RCSI Bahrain receives accreditation from the Irish Medical CouncilFollowing an inspection visit in October from the Irish Medical Council (IMC) to the University and its affiliated teaching hospitals, RCSI Bahrain’s medical programme has been accredited by the council for a period of five years.

Accreditation, which is clear approval of the quality of the University’s medical programme, adheres to the requirements, criteria and standards approved by the Irish Medical Council, which in turn meet the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) standards – the highest standards available in medical education.

President Sameer Otoom welcomed publication of the report. “This is a major achievement for the University on many fronts,” he said “and is a principal indicator of the quality of education we provide. I would like to extend my gratitude, appreciation and congratulations to all of you for preparing and completing this task.

“I would also like to convey special thanks to the students and Student Council, university and hospital staff, colleagues from Dublin and the senior management from our affiliated teaching hospitals for the continuous support and assistance they have provided throughout the inspection process.” The IMC accreditation was a happy conclusion to a year of many great achievements and developments, adding momentum to an exciting future for RCSI Bahrain.

Agreement with Florida International University College of MedicineRCSI Bahrain and Florida International University College of Medicine, USA, have recently signed an agreement to establish a student-exchange programme and cooperation in teaching and research.

With this agreement, RCSI Bahrain and FIU College of Medicine agree to promote the exchange of senior medical students for academic and cultural activities, and to stimulate and support the development of joint research projects between the two institutions.

They have agreed to reserve a specific number of places for visiting students. The agreement also provides for the exchange of information, publications, seminars and continuing medical education.

Students take 2nd and 3rd place at the National World Skills Competition

N4 students, Sajeda Abdu Ali Salman and Noor Munther Yousif have taken 2nd and 3rd place at the National World Skills competition, which took place in Bahrain on January 21 and 22. Seven RCSI Bahrain N4 students participated in the “Health and Social Care” skills section of the competition.

WorldSkills is a global hub for skills excellence and development. Through international cooperation and development between industry, government, organisations and institutions, WorldSkills promotes the benefits of and need for skilled professionals through grass-roots community projects, competition and knowledge exchange.

The students who took part were, Sajeda Abdu Ali Salman, Amna A.Ali Salman, Murtadha Fadhel Ahmed, Eman Hassan Marhoon, Hanan Mohammed Hajab, Noora Munther Banihammad and Sara Shukri Fathi.

The judging panel included RCSI Bahrain staff members, Dr Maryam Al Aradi, Ms Catherine Abuzaid, Ms Khadija Matrook and Ms Julie Sprakel. Participation by the students in the competition was facilitated by the Community Engagement office and the School of Nursing & Midwifery.

Dr Maryam Al Aradi, was nominated as the chief expert from the panel of judges and she will support the winning student who will represent Bahrain in Brazil for the International Competition in August. Congratulations to all participants, both staff and students, on this Community Engagement initiative.

Doctors from Mayo Clinic visit RCSI BahrainTo mark RCSI Bahrain’s 10th Anniversary on November 27, a special event was held during which Dr Michael Brennan spoke about “Professionalism within an Academic Medical Centre – Who Benefits and Why?” and Dr Bahn discussed “Translational Science – Reflections on a Bench-to-Bedside Journey”.

At the end of the event, RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, presented the two doctors with a gift on behalf of the University, in appreciation of their respective contributions.

Dr Brennan was also the keynote speaker later that night at the Gala Dinner.

Staff avail of 40 training sessions organised by the Professional Development Unit Over the past couple of months the University has witnessed a boom in activity from within its Professional Development Unit (PDU). The focus for this academic year is to tap into the internal knowledge of experts and offer training programmes that match the training needs analysis.

The PDU offered 40 training sessions had 350 attendees. Dr Kathy Strachan, Head of Quality Enhancement said “I am grateful for everyone’s support and contribution in allowing a newly-set up unit to have such an impact.”During this second semester, the PDU will aim to offer structured programmes in collaboration with external training bodies. The first of these initiatives was with Bahrain Institure of Banking and Finance (BIBF) – a local, reputable training provider in Bahrain.

The PDU and the training facilitator, Dr Victoria Ghurbal, met with the heads of departments and functions to assess departmental and organisational needs in terms of service excellence.

The course content was tailored to RCSI Bahrain and offered to administration and support staff. The course was very engaging, interactive and well-attended. Dr Strachan said “The meetings with the heads of departments and the interaction that took place during the sessions have generated a wealth of information and knowledge about the Institution which will be fed back to the Executive Committee.”

Service Recognition Award for University Staff MembersWhile RCSI Bahrain celebrates its first decade of successes, the work and dedication of its staff – especially those who have been with the University since its inception – is greatly valued.

