skip to main content
Faculties and Institutes
 

Faculty of Paediatrics

We are the national professional and training body for paediatrics in Ireland, working to ensure the highest standards in child health

 

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland is the national professional and training body for paediatrics in Ireland, working to ensure the highest standards in child health.

Faculty of Paediatrics launchnew books to celebrate 40th anniversary of the Faculty
 

Who We Are

The Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland; we are proud to meet the strict standards required to deliver postgraduate specialist training in Paediatrics.

Established in 1982, we are one of six postgraduate specialist training bodies based in RCPI.

We have over 340 members, all of whom are experienced consultant paediatricians and leading experts in their field.

Paediatric consultant and trainees examine a little boy
 

What We Do

Paediatrics deals with the prevention, diagnosis, investigation and treatment of medical conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents, from birth to 16 years of age.

In Ireland, there are opportunities to work as a general paediatrician or a paediatrician with a special interest in one of the many areas of medicine relating to child health, for example, paediatric intensive care, community child health, neurodisability, oncology, respiratory medicine or palliative care, to mention a few. The work is often collaborative with other professionals and agencies to ensure the best holistic care for both the child and their family.

Children may have acute life-threatening illnesses or chronic illnesses, while others may have non-specific symptoms and signs that need assessment and coordination of care.

Ensuring that a child lives as normal a life as possible means that paediatricians need to take into account the mental, developmental and social needs of the child and their families. Advocacy on child health issues and safeguarding are important components of a paediatrician’s work.

Paediatrics is a wonderful and rewarding specialty with many exciting opportunities.

Baby looking up
 

Our Specialties

Within paediatrics in Ireland there are, at present, two paediatric subspecialties for which specific training is available: neonatology and cardiology. Neonatology is the specialty that provides routine care, special care, and intensive care to newborn infants/preterm infants and sick infants. Neonatologists also provide a national neonatal transport service for the transfer of sick infants requiring medical or surgical care to the tertiary hospitals. Cardiology is a specialty that assess and treat infants, children and adolescents with cardiac conditions.

Many other sub-specialties are recognised and practised clinically by highly trained subspecialists, but these are currently registered in the General Paediatric Division of the Medical Council.

Hands on a mobile phone
 

Contact Us

The current Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics is Dr Judith Meehan. She is responsible for overseeing all matters of the Faculty with the support of the Faculty Board and Committees. She represents the Faculty of Paediatrics on the RCPI Council and on other national and international bodies. 

For help and assistance, please contact the RCPI Helpdesk. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Tel: 01 8639633
Email: helpdesk@rcpi.ie