Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland facts for kids
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Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn
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| Latin: Collegium Regium Chirurgorum Hiberniae | |
| Motto | Consilio Manuque (Scholarship and Dexterity) |
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| Type | Private |
| Established | 11 February 1784 |
| President | Professor Laura Viani |
| Vice-Chancellor | Cathal Kelly |
| Students | 4,094 (as of 2020) |
| Address |
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D02 YN77
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53°20′21″N 6°15′45″W / 53.33918°N 6.26257°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Language | English |
| Affiliations | NUI |
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 Location in Central Dublin
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The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a special university focused on medicine and health. It is also known as RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. It started in 1784 to train surgeons in Ireland. Today, it teaches many healthcare subjects in different countries.
RCSI's main campus is in central Dublin, Ireland, near St. Stephen's Green. It has schools for medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and nursing. You can study there after high school or for advanced degrees.
In 2021, RCSI was ranked very high for 'Good Health and Wellbeing' by the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. This ranking looks at how universities help achieve the United Nations' goals for a better world. RCSI was joint second in the world for this goal!
Contents
History of RCSI
How RCSI Began
For a long time, surgeons in Dublin were part of a group called the Barber-Surgeons' Guild. This guild licensed surgeons and trained them through apprenticeships. An apprenticeship meant learning on the job for several years.
In 1446, the Barber-Surgeons' guild became an official company. This made it the first medical group of its kind in Britain or Ireland.
In 1765, a surgeon named Sylvester O'Halloran suggested creating a special college just for surgeons. He wanted it to be like the one in Paris, which had been training and regulating surgeons since 1255. In 1780, the Dublin Society of Surgeons was formed.
At that time, Trinity College did not teach surgery. So, Ireland needed a place to train surgeons properly. The society asked King George III for a special permission document called a Royal Charter. This charter was given on February 11, 1784. This was the official start of RCSI! The first leaders of the college met at the Rotunda Hospital in March 1784.
Fairness for All
RCSI welcomed everyone, no matter their religion. Two of its founders, Sylvester O'Halloran and William Dease, were Catholic. Many early presidents were also Catholic. The college also accepted medical degrees from the Catholic University of Ireland starting in 1856. This showed they were fair to all.
RCSI in the 1800s
The first student to take an exam at RCSI was John Birch in August 1784.
RCSI moved to its first main building on York Street in 1805. The first stone for the new building was laid in 1806, and it was finished in 1810. This building is still the main location for RCSI today.
In 1844, Queen Victoria granted another special charter. This charter created two types of medical graduates: Licentiates and Fellows. At first, doctors and surgeons were trained together. In 1886, these two areas of study joined, and the medical school officially began. Because of this history, medical graduates from RCSI still receive special diplomas from two Royal Colleges. They also get degrees like Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BCh).
RCSI in the 1900s
During the 1916 Rising (a big event in Irish history), the main RCSI building was taken over by Irish Citizen Army forces. These forces were led by Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz.
In 1967, Ethna Gaffney became the first female professor at RCSI. This was a big step forward!
RCSI was also the first medical school in Ireland to offer a special 4-year program for students who already had a college degree.
RCSI in the 2000s
Between 2014 and 2018, RCSI researchers worked with over 2,100 other groups around the world. They published many research papers together. RCSI's research is highly respected globally.
In December 2019, RCSI officially became a university. It was the ninth university in Ireland to get this status. This was a big achievement for RCSI, as it had worked for a long time to become a university.
Hospitals Connected to RCSI
Since the 1980s, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin has been the main hospital for medical training at RCSI. Other hospitals connected to RCSI include Connolly Hospital, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, and University Hospital Waterford. These hospitals help students get real-world experience.
How RCSI is Organized for Learning
RCSI has different Faculties and Schools. Some focus on studies for new students, while others are for advanced degrees or ongoing learning for professionals.
The main faculty is the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. It includes:
- School of Medicine: This is the largest medical school in Ireland.
- Schools of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences: For studying medicines and how living things work at a tiny level.
- School of Physiotherapy: For learning how to help people recover from injuries or illnesses.
- School of Nursing & Midwifery: The biggest provider of advanced nursing education in Ireland.
- School of Postgraduate Studies: For Master's degrees and PhDs (Doctorate degrees).
There are also other important faculties:
- Faculty of Radiologists: For doctors who use imaging (like X-rays) to diagnose and treat diseases.
