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RCPI Academy Holds Inaugural Meeting at No. 6 Kildare Street
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RCPI Academy Holds Inaugural Meeting at No. 6 Kildare Street

On 23 February 2023, The Royal College of Physicians held its Inaugural Meeting of the RCPI Academy.  

The meeting brought together over 46 retired or semi-retired consultants across a variety of different specialties, sharing years of experience.  

The aim of the group is to assemble these retired members to share their wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise working in healthcare and pass it on in several ways, including through the mentorship of early-stage consultants, examinations, education, college representation and volunteer work. 

The Academy is also for those who are interested in connecting and engaging with other Members and Fellows.

Prof Trevor Duffy, Director of Healthcare Leadership at RCPI, highlighted the importance of such a group, sharing its key message: Medicine is an ever-changing landscape where one can continue life-long learning, which certainly does not stop after retirement.  

Prof Trevor Duffy welcomes attendees to the RCPI Academy Inaugural Meeting. (via Bobby Studios)

Following Prof Duffy’s address, the group heard from four speakers, who all shared the unique and inspiring ways they are spending their retirement: 

Prof Frank Murray shared his experience with the EQUALS Initiative, which seeks to improve healthcare in low-income countries by working in partnership with less developed countries and addressing the huge inequality that exists in health globally through: 

  1. Sourcing and donating good quality equipment which becomes freely available from Irish hospitals to hospitals in Zambia, in response to local need  

  1. Supporting the training of biomedical engineers  

  1. Supporting the development of postgraduate medical training for specialist physicians 

Prof Frank Murray shared his experience with EQUALS Initiative. (via Bobby Studios)

The initiative began in 2013 when Prof Murray received a request from an Irish doctor in Zambia asking to help source an ultrasound machine for Monze Mission Hospital. From here, RCPI and the HSE established the EQUALS Initiative. 

RCPI is calling for other retired doctors to get involved and join the academy. 

If you are interested or would like to receive communications about upcoming Academy events, please contact fionamckenna@rcpi.ie