Welcome message from the President & CEO
We are delighted to share the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland's Annual Report 2025-2026. As a global postgraduate medical training body with a proud history spanning more than 400 years, our purpose remains clear: empowering global health through world-leading training, education, professional development and advocacy. Throughout the past year, this mission continued to guide our work, supporting stability, growth and impact across all areas of the College.
This was a year of significant engagement and progress. We worked closely with healthcare communities, policymakers and system leaders to advance the agenda for postgraduate medical training and lifelong learning, while continuing to contribute constructively to some of the most pressing public health challenges facing society. We also expanded our educational offering through the launch of new programmes in healthcare leadership and obesity care, helping doctors develop the knowledge and skills required to meet evolving patient and population health needs.
The future of healthcare education and workforce development remained a central focus for the College. Building on the success of our Changing Horizons series, our annual Leadership Forum once again convened leading voices from across healthcare to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping medical practice, training and service delivery. We were particularly pleased to welcome HSE CEO Anne O'Connor shortly after her appointment and look forward to continued collaboration as we work together to strengthen healthcare education and workforce planning for the years ahead.
Demand for RCPI training programmes and examinations continues to demonstrate the enduring strength and international reputation of our qualifications. Training admissions remained highly competitive, while more than 7,000 candidates sat MRCPI examinations during the year, representing an 18% increase on the previous academic year. We continue to expand examination capacity both domestically and internationally to support this growing global community of learners.
The review and reform of Internal Medicine Training remains a key strategic priority. As healthcare systems become increasingly complex, we must continually strive for excellence and uphold the highest standards in medical training. This work aims to broaden trainee exposure to internal medicine specialties, strengthen preparation for registrar responsibilities and deliver a more consistent training experience nationally. Progress continues through extensive consultation with trainees, trainers, healthcare providers and regulatory bodies, ensuring that future developments are evidence-based, sustainable and focused on delivering excellence in medical training.
Modernising how we work is also central to our future success. During the year, we continued to advance Connect, our ambitious transformation programme designed to strengthen the systems, processes and technologies that underpin the College's work. We are proceeding prudently and thoughtfully, engaging independent subject matter experts to support programme development and inform decision-making. At the same time, we are investing in internal capability and capacity to ensure successful implementation and to position the College to meet the evolving needs of our learners, trainees, members, and fellows.
Innovation in education remained a priority. During the year, we undertook a comprehensive review of assessment practices across our lifelong learning portfolio, examining issues of validity, fairness, accessibility and the emerging influence of generative artificial intelligence. This work is helping to shape a more consistent and transparent approach to assessment while ensuring that innovation remains aligned with the highest academic and professional standards.
Our programme of continuing professional development, across our faculties and institutes, continued to provide doctors with access to the latest advances in medicine, research and clinical best practice. It remains a privilege to see our historic home at No. 6 Kildare Street filled with learners, educators, members, fellows and healthcare professionals who share a commitment to improving patient care and advancing healthcare outcomes.
Advocacy continues to be one of the defining strengths of our College. Guided by the expertise of our members and fellows, we used our collective voice to contribute meaningfully to public health policy and awareness. Campaigns addressing tobacco and e-cigarette use, child safety in relation to e-scooters, climate and health, alcohol labelling and skin cancer prevention ensured that medical expertise remained at the centre of important national conversations.
Working closely with our Museum Board, we have laid important foundations for the development of our medical museum, creating new opportunities to preserve and share Ireland's rich medical heritage. In parallel, we established a Capital Committee to develop a long-term masterplan that will guide the College's capital requirements and future estate development, ensuring that we are well positioned to support generations of doctors and healthcare professionals.
We are deeply grateful to our trainees, learners, members, fellows, partners and staff for their dedication and contribution throughout the year. Together, we continue to strengthen the College's position as a trusted leader and authoritative voice in medical education, professional development and public health, both in Ireland and internationally.
We remain committed to supporting doctors at every stage of their career while advancing our mission to improve healthcare and patient outcomes through education, collaboration, innovation and advocacy.