About the Faculty
The Faculty of Pathology, RCPI is the expert authority on all matters relating to laboratory medicine in Ireland. The aim of the Faculty is to promote public awareness of its role and to create an understanding of its role in quality of patient care. The Faculty continues to engage with the Faculties & Institute and Committees of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Forum of Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies, other professional organisations and government bodies to develop and progress policies and key initiatives that directly affect quality and care.
The Faculty is also responsible for the development and delivery of postgraduate medical training in Basic Specialist Training and Higher Specialist Training in the following specialties:
Microbiology
The Faculty assists in the maintenance of professional standards for doctors with regard to Continuing Medical Education, including including the delivery of vibrant educational events
The day to day business of the Faculty is carried out by a Board, Executive Committee and a number of subcommittees and working groups.
Please click on the Benefits and Services and find out more information becoming a fellow of the Faculty.
Key Initiatives
The Faculty has been highly involved in progressing a number of key initiatives in the following areas:
HIQA
The Faculty of Pathology was instrumental in issuing recommendations in the two published HIQA Reports in 2008 (www.hiqa.ie). The Faculty continues to work with HIQA in relation to improving quality and is represented on the Cancer Screening Expert Advisory Committee
Willis Report
The Faculty of Pathology was highly involved in the publication of the Willis Report into post-mortem practice in Ireland following recommendations made in the Madden Report in 2006 (www.dohc.ie/publications/madden). The Faculty was very supportive of the Madden Report and since its publication in 2006, has striven for continuous improvement. Ms Willis was commissioned by the HSE to carry out, on the specific recommendation of the Madden Report, an independent audit of currently retained organs in all hospitals in the state. The audit, at the request of the HSE, was expanded to include: consent to post-mortem examination; organ removal and retention; storage, use and disposal; facilities for bereaved people; communication with bereaved people; provision of bereavement services and training provided to staff in a range of areas.
The Faculty developed Guidelines to provide guidance to pathologists and other health care professionals in the area of post-mortem consent and the retention and disposition of organ and tissue samples
Paediatric Perinatal Pathology Services -
A Paediatric & Perinatal Subgroup was convened by the Faculty of Pathology following concerns regarding the provision of paediatric pathology services. The subgroup completed a Report on Paediatric & Perinatal Pathology Services in Ireland and this was released in June 2009.
Quality Assurance
The Faculty of Pathology, RCPI launched the National QA Programme in Histopathology in June 2009. The fundamental aim of this QA Programme is to assure enhancement of patient care with timely, accurate and complete pathology diagnoses and reports. Click here for further information.
Laboratory Reform
The Faculty is currently engaging with the HSE in regard to laboratory reform. A 10 Principles docuemt was developed by the Faculty and has been adopted by the HSE Laboratory Services Modernisation Group. It is hoped that these principles of laboratory medicine modernisation would assist in the implementation of laboratory reform.
Irish EQA Scheme
The Faculty fully supports the EQA Scheme and currently provides logical assistance.The primary purpose of this EQA Scheme is educational, providing individual, anonymous feedback to members based on peer review. It will help
to confirm professional standards and contribute to continuing professional development. For a detailed description of the scheme, please click here for
the Standard Operating Procedures. To participate in the scheme, please
Human Tissue Act
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Faculty Events
The Board of the Faculty of Pathology is made up of elected and co-opted Fellows of the Faculty, representatives from the specialist societies, Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and the NI Regional Council of RCPath. The Board is responsible for the day to day governance of the Faculty and is tasked with the responsiblity of establishment and maintenance of professional standards in quality and patient care in all aspects of laboratory medicine in Ireland. The Board is chaired by the Dean, Professor J. Conor O'Keane.
Officers of the Board of the Faculty of Pathology
Dean: Prof. J.Conor O'Keane
Honorary Secretary: Dr. Eoghan Mooney
Honorary Treasurer: Dr. Niamh O' Sullivan
A calendar of Board and Committee dates for 2011-12 can be found here
The Faculty of Pathology has set up a number of Standing Committees to carry out and monitor activities on its behalf.
Finance & General Purposes Committee
Education & Training Committee
Histopathology Specialty Training Committee
Paediatric & Perinatal Pathology Subgroup
Key Personnel
National Specialty Directors:
Histopathology: D. Sean O’Briain
Haematology: Cathering Flynn & Susan O'Shea
Microbiology: Martin Cormican
Chemical Pathology: Vivion Crowley
Regional Specialty Advisors in Histopathology:
Director of Education & Training
By Nomination
Fellowship of the Faculty of Pathology is open to pathologists who have five years experience in laboratory medicine and who hold the FRCPath, American Board in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology or similar qualifiaction from Australasian and Canadian Colleges.
By Published Work
Fellowship by published work is open to pathologists who have degrees of MD of PhD or have published work of adequate merit showing length and breadth of experience in laboratory medicine.
Fellowship Application Form