Trainee Awards 2025: Winners Announced
The winners of this year’s Trainee Awards were announced on 23 May 2025.
The awards recognise trainee achievements in communication, improvements in patient care and specialist education and training, and research.
Award applicants present their research at the annual National Education Day, organised by RCPI Trainees Committee, with abstracts selected for both oral presentation and poster presentation. Winners are selected by a judging panel of clinicians.
CORRIGAN AWARD
Named after past RCPI President Sir Dominic Corrigan (1859-1863), the Corrigan Award recognises the best Basic Specialist Training (BST) case study in competition. It recognises excellence in communication - the ability to identify complicated and challenging aspects of patient histories and communicate what we can learn from them. The winner receives an educational grant worth €1,000
Oral presentation:
Dr Niamh Kyne
Unravelling the Mystery of Progressive Sensory Neuropathy in a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease and Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis
Poster presentation:
Dr Michael McKenna
When A Dog’s Bite is Worse than its Bark: A Case of Capnocytophaga Canimorsus Endocarditis
DAVID MITCHELL AWARD
The David Mitchell Award recognises audits that improve patient care and/or specialist education and training. The winning trainee, or team of trainees, receives an educational grant worth €1,000 for a single Trainee (or €1,500 for a team of trainees).
Oral presentation:
Dr Rionagh Lynch
Improving Adherence to guidelines for Follow-Up Chest Radiographs in Patients with Consolidation: A Quality Improvement Audit.
Poster presentation:
Dr Erica Duignan
Focusing on IV to PO antimicrobial switch policy compliance in a tertiary hospital
WILLIAM STOKES AWARD
Awarded by RCPI Trainees Committee, the William Stokes Award recognises research of the highest standards carried out by trainees in Higher Specialist Training (HST) or International Clinical Fellowship Programme (ICFP). The winning trainee receives an educational grant worth €4,000
Oral presentation:
Dr Adam Dyer
Plasma p-Tau217 Demonstrates Excellent Real-World Performance for the Detection of Alzheimer Disease Pathology in Older Adults
Poster presentation:
Dr Maria Tomkins
Impaired 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity in chronic kidney disease disrupts 11-oxygenated androgen biosynthesis
DOROTHY STOPFORD PRICE MEDAL
Honouring Dorothy Stopford Price (1890-1954), a pioneer in infectious disease control in Ireland, this medal was introduced in 2018. The medal recognises excellence in research or audit on vaccination, immunisation or control of infectious diseases and its potential impact on public health. The winner receives an educational grant worth €1,000, funded by RCPI Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
Oral presentation:
Dr Michael Hanrahan
Evaluation of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunisation Pathfinder Programme
Poster presentation:
Dr Sile Kelly
Evaluation and cost analysis of sample positivity in asymptomatic epi-linked cases of human VTEC cases
ARTHUR EAKINS AWARD
Named after Occupational Medicine physician Arthur Eakins (1932-2022), this award was introduced in 2024 by RCPI Trainees Health & Wellbeing Committee. It is awarded for a research project or quality improvement initiative which improves and promotes trainee health and wellbeing. The winner receives an education grant worth €1,000, funded by RCPI Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
Oral presentation:
Dr David Synott
Stepping into the Night: The Preparedness of Newly Qualified Doctors for Out-of-Hours Work
Poster presentation:
Dr Karen Dennehy
Optimizing Mentorship for International Medical Graduates: Insights from a Quality Improvement Initiative in Ireland’s 'Memento' Program
KATE MCGARRY PRIZE
Named after much-beloved physician Dr Kate McGarry, who developed cardiology services in Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, this prize was introduced by RCPI Trainees Committee in 2019. The prize winner is selected from a shortlist of winning submissions into RCPI Trainees E-journal Club, reviewing practice-changing articles.
Winner:
Dr Michael McKenna
Inhaled Amikacin to Prevent Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (New England Journal of Medicine)
TRAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD
An initiative of RCPI Trainees Committee since 2021, this award encourages trainees to nominate their RCPI trainers, in recognition of high standards of training, support and leadership.
Winner:
Prof Margaret O’Connor
Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Limerick
Find out how to apply for RCPI Trainee Awards