RCSI Medical University of Bahrain joins Reuben Harvey Prize roll call in 2026
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is delighted to announce the inclusion of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) Medical University of Bahrain in the annual Reuben Harvey Prize, which recognises medical students who achieve the highest marks in their class for final year examinations in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics.
This milestone, announced during a productive visit to RCSI Medical University of Bahrain in November, is an important step towards strengthening our relationship with the university, building on centuries of shared heritage with RCSI.
Inclusion in the Reuben Harvey Prize acknowledges our shared commitment to advancing medical education, training, and professional development in line with the highest international standards.
The first RCSI Bahrain recipient will receive the prize in October 2026 alongside the top graduating medical students from the RCSI, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, University of Galway, University College Cork, University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, and RUMC, RCSI and UCD Campus Malaysia. It acknowledges the high calibre on RCSI Bahrain graduates on the international stage.
The RCPI delegation, led by Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, RCPI President, was warmly welcomed by Professor Sameer Otoom, President of the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain. Building on a foundation of collaboration, the visit was an opportunity to strengthen clinical excellence to advance global health.
Through its affiliation with RCSI and the National University of Ireland (NUI), RCSI Bahrain medical graduates receive the Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (LRCP). Several medical graduates are also currently enrolled in RCPI’s speciality training programmes in Ireland.
Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, commented:
“Our relationship with RCSI has always been grounded in a shared commitment to excellence in medical education and patient care. Extending this collaboration to RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is a natural progression, allowing graduates to benefit from Ireland’s world-class postgraduate training environment while fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise across borders.”
Commenting on this collaboration, Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, stated: “An enhanced collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland reaffirms our shared mission to educate and train doctors with the knowledge and skills to support the development of the healthcare sector in Bahrain. We look forward for our graduates to avail of more world-class training opportunities in line with their professional ambition.”
The delegation from RCPI included Ms Audrey Houlihan, Chief Executive Officer, Ms Sinéad Freeman, Senior Manager for Examinations and Global Training Partnerships, Dr Kadhim Sulaiman, Regional Advisor, and Ms Donna Wrightson, RCPI Membership Executive.