During a special 10th anniversary research event at the University, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Chief Executive/Registrar paid tribute to the contributions of three staff members – Dr Seamas Cassidy, Senior Lecturer in Physics and Academic Director of Admissions; Dr Declan Gaynor, Director of Foundation Year and Lecturer in Chemistry; and Ms Evelyn Anand, Manager of the Library and the Learning Resource Centre, by presenting them with paintings by Bahrain artist, Abbas Al Mousawi, in appreciation of a decade of dedication to RCSI Bahrain.

RCSI Bahrain Intern Award AnnouncedIt is with great excitement that RCSI Bahrain announces the launch of its Internship Award.

During the June 2015 conferring ceremony, the award will be presented to an intern who has demonstrated excellence in professionalism, communication skills and collaboration as evidenced by the outcome of multisource feedback (MSF), also called the 360-degree evaluation.

Eligible candidates must be RCSI Bahrain graduates and part of the University’s alumni programme. They must prove good standing, and have to be in their intern year during th e year of the award.

Dr Edwina Brennan and Ms May Maher announced as the 2014 Dean’s Award WinnersAmid an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement, the two winners of the 2014 Dean’s Awards were announced during the 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner in November.

Science lecturer, Dr Edwina Brennan, received the Academic Award, while the Administration Award went to Ms May Maher, Senior Communications and Events Manager.

The two winners were presented with the awards by Professor Joe McMenamin and Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI; and in the presence of distinguished guests from the Bahraini government, RCSI Dublin and RCSI Bahrain’s major stakeholders.

The Dean’s Award scheme was created to acknowledge the diverse and essential contributions of staff members. It is based on staff nominations of colleagues who consistently exceed their job requirements.

Through their submissions, Dr Brennan’s colleagues highlighted why they nominated her: “She always has a smile. She has a way of teaching and explaining things that students love. She consistently goes above and beyond what is reasonably expected, is very flexible in the workplace and often volunteers. She is highly motivated and very active and productive in research.”

Staff members who nominated Ms Maher said of her, “She is an excellent communicator. She has excellent organisational skills and exhibits commitment and great attention to detail. She does not look for rewards and is a truly dedicated employee of RCSI Bahrain.”

Professor McMenamin said “I am honoured and privileged to acknowledge the contribution of all staff members to support the University’s commitment to excellence in education, research and service.

“The ethos behind the Dean’s Award scheme is to recognise and celebrate these exceptional achievements. I would like to congratulate Dr Edwina and Ms Maher for their outstanding service to the University and I am delighted to announce them as

the deserving winners of the Dean’s Awards 2014.”

University signs training agreement with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance

As part of the University’s Professional Development programme, an agreement was signed with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) for staff training and development.

The objective of this training agreement is to enable staff members at the University to reach their full potential and develop collective excellence to meet the strategic objectives of RCSI Bahrain.

President Sameer Otoom said “The University strives to develop healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide. Hence, it is crucial that our staff members are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge and skills to achieve our goals.”

The agreement was signed with BIBF given its excellent reputation as a professional world-class provider of education and training solutions to various sectors, with a centre dedicated to academic programmes and executive development.

University to get an ATM and a SADAD machine installed in the next few weeks Ahli United Bank has agreed to install an ATM at the entrance to RCSI Bahrain. The ATM machine should be in place within the next 6-8 weeks. A SADAD kiosk is also being installed in the SRC. The SADAD self-service kiosk is a highly convenient payment devices machine.

RCSI Bahrain Medical Students Receive Prestigious Awards

In an unprecedented achievement last year, two of the prestigious National University of Ireland (NUI) awards were granted to RCSI Bahrain students. During the University’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner in November, NUI Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning presented Senior-Cycle student, Mr Yusuf Al Alwan, with second prize in the Dr H H Stewart Medical Scholarships in Paediatrics 2014 and third prize in the Dr H H Stewart Medical Scholarship in Surgery 2014 to Dr Hiba Omar Mohamed, who graduated in June 2014. Since its foundation, the National University of Ireland has, through its awards, sought to identify and honour the brightest minds and talents across the diverse NUI community. 2014 was the first time an RCSI Bahrain student or graduate qualified for these awards. The NUI awards include distinguished Fellowships and Travelling Studentships in the Humanities and Sciences (including Medicine) as well as

numerous scholarships and prizes in a wide range of subject areas.

These awards are open to NUI graduates and undergraduate students in the NUI Constituent Universities and recognised colleges, which include RCSI Bahrain.

Students begin charity work in IndiaThree trips have been organised as part of this year’s International Community Engagement programme . Out of 47 applicants for the programme, 10 students have been selected to go on trips to Chennai, New Delhi and Vietnam.

