The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide an opportunity to facilitate clinical or research experience in a centre of excellence in Rheumatology outside Ireland. This is the second year of the Fellowship which is a joint initiative of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the global health care company Abbott, a leader in the field of Rheumatology.
Dr Sheehy will complete a Fellowship in vasculitis and connective tissue disorders in the prestigious Department of Rheumatology in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), UK, which is renowned for its work in the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases. She will also work alongside world leaders in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and St Thomas’s Hospital, London. In addition to developing expertise in these rare conditions, Dr Sheehy will have the opportunity to perform clinical research, using a pre-existing large dataset, from which relevant information for clinical practice will be ascertained.
The RCPI National Specialty Director for Rheumatology, Dr Gaye Cunnane, thanked Abbott for their support, indicating that this Fellowship offers a life-changing opportunity for the successful candidate. “Dr Sheehy will develop detailed knowledge of these rare conditions and will benefit from the clinical and research expertise available in this unit. I hope that Dr Sheehy will have the chance to share these skills with her peers and patients on her return to Ireland in due course.”
Commenting on the Fellowship, Dr John Donohoe, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland said, “This Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for Specialist Registrars in Rheumatology to develop and train abroad, bringing the best of international research and clinical advances to influence patient care in Ireland. The College is proud of its partnership with Abbott to facilitate this opportunity for doctors in Ireland”.
Craig Skelton, General Manager, Abbott said, “Over one in six people have some form of arthritis in Ireland1. This means 714,000 Irish people have arthritis with some 34% of women and 23% of men affected by the condition1. With an ageing population, these statistics will increase, which illustrates the importance of patient care. Training is key to improvements in the future and this Fellowship is helping to achieve this goal”.
Last year’s winner, Dr Nicola Ambrose, is currently studying the abnormal inflammatory response to monosodium urate crystals in Behçet's Syndrome at Imperial College London. She is pursuing a PhD degree and plans to publish several papers in this field. This opportunity would not have been possible without the funding provided by this Fellowship.
The Fellowship is named after the eminent Professors Bresnihan and Molloy who both recently retired. Both Professors dedicated a lifetime of service to working in the field of Rheumatology and this Fellowship pays tribute to their achievements.