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Dr Diarmuid O’Shea takes up office as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
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Dr Diarmuid O’Shea takes up office as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Dr Diarmuid O’Shea has formally commenced his role as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). Dr O’Shea, a Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine, took up the office of President at the College’s Annual Stated Meeting on 18 October 2023, following his election to the role earlier this year. 

Commenting on his appointment, Dr O’Shea said: “I am humbled by the honour and grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my family, and the many Members and Fellows of the college around the world.

I look forward to working with our team at RCPI and our 13,000 alumni to improve professional connectedness and collegiality, and to build on our progress in training, education and lifelong learning.”

Acknowledging the challenges across the health and social care system, Dr O’Shea said that collaboration, recruitment and retention, as well as innovation and the ability to adapt, will be central to improving the environments in which we work and train and to delivering fit for purpose 21st Century training and medical care.  

Dr O’Shea is the 143rd person to hold the position of President of RCPI. He succeeds Prof Mary Horgan who held the office for two terms (2017 – 2023). 

Dr O’Shea thanked Prof Horgan for her stewardship during her tenure as President saying: “I would like to thank our outgoing President, Mary Horgan. RCPI has been very fortunate to have her dedicated, inspiring, and committed leadership over the past six years.”

In his first official duty as President, Dr O’Shea conferred 35 new Fellows and 2 Honorary Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. 

RCPI is global community of 13,000 doctors across 29 specialties in over 90 countries. Dr O’Shea encourages this strong network to get involved in their college and continue to share their skills and expertise and be part of our transformation in practice.

In his role as President, Dr O’Shea will lead the strategic development of RCPI. He will provide leadership to the College in its mission to support Learners, Trainees, Members and Fellows to be leaders in healthcare delivery and transformation through training, education, and advocacy. Dr O’Shea will work closely with RCPI’s Faculties and Institutes, Council, Members, Fellows and staff to grow and support its globally connected community of over 12,000 doctors committed to improving people’s health.

Video message from Dr Diarmuid O'Shea, President, RCPI



Dr O’Shea became a Member of RCPI in 1988 and a Fellow in 1998. He served as National Specialty Director in Geriatric Medicine from 2000 to 2004 and was elected to RCPI Council in 2007. He established the successful RCPI Masterclass Series in 2007 and has held the positions of Masterclass Series Convenor and Vice-President of Education and Professional Development. He was Registrar of RCPI from 2014 to 2020, playing a leading role in promoting the College’s work to improve patient care, the quality of medical practice and the health of the population. Dr O’Shea is the current RCPI Clinical Lead for the Mandatory Teaching Review. 

Dr O’Shea was also Chair of the Irish Committee of Higher Medical Training between 2017 and 2019, President of the Irish Gerontological Society from 2017 to 2020, and Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Older People in the HSE from 2010 to 2019.

Dr O’Shea will hold the office of President for a three-year term.