Dr Sarah Cavallari is a Paediatric Specialist Registrar. She graduated from UCC in 2020 and has worked across hospitals in Cork, Limerick and Dublin during her training. She is keenly interested in education and has completed an MSc in Health Professions Education with UCC. She has held a number of roles within the Trainees’ Committee and is particularly interested in building engagement and communication between RCPI, trainees and the committee.
Dr Ruth Hutch is a final-year Higher Specialist Trainee in Medical Oncology, currently undertaking a Hepatobiliary Oncology Fellowship at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin. She holds a BSc in Physiology, an MSc in Regenerative Medicine and a medical degree, and is currently completing a Master’s in Healthcare Management. She has a strong interest in postgraduate medical education, training, leadership and trainee representation.
Throughout her training, Ruth has been actively involved in medical education and advocacy, having previously served as a Basic Specialist Training Trainee Representative at St. James’s Hospital, where she contributed to MRCP(I) examination preparation and teaching initiatives. She has also served as the Lead NCHD for Cancer Services during her Specialist Registrar training, representing trainee perspectives and contributing to discussions on postgraduate training and professional development.
She is particularly passionate about ensuring that postgraduate examinations are fair, transparent, accessible and reflective of clinical practice. As an Examination Representative, she hopes to advocate for trainees, strengthen communication between candidates and the College, and contribute to the continued development and quality of the examination process.
Dr Bearach Reynolds is a final-year infectious diseases SpR, currently working in St. Vincent's Hospital. He has worked in Ireland and London, and completed his MPH at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and his fellowship in the CMO's office at the Department of Health. His focus is on connecting clinical work with public health and policy to make the health system work better for everyone, and he wants to carry this motivation through to his work on the Trainees' Committee. Please feel free to reach out to him with any questions or ideas.
Dr. Mohammed Alsaleh is a Saudi-Canadian graduate of the University of Galway, currently in his firdt year of GIM training at RCPI. He has experience in Internal Medicine and Nephrology in Saudi Arabia, with a particular interest in Nephrology and renal research, including work in polycystic kidney disease and tolvaptan. He is also due to commence a Master’s in Nephrology and has worked to support dialysis-related charitable centres.
He has a strong interest in medical education, having worked as a tutor and intern supervisor in Saudi Arabia and currently teaching with RCSI. He has held leadership roles at the University of Galway and has volunteered with the Irish Cancer Society, alongside receiving several academic scholarships. He is particularly interested in trainee education, professional development, and engagement within RCPI.
Dr David O'Keeffe is a Paediatric Specialist Registrar in Year 3 of Higher Specialist Training. He graduated from UCC in 2021 and has worked across hospitals in Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Drogheda during his training. He has served as Lead NCHD in three hospitals and is the Faculty of Paediatrics Forum Representative on the RCPI Training Committee. He also writes questions for the MRCPI exams and is particularly interested in improving training and supporting trainee wellbeing.
Dr Laura Stephens is a second-year SpR in General Paediatrics, currently working at The Coombe Hospital. She graduated from UCD in 2020 and has worked in Paediatrics at multiple sites in Ireland and Australia. Prior to Medicine, she studied Business and Spanish at TCD. She is interested in trainee experience, education and wellbeing, and looks forward to representing trainees on the RCPI Trainees Committee this year.
Dr Sahr Yambasu is undertaking Higher Specialist Training (HST) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is currently based in Mullingar Regional Hospital and is completing a PhD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. As the current Chair of the Junior Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (JOGS), he has experience advocating for trainees.
Dr Órla Power is a specialist registrar (SpR) in obstetrics and gynaecology, currently in year 1 of higher specialist training in Galway. She earned her medical degree from University College Cork, and worked in Wellington, New Zealand for 3 years before returning to Ireland to commence specialist training. She achieved MRCPI in obstetrics & gynaecology in 2022.
