RCPI welcomes 37 new fellows and awards inaugural Cecilia Grierson Medal
At a dedicated FRCPI ceremony on Thursday, 9 April, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) welcomed 37 new fellows from countries including New Zealand, Denmark, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Ireland. An additional 18 doctors were awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in absentia.
Speaking at the ceremony, RCPI President Dr Diarmuid O’Shea reflected on the significance of fellowship, saying: “Becoming a fellow of our college is an internationally recognised accolade of professional excellence, a proud milestone in your career, and an honour we bestow with great care and pride.”
“Medicine is about many things, but it is quintessentially about leadership in action. Be open to change and inspire others. Imagine the aspects of healthcare training and delivery you want to improve, reform, or simply do better, and help us lead the changes needed,” Dr O’Shea continued, echoing the central themes of the conference which focused on clinical innovation, leadership, healthcare equity, and the future of medical education.
The college also awarded the inaugural Cecilia Grierson Medal to Professor William Howlett for his exceptional contribution to global health and his lifelong commitment to improving neurological care in East Africa, where he has devoted more than four decades to clinical care, teaching, and research.
The Cecilia Grierson Medal was established to honour members and fellows of the Irish medical diaspora whose work has made a profound impact on healthcare around the world.
Dr Howlett, who celebrated his eightieth birthday earlier this year, travelled to Dublin from Zimbabwe where he continues to actively contribute to healthcare training and leadership.
When asked what the Cecilia Grierson Medal means to him, he spoke of a strength of spirit drawn from his mother, and the importance of continuous learning and sharing of knowledge.
“It’s interesting that the strength that I have in Africa actually comes from my background. My mother was a wonderful woman. She saved my life in Africa more than once. I would often think ‘My mother would have done something, so I did it’. I opened a hospital just remembering what she did. That ability to work every day and the rest follows,” he said.
“I never published a line before I went to Africa. I had to learn to publish. Africa, in some ways, taught me that when something is new somebody has to teach you. Then you learn it, then you practice it, and finally, the big teacher is experience, and I’ve been able to learn from those areas to continue it. I wrote a textbook in my field because there wasn’t one. . I went back and trained as a specialist in Neurology in my early 40s and 50s because they needed that in Africa. Teaching is huge and we now have a medical school with 240 students in each year. I have 60 residents in training. I was 80 on the 16 March and…look at this lovely suit. Everything you see was bought for me by my medical students in Africa for my birthday when they heard I was coming here to receive this award.”
Held at No. 6 Kildare Street, the event featured formal addresses, the presentation of fellowship parchments and awards, followed by a reception for the new fellows, award recipient and their guests.
Image gallery
View images from the FRCPI ceremony below