The first group of students spent a week in Chennai working with the Global Health City. The team included students Fahad Khalfan, Ismaeel Alqadhi, Reem Abdulwahed, and Wala Faisal, as well as, Nursing Lecturer, Ms Eman Fateel.

The second group, also in India, will be working at the Vikas Hosiptal and community camps in New Delhi. The team includes Professor Eamon Tierney, Sara Alsaad and Hamad Abdulla Saud.

The last trip for this year will be to Vietnam in March, where Professor Joe McMenamin, Professor Martin Corbally, students Ahmed Nasser, Nusaibeh Redpath, Mohammed Restam and Ali Khalil Haji will spend nine days working with the charity, Operation Child Life.

National University of Ireland certificates for MCP students The Medical Commencement Programme (MCP) is a one-year programme designed to equip students with a greater knowledge of general science subjects, study skills, research skills and medical English.

The students who completed MCP in the last academic year are the first to be awarded with a 45 ECTS credit award from the National University of Ireland (NUI).

So, in addition to being able to progress to the Foundation Year, successful MCP students will also be presented with a certificate at a ceremony later this year.

Student News

RCSI Bahrain holds November Conferring Ceremony

The University’s conferring ceremony was held on November 29 for more than 77 members of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Faculty of Dentistry, Masters in Nursing, Masters in Healthcare Management, Masters of Quality and Safety in Healthcare Management, and RCSI Bahrain medical and nursing graduands.

Their degrees were presented by RCSI President, Mr Declan Magee and RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom.The ceremony concluded with an address by Mr Magee, in which he congratulated the graduands on reaching a great milestone in their medical careers.

More than 200 attend RCSI Bahrain’s first International Surgical Careers ConferenceThrough a collaboration between the University’s Surgical Society and Kuwaiti Society, RCSI Bahrain’s first International Surgical Careers Conference was held on January 16 and 17.

The conference was one of the most successful student-organised events so far this academic year, attracting more than 200 attendees and prominent guest speakers from Bahrain and Kuwait. Through various workshops conducted by highly-qualified surgeons, participants had the opportunity to learn and practice a number of important surgical skills.

The conference was sponsored by Dr Tariq Hospital, Mannai Technical Services and Ethicon.

Community Engagement NewsNow into its third year in operation, the Diabetes Mobile Unit has educated a record number of 538 children across eight primary schools. During the first semester, with the support of N4 students from RCSI Bahrain, the primary schools were introduced to the Mobile Unit activities through a ‘Train the Trainer Day’.

The Mobile Unit also supported the World Diabetes Day event, which took place in Arad Bay in November and was attended by more than 5,000 visitors from around Bahrain.

Staff and student volunteers showcased healthy lifestyle choices to the public, and distributed the “Traffic Light” leaflets (designed in RCSI Bahrain by Ms Danah Smith and Ms Julie Sprakel) which shows the warning signs and symptoms of Type II diabetes.The Mobile Unit will also participate in the 16th Shurooq Camp for Children with Diabetes, which will run from February 26-28.

RCSI Bahrain’s Community Engagement Office has donated refurbished laptops and printers to the very deserving organistation, RIA, which caters to the needs of people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

A second-hand book drive in December did incredibly well, with the donation of five large boxes of pre-loved books in Arabic and English. They were donated to the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) thrift shop, which will in turn be sold to raise funds that are then directed towards their animal shelter in Askar. This NGO works purely on generous donations and volunteer support.

The Cherry Tree Trot was held recently at the Bahrain International Circuit, during which Community Engagement volunteers supported the American Women’s Association (AWA). The event raised over BD 30,000, which will be given to a variety of local NGO’s. The Cherry Tree Trot is the largest fundraiser for the AWA and the Community Engagement Office was happy to support with volunteers who helped with registering the participants and marshalling along the 5 km circuit.

Hundreds Attend RCSI Bahrain’s 10th Anniversary Gala DinnerTo celebrate a decade of great achievements, more than 350 guests attended RCSI Bahrain’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Ritz Carlton on November 27, 2014.

Among the distinguished guests were the His Excellency Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; His Excellency Mr Sadiq Al Shehabi, Minister of Health; Ambassadors, members of government and senior management from both RCSI Dublin and RCSI Bahrain.

RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, paid tribute to the staff members who have helped to develop the University to what it is today. He said much has been achieved over the past ten years including the fact that RCSI Bahrain’s interns are achieving a 100 per cent pass rate in licensing exams conducted by the Bahrain National Health Regulatory Authority, which compares to an average national pass rate of 40 per cent.

