Faculty of Paediatrics celebrates 40 years
The Faculty of Paediatrics celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special event. The Past Present and Future of the Faculty of Paediatrics: A Celebration of 40 years took place on 21 October as part of the Annual Faculty of Paediatrics Autumn Conference and AGM.
The event marked the remarkable success story of the faculty, which was founded on the 6 pillars of Postgraduate Training, Vaccination and Screening, Professionalism, Design and implementation, Advocacy for Children, and Knowledge-Based Support for Resource-Poor Countries.
The occasion was also marked with the launch of an important new text: The Faculty of Paediatrics, Celebrating the First 40 years, 1982 – 2022. The book offers a glimpse into the wonderful doctors who have shaped paediatrics as a specialty and will highlight the seminal steps to the development of paediatric subspecialties over the last 40 years.
Prof John Murphy, Editor of the book, states that:
"The Faculty has been a success story - It has played a major role in shaping modern paediatrics in Ireland. Its achievements extend across all aspects of paediatrics including training, examinations, setting national standards, promoting child health and providing a strong advocacy role on behalf of children.
The postgraduate training programmes are the Faculty’s jewel in the crown. A young doctor embarking on a career in paediatrics can now acquire their complete training in Ireland, something that was just a remote dream back in 1982.
The clinical programmes have facilitated the development of new services and the recalibration of existing ones. Good planning is necessary in order to implement constructive change and sustained improvement."
Dr Louise Kyne, Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics, highlighted that:
"The book provides an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the vital contributions made by Paediatricians to Faculty boards, committees, trainees and importantly to children and their families.
We need to continue to build on our founding members' foundations which have paved the way with their enormous contribution and dedication’ ‘Their sacrifices and determination in challenging circumstances, enabled the present.
Advocacy, through the Faculty of Paediatrics, has been important in the provision and advancement of care for both sick and healthy children."
The event also featured a fantastic programme of speakers on the day, celebrating the foundation of the faculty and reflecting on the successes, challenges and key learnings to be taken from the last 40 years:
- Ms Harriett Wheelock- Keeper of Collections in RCPI
- Prof Hilary Hoey - Director of Professional Competence RCPI
- Dr Winifred A Gorman - Retired Consultant Neonatologist
- Prof Gerard Loftus- Retired Professor of Paediatrics, Galway
- Prof Tom Clarke- Retired Consultant Neonatologist at the Rotunda and CHI @Temple Street
- Dr Terry Bate - Retired Consultant Paediatrician Mullingar Hospital
- Dr Kevin Connelly, Retired Paediatrician Ballinasloe Hospital.
- Dr John Joyce - Trainee representative to the Specialist Training Committee
- Dr Ruth Carey - Neonatal SpR Trainee RCPI
- Dr Michaela Pentony, Paediatric SpR trainee RCPI
- Prof Conor O’Mahony – Guest speaker -Deputy Dean of the School of Law at University College Cork
- Prof Gene Dempsey – Consultant Neonatologist Cork
- Dr Ann Hickey- Consultant neonatologist and clinical speciality lead for neonatology at Children’s Health Ireland
- Dr Kevin Walsh, Consultant paediatric cardiologist, CHI @ Crumlin
- Ms Tafadzwa Mandiwanza – Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon at CHI Temple Street
- Prof Michael Capra – Consultant Paediatric Oncologist CHI @Crumlin
- Dr Shoana Quinn - Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist at CHI and Tallaght and Crumlin
- Prof Des Cox - Consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine at CHI , Crumlin
The Faculty of Paediatrics; Celebrating the First 40 years: 1982-2022 is available to download and is also available to purchase as a hardcopy.