and treated in the recovery area, the triage and the medical tent.

The occasion marked the end of Nazha’s elective at Intouch Clinic and provided her the chance to see ‘field rehabilitation and medicine’ in practice.

Organised by XDubai, Bahrain’s first Spartan event took 3,000 eager participants – including our own Associate Director of Marketing, Lesley Byrne – through 27 obstacles, such as rope climbs, high walls, barbed wire ditches and ice pools, over the course of a gruelling 7.8km.

Students support Bahrain Spartans

Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman took the honours in the latest outing of the RCSI Bahrain Golf Society.

Launched last year as a means of providing university staff and associates an opportunity to enjoy a game of golf in a social setting, the society welcomes all players of all levels of ability and experience.

Professor Cowman’s victory in the most recent event was based on his totaling the best stableford score over the Royal Golf Club’s Montgomerie Championship Course and followed on from previous victories by Denise Dunne, wife of Professor Kevin Dunne, and Mary Fox, wife of Dr Gabriel Fox, in October and January respectively.

Anybody interested in getting involved in the RCSI Bahrain Golf Society is asked to contact Professor Cowman for further details.

Professor Cowman wins latest golf outing

Cathal Prendergast, Prof Frank Cunningham, Mrs Fox and Prof Cowman

RCSI Bahrain is rowing in behind a unique, two-part sporting quest, which is set to come to a close later this month.

The first part of the Tribal Fitness Run and SUP Expedition saw Tribal Fitness owner and founder, Craig Heslop, run the full length of Bahrain – from Amwaj to Hadd Al Bahrain – in an impressive time of just under 12 hours last month.

The 67km run took Mr Heslop from Amwaj, across Muharraq, along the Sitra Causeway, past Askar, Jow, Shaikh Isa Airbase and Durrat Al Bahrain, right down to the southernmost tip of Bahrain at Hadd al Bahrain.

On May 5th, Mr Heslop and his friend, Hussain Bader, owner of Sport Marine Supplies, will embark on the second stage of the challenge, a 150km SUP voyage over the course of eight days, starting from Al Dar Island.

The planned route will take the intrepid duo from Al Dar to Marassi Beach, Nurana Island, Northern City, Zallaq, around Hadd al Bahrain, to Al Dar Port and Askar, before finishing back at Al Dar Island on May 12th.

The event is being organised by Tribal Fitness to promote the activities of the Royal Charity Organisation

(RCO) and provides the perfect send-off for Mr Heslop, who is leaving the island for pastures new this summer, After six years of residency.

In line with the its aim to advance human health worldwide, the university jumped on board the project to provide the necessary safety equipment.

RCSI Bahrain backs Tribal Fitness challenge

Mr Heslop (middle), with Tribal Fitness colleagues and SRC staff members, Adam Wallace and Alana McConalogue

Ms Byrne tackles the Spartan ChallengeMohammed, Nazha and Toshimitzu observe Dr Rajab

An eclectic mix of sports and games took place on the sports field last month, as part of the university’s second annual Sports Day.

Based around participation, rather than high-end competition, the event had students and staff battling it out in volleyball, tug-o-war and bubble football competitions and formed the culmination of the

Foundation Year elective programme.Run in collaboration with the Sports and Recreation

Centre (SRC) team, with the aim of promoting the importance of health and fitness, the elective programme also featured a series of lectures throughout the second semester.

RCSI Bahrain hosts second annual Sports Day

RCSI Bahrain Crowned Basketball Champions

RCSI Bahrain claimed a first ever competitive sports trophy in the back in March as the men’s basketball team captured the 2016 RCSI Bahrain Basketball Championship in dramatic fashion.

Supporters flooded the court at the sound of the final hooter, after an enthralling game that eventually finished 85-84 in favour of the hosts over a much-fancied Al Qadseya outfit.

As dramatic an ending as that was, the closing stages of regular time could scarcely be believed, as Al Al Qadseya took a three-point lead from the free-throw line with only one second left on the clock.

Amazingly though, when the restart was played to Zaid Marcos, his shot from deep inside his own half sailed straight into the basket to tie the game at 73-all and spark hysteria in the stands.

Buoyed by the unlikely reprieve, the RCSI Bahrain boys held on through overtime against their more experienced opponents – who had a number of former professional and national team players among their ranks – to

complete a sensational victory.Ten men’s teams from companies, social groups and

other organisations around the country signed up to take part in this, the second edition of the RCSI Bahrain Basketball Championship, which kicked off in February.

