Announcing the appointment Dr John Donohoe, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland said “The establishment of high quality medical leadership for the further enhancement of education and professional development was a key motivation behind the decision by the College to appoint Dr Diarmuid O’Shea as its new Vice-President of Education and Professional Development.”
“Fundamental change is taking place across the continuum of medical education and training from undergraduate to intern to basic and higher specialist training and through to continuous professional development for consultants.” said Dr Donohoe
“The recommendations of the Fottrell and Buttimer reports, the formation of a medical education and training function within the HSE; the introduction of the Medical Practitioners Act and the re-definition of roles and responsibilities for the HSE, Medical Council and Training Bodies have created a challenging environment for everyone involved in medical education. The College is responding to these challenges in a positive and proactive manner and is engaged in a wide range of initiatives within medical education and training. ” said the RCPI President “Dr O’Shea’s appointment is intended to provide leadership in these educational initiatives”.
Responding to his appointment Dr. O’Shea said “I am delighted to be taking on this challenge. This is a very important time in Health Care in Ireland. Those of us in the medical profession need to be able to demonstrate to each other and the public we treat that we are continually striving to keep up to date with best practice. Through the RCPI we intend to provide the structures and mechanisms to support physicians in this goal of life long learning and changing practice. This in turn will support some of the roles and responsibilities of both the HSE and Medical Council in relation to the changes that are ahead.”
Dr. O’Shea was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 1999 and is a member of the College’s governing Council. He has been the National Specialty Director in Geriatric Medicine and a member of the Irish Committee of Higher Medical Training. He spearheaded the development of continuing medical education as the Convener of the RCPI Masterclass Series in November 2007 featuring speakers from a range of specialties under the central theme of 'Treating the Acutely Ill Patient'.
The aim of this series is to keep doctors up to date on evolving medical practice outside their own subspecialty area. The Masterclass Series has proved exceptionally popular and has innovatively used new technology such as webcasting and audience participation systems.
Dr O’Shea is currently a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine with the Department of Medicine for the Elderly in St. Vincent’s University Hospital. Prior to taking his position in Saint Vincent’s University Hospital, Dr O’Shea was a Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, UK and was a Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology in Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. His MD was in Drug Metabolism in Aging. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. His research interests include drug metabolism, falls, syncope and dementia.
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Notes for Editor
The mission of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally. Through its Faculties and Committees, RCPI has responsibility for the postgraduate education and training of doctors in Ireland in twenty-five medical specialties.
RCPI is fully committed to playing a full and proactive part in the transformation of the health service, as evidenced by its involvement in many strategic initiatives with the Medical Council, the Health Services Executive, the Department of Health and Children, and other Irish postgraduate medical training bodies.