Dr Power has a keen interest in medical leadership across all levels, and recently completed an MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare through the RCSI Graduate School of Healthcare Management. She is also highly interested in medical education, with previous experience in the role of clinical tutor in O&G with UCC & CUMH, for which she was awarded 'Best NCHD Teacher 2024-2025' across all UCC teaching hospitals.
Órla is passionate about encouraging community and engagement among trainees across all specialities, and looks forward to bringing her experience in international training settings to her role on the committee.
Dr. Fiachra Lambe is a Public Health Specialist Registrar, in Year 1 of HST. He was the first person to complete the “Military Medicine GP Training Scheme”, graduating in 2023 as a specialist in both General Practice and Military Medicine.
During his eight years’ service with the Defence Forces Ireland, Fiachra deployed on UN Peacekeeping missions to Lebanon and Syria. His military role further included international public health work in both military and civil-military cooperation settings. He completed an MPH in 2023 via UCC and his focus in public health is on health security and emergency preparedness.
His previous experiences have left Dr. Lambe with a keen interest in leadership and governance and he wishes to both contribute and learn from others as a member of the Trainee Committee. Representing HST Public Health Trainees at the RCPI Trainee Committee and at the FPHMI Board is a significant privilege and Fiachra is open to all discussions that relate to achieving the best outcomes for Trainees.
Dr Alison O’Shea is currently in her 2nd year of the GIM BST in the Beaumont Hospital group. She graduated from University College Cork in 2021 and following her intern year in Cork, she spent just over 2 years working in Australia. She has received her MRCPI qualifications and is passionate about helping to create a supportive, inclusive and positive training environment for all trainees.
Dr Fiona Byrne is a Junior Registrar undertaking Basic Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with The Coombe. She graduated in Medicine from UCD in 2023. Prior to studying medicine, Fiona trained and worked as a registered nurse in the United States.
Dr Ciara Kiely is a 2nd year Paediatric BST trainee currently working as an SHO in the Coombe hospital.
She graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2021 and after completing her intern year in Wexford and then St James’s Hospital, she spent 1.5 years working in Australia. After working in Paediatics in Australia, she was awarded the George Moore Scholarship to undertake a Masters in Paediatrics and Child Health: Global Child Health at University College London in 2024/2025. She is very interested in preventative medicine and childhood obesity. She focused her dissertation on the adherence of free school meals in the UK to school food standards and their impact on children’s body weight and dental outcomes.
She started the Paediatric BST programme in July 2025 and completed the MRCPI Paediatrics examinations. She has held previous leadership positions including lead NCHD at MRH Portlaoise from January to July 2026. This will be her first time on the RCPI comittee.
Dr. Rebecca Gill is a first year trainee on the Histopathology Basic Specialist Trainee programme. She is currently based in Beaumont Hospital. She is a graduate of University College Cork and worked in clinical medicine in Melbourne, Australia before returning to Ireland and pursuing a career in Histopathology.
She is passionate about trainee wellbeing and sustainable practice in healthcare and has been an NCHD representative on the Green Labs Committee in Galway University Hospital.
Cliona Cowhig is a final year SpR in Nephrology and GIM. She originally graduated from UCC in 2018 and went on to complete her medical BST Beaumont-Connolly network, earning the MRCPI in medicine.Cliona has complemented her clinical work with a masters in genomic medicine from Cambridge University and is currently completing her MD thesis in patient reported outcome measures and fatigue in SLE.
Cliona is passionate about training and wellbeing and as the new chair of the Physician Health and Wellbeing Committee, Dr Cowhig hopes to work with trainees across the college to create positive change and foster a healthy trainee experience.
Dr O'Keeffe is a 2nd year trainee on the Medical BST. She graduated from University College Cork in 2021 and has worked both in Ireland (in Galway and Cork) and abroad in New Zealand and Australia. Dara is the vice chairperson of the RCPI health and wellbeing committee this year. She is passionate about fostering a healthy and happy workplace for NCHDs and improving work- life balance.