Split into two groups of five, the teams battled it out in a round-robin format, with the bottom-placed team eliminated before the knockout stages and the eight remaining facing off in seeded quarter-finals.

Drama seemed to be a consistent theme for the RCSI Bahrain team – affectionately known as the Lions – over the course of the campaign as they came from 21 points down in the final quarter to take an unlikely 66-65 victory over American Mission Hospital (AMH) before a more straightforward 77-68 win over Trexsol in the semi-final.

A great night for RCSI Bahrain and coach Abbas Almass’ team was capped off later as Zaid Marcos was confirmed as the competition’s MVP, while Kinan Alriyahi took the top-scorer award.

The triumphant team with coach Abbas

Students take part in tog-o-war Maintenance Technician Jaffar Ahmed in relay action

Calories and Carbs by Alana McConalogue

10 simple food swaps to cut calories!

Granola to Oatmeal A half-cup serving of Quaker Steel Cut Oats contains just 150 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of sugar. Sprinkling a few fresh blueberries onto your oatmeal adds natural sweetness for around 8 calories per 10 blueberries. Meanwhile, a half-cup of Quaker’s Apple, Cranberry, and Almond Granola clocks in at 200 calories, 5 grams of fat, and a massive 13 grams of sugar, and that’s before you add any milk. Cooking your oats in water and adding fruit still gives it that sweetness however, adding water to your granola doesn’t really have the same effect!

Flavoured Yogurt to Plain yogurt with fresh fruitThe jam-like concoction at the bottom of yogurt containers is typically more sugar than fruit. Save yourself the sugar and calories by choosing a plain or Greek yogurt. Slice up some fruit such as strawberries or throw in some blueberries for a healthier and fresh take on the fruit-yogurt combo.

Café Latte to AmericanoChoosing a regular black coffee will give you a more concentrated coffee, as well as its free-radical fighting antioxidants. If you hate black coffee, adding some milk will still save you lots of calories in comparison to lattes. Skip the sugar by switching to a sweetener before trying to cut out sugar from your coffee completely!

Noodles/Pasta to Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles)Automatically make your pasta a veggie-filled one with this low-cal, high-fiber replacement. With under 20 kcals per cup of zucchini it really is the perfect way to ‘bulk up’ your meals without the calories. As well as being low in calories zucchini is full of potassium and vitamin C which can help control blood pressure and help the functioning of cells in the body.

French Fries to Oven roasted potatoesDrop the calories from deep frying chips by chopping up potatoes, seasoning and oven-roasting in a pan.

Mashed Potato to ½ potato ½ cauliflower mashCauliflower delivers almost a day’s worth of vitamin C for the small price of 27 kcals per cup. In comparison to potatoes, which clock in at 116 kcals per cup, you can almost half the calories per serving whilst keeping the consistency and taste!

Sour Cream to Greek YogurtPlain Greek yogurt and sour cream are so similar in taste and texture that you really have no excuse not to use the lean, protein-packed alternative to fattening sour cream. Used as a topping for nachos or fajitas, as a sauce base, or veggie dip; a dollop of Greek yogurt can save you 20-plus grams of saturated fat while more than doubling your protein intake.

Croutons to NutsIf you love a crunch with your salads, try switching your croutons for nuts. The nuts will still have that crunch, as well as adding unsaturated fatty acids, which can help

you get the most nutrients from the salad. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are all fat-soluble, meaning your body can’t absorb them unless you eat fat (like those in nuts!) along with them. Carrots, kale, spinach and corn to name a few vegetables which have fat-soluble vitamins.

Ice Cream to Frozen BananaReplacing what you would usually call junk food or a splurge with fruit is a win-win. You not only avoid lots of sugar, but you score plenty of potassium, folate, and vitamin C. Just throw the banana in the food processor to give it the same creamy, spoon-able texture as your favourite soft serve ice-cream. Add some unsweetened almond milk to improve the consistency if it’s too thick.

Milk Chocolate to Dark ChocolateThe darker your chocolate, the less sugar and milk and the more antioxidant-packed cacao it has. It’s no wonder that research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that dark chocolate improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood sugar, both markers of diabetes and heart disease. Meanwhile, peanuts give the treat a salty and protein-packed crunch. Anything over 70% is good.