New Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland members conferred

The event, the third held in the RCSI-MUB campus, was patronized by Dr. Abdul-Aziz Hamza, Undersecretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Faisal Al Mousawi, Chairman of the Shura Council, Brigadier Mr. Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa, BDF (Director of BDF Royal Medical Services) and Professor Kevin O'Malley, President, RCSI-MUB.

The prestigious RCSI Membership was bestowed on the students following the successful completion of the final examination requisite for the Surgical Training Programme.

It acknowledged the achievements of doctors from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Sudan and Syria.

The ceremony was attended by many of the region's top medical professionals, including many RCSI Fellows.

Speaking on behalf of RCSI President Professor Gerard O' Sullivan, Prof. O'Malley congratulated the new Members on their accomplishments and welcomed them onboard.

"Our new Members are joining a famous and venerable institution, which has been educating and training surgeons for 222 years since 1784," he said.

"While all of you are justifiably pleased with your hard earned success today, you will be aware that you are at an intermediate stage in your training and that you have much work to do in completing your postgraduate studies. After that, continuing professional development will become an integral part of your life. It is essential that as surgeons you continue to learn and maintain high standards of practice. It is what your patients and community will expect of you," continued Prof. O'Malley.

He said that the RCSI has conferred over 400 surgical trainees with the Membership qualification so far this year.

"Tonight we are adding 33 new members to that number. I wish to congratulate the graduates on passing the examination," Prof. O'Malley continued.

"Hardworking and dedicated students here at the MUB have the same opportunity to earn this prestigious Membership."

He also praised the RCSI's strong relationship with Bahrain's Ministry of Health, which dates back more than 25 years.

"It started with the holding of the old Fellowship examination here. Next came the management courses, involvement in the family practice residence programme and more recently of course the establishment of the MUB. All of these developments involved the enthusiastic participation of the Ministry of Health which we gratefully acknowledge," Prof. O'Malley said.

He also thanked RCSI Fellow Dr Faisal Al Mousawi, Bahrain's former Minister of Health, who also chaired the previous session of the Shura Council, and H. E. Dr Haffadh, Minister of Health, for their continued support.