In addition to other award presentations to staff and students and performances of Irish and Bahraini dances, the gala event also featured the launch of a video highlighting RCSI Bahrain’s journey through the past decade alongside photographs of the University’s great milestones and many events.

Exciting Start to 2015 in the Sports & Recreation CentreHappy New Year to you all and welcome back to Semester Two! We hope you all had a fantastic break and are ready to kick-start 2015 with a bang. During the recent holidays, some improvements were made to the Sports & Recreation Centre (SRC), which, it’s hoped, will further entice staff and students to make use of the facility. SRC Class ScheduleThe revamped schedule at the SRC offers a wide range of sport and fitness classes to encourage a healthy lifestyle for the year ahead.

New Wi-Fi SystemThe welcome arrival of a Wi-Fi hotspot at the SRC now enables internet access both inside the facility and outside, extending as far as the playing surface of the artificial pitch. By selecting the Wi-Fi name “SRCSI”, users can automatically connect to the internet via the University’s safe, secure network.

New Gym Equipment and SignageThe Estates and Support Services team have installed superb new items in each of the SRC’s gyms. Some of the equipment is very specialist and requires induction training from an SRC instructor.

Those who want to work out or start using the gym should contact Adam, Alana or Alex to arrange an induction.The SRC also now has its name above the main entrance.

SRC InstagramFollow @RCSI_SRC for updates and news from the Sports & Recreation Centre! Feel free to send photos for consideration to src@rcsi-mub.com or hashtag your photos as you post them #SRCSI

Email: src@rcsi-mub.com, Instagram: @RCSI_SRC

#SRCSI #caloriesandcarbs

We would like to thank our sponsors, Euromotors, for their support in improving facilities in the SRC.

Calories & Carbs by Alana McConalogue, personal trainer, ladies football coach and Body Type Nutrition Academy student

New Year’s ResolutionsNew Year’s Resolutions – I hate them!! On December 31 you choose something you dislike about yourself and desperately seek to change it. In my experience, most people get frustrated and by February, end up back at square one.The majority of resolutions seem to revolve around fitness and weight-loss, which we all know are easier said than done, especially when most people have no plan for how to go about it.For me, the best way is to make small changes and implement them slowly into your daily routine.

January - Start by hitting the gym once a week and increasing your water intake. Once a week, an hour before you go to bed, turn off all electronics – including mobile phones! – and relax. One consistent month of this is harder than it may seem but give it a go! February - Continue weekly gym visits but add in a walk or a new

fitness class. Water intake should now be up to 3 litres per day – there’s even a mobile app to remind you to drink, so no excuses! How about a meal once or twice a month with a friend or loved one, with no electronics or distractions, just conversation…?

March - Increase your gym visits to twice-a-week and don’t forget to keep everything else going! At least three days a week, add some protein to your breakfast – 30g is a good place to start. Then try turning off the TV one night a week and go ‘old skool’ instead with board games, books or even conversation! That’s a simple example of gradual changes which can be made over three months, but you can choose any number to suit yourself.Remember: small changes can make a big difference!

For more health, fitness-related topics and tips, check out my website, Instagram or Facebook pages. Website: www.caloriesandcarbs.net Facebook: Caloriesandcarbs Instagram: @caloriesandcarbs

Wendy Maddison main contact for IPA in BahrainMs Wendy Maddison, Head of Student Development & Wellbeing, has been named by Professor Jonathan Smith, Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck University of London, as the international contact for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research in Bahrain.

Developed by Professor Smith, IPA is an experiential qualitative approach to research in human psychology, health and social sciences. It is concerned with trying to understand how participants make sense of their own experiences and the meanings that those experiences hold for the participants.

Ms Maddison is using IPA as the methodology for her current doctorate research titled “Transnational medical

and nursing education: an exploration of its impact on Bahraini females”.

Further information is available at www.ipa.bbk.ac.uk

RCSI Bahrain celebrated the holiday season with the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 1st. The event included a festive performance by the Manama Singers, and was attended by more than 200 staff and students. LRC Manager Evelyn Anand had the honour of illuminating the tree this year, on the very day she celebrated ten years with RCSI Bahrain.

With Bahrain’s 43rd National Day falling on December 16th, the University took the opportunity to honour the occasion with a special event on December 11th.

Staff members and students came out to enjoy a selection of traditional food and refreshments as well as Bahraini arts and crafts, henna and more.

The Rufaida Honor Nursing Society hosted its 4th Educational event on the 8th of December. The theme of the event was Nurses For Change: Care for All in Partnership and focused on the differences that nurses can make in their practice areas.

The key note presentation was delivered by Dr Naeema Al-Gaseer from WHO.