Following my election this summer as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, I would like to thank my colleagues for the great honour they have bestowed on me. It is a responsibility which I hope to discharge with the same energy and commitment as that of my predecessors.

At the very core of our mission is the responsibility to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice.  Through these means, we can achieve optimum patient care and promote good health nationally and internationally.

During my time as president I want to place a considerable emphasis on the development of our role in education to include the delivery of life long learning for those who have completed their higher medical training.  With this aim in mind, we need to broaden the base of Members and Fellows who are involved in the work of the College.  We also need to define and implement a structured and professional approach to fundraising in order to underpin this growing emphasis on education and training.  We will together look at how we can reinforce the view, in the perception of the public and those managing our health services, that we are not only a trusted and experienced institution but that we are also a modern and forward looking body.

I want to continue the development of our landmark headquarters at No. 6 Kildare Street as a profitable operation.  I hope to improve the profile of the College by hosting more faculty sponsored public meetings.  These have been uniformly popular and have drawn substantial attendances.  I plan to engage more effectively with our key stakeholders, particularly through our work on the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies.

The Master class concept, which was developed by the College in 2005, has been very successful.  Over the next nine months we hope to adopt an innovative approach to these Master classes.  The new series entitled ‘Treating the Acutely ill Patient’ is aimed at keeping doctors up to date in evolving medical practice outside of their own specialty area.  The series will initially run over 6 classes focusing on different specialties including cardiology, neurology, geriatrics and respiratory medicine.  Each will involve a symptom-based approach to diagnosis and management of both common and complex conditions.  Video-conferencing and podcast facilities will also be available for each meeting making it easier for doctors to participate in the programme.

My predecessors have developed the college in different ways.  We have changed the way we interact with other medical bodies, we have transformed our historic home in Kildare Street and we have expanded our overseas activities. It is my hope that over the next 3 years we will further strengthen our renowned systems of training and examination that will equip a new generation of medical professionals.

There are many changes taking place in the Irish health system, which are both exciting and challenging.  It is our responsibility, as a training body, to ensure that standards are never compromised, that more time and resources are allocated to medical training and that we, as a profession, should lead rather than follow the process of change.

Substantial change has taken place within the ranks of the College itself. The appointment of Mr. Leo Kearns as our very first Chief Executive in 2006 has resulted in a significant number of structural and system changes.  We are far better prepared now to cope with new challenges than ever before.  I know that Leo is working to further develop the College and to add value for our Members and Fellows.  We plan to increase our interaction using new and modern methods of communication and we hope to enhance the advocacy role of our College.

I very much look forward to working with the members of the Executive including the new Registrar of the College, Dr. Frank Murray, the Treasurer, Dr. John Crowe and the CEO, Mr. Leo Kearns.  There is much to be done and I hope that, as President, I can play a part in facilitating that change.  I hope you will assist me over the coming years to further develop the great institution to which we belong.

Dr. John Donohoe

President