- Faculty of Dentistry: For studying teeth and oral health.
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery
- Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine: This one is run with another college, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Research and New Ideas
RCSI is a hub for many healthcare research projects. The university's research aims to make human health better. They focus on "translational" research. This means taking discoveries from the lab and applying them to real-world patient care. They work on new ways to diagnose, treat, and create medical devices. They also study how to improve healthcare delivery and the quality of education for healthcare workers.
Some key areas of their research include:
- New materials for medicine and growing new tissues.
- Cancer research.
- Brain and mental health disorders.
- Public health.
- Surgery.
Students and Values
RCSI is a very diverse place, with students from all over the world. More than 3,800 students from 60 different countries study medicine, pharmacy, and physiotherapy there. RCSI has taught over 26,000 students in its history!
RCSI believes in being creative, doing excellent work, being independent, and respecting different cultures. They also focus on putting patients first in everything they do. RCSI is the largest medical school in Ireland.
Student Life at RCSI
The Students' Union (SU) is a group of elected students. They represent the students and make sure their voices are heard by the university leaders. They work with the Student Council, which has representatives from every class.
RCSI encourages students to join clubs and activities. These activities often help the community and teach about different cultures. A large number of students (80%) come from outside Europe.
The Biological Society (BioSoc) is the official student society for RCSI. It claims to be the oldest student medical society in the world! They host fun events like the RCSI International Night and the Chocolate Ball.
RCSI also has a sports ground in Dardistown, Dublin, where students can play sports.
RCSI Around the World
| Global rankings | |
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| ARWU (2020) | 901−1000 |
| THE (2021) | 251−300 |
RCSI is involved in medical education in many places globally. For example, during the time of Apartheid in South Africa, RCSI provided medical education to people who faced discrimination. Students from over 60 countries study at RCSI.
In Malaysia, RCSI has a campus called RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus. It started in 1995. Students can begin their medical studies in Dublin and then finish their clinical training in Penang, Malaysia. Another campus, Perdana University Royal College of Surgeon in Ireland (PU-RCSI), opened in Malaysia in 2011.
RCSI-Bahrain is another RCSI university, located in Bahrain. It opened in 2004. Students there can earn the same medical degrees as students in Dublin. A School of Nursing also opened there in 2006.
In 2005, RCSI Dubai was founded. It offers a Master's degree in Healthcare Management. RCSI also works with groups in Dubai to improve emergency medical services.
RCSI students in Dublin can also study abroad for a while. They have agreements with famous medical schools like Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania in the USA.
RCSI Motto
The RCSI motto is "Consilio Manuque." This means "Scholarship and Dexterity" (or "Wisdom and Skill"). It was taken from an old college in Paris.
Famous People from RCSI
Many important people have studied or taught at RCSI. Here are a few:
- Abraham Colles: A professor who described a type of wrist fracture, now called Colles' fracture.
- Felipe Contepomi: A famous rugby player from Argentina.
- Emily Winifred Dickson: The first woman to become a Fellow of any Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland or Great Britain.
- Nada Haffadh: Bahrain's first female minister of health.
- Nelson Mandela: A Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of South Africa, who received an honorary fellowship.
- Pat O'Callaghan: An Irish gold medalist in the Olympic Games.
- Wan Azizah Wan Ismail: The first female Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
- Sir William Wilde: A surgeon and the father of the famous writer Oscar Wilde.
Special Honorary Fellows
RCSI has also given special honorary fellowships to many famous people who did not study there but were recognized for their achievements. These include:
- Louis Pasteur: A famous scientist.
- Joseph Lister: A pioneer in sterile surgery.
- Nelson Mandela: Former President of South Africa.
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Nobel Peace Prize winner.
- Seamus Heaney: A Nobel Prize-winning poet.
- Mary Robinson: A former President of Ireland.
- Jimmy Carter: A former US President.
- Bob Geldof: A musician and activist.
Honorary Degrees
Since 2010, RCSI can also give honorary degrees to people who have made great contributions. Some people who have received these include:
- Mary McAleese: A former President of Ireland.
- Martin Seligman: The founder of Positive Psychology.
- Richard Horton: The editor of The Lancet, a major medical journal.
RCSI Coat of Arms
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RCSI has its own special coat of arms. It shows a hand, a harp, and two tools used in surgery called fleams. The crest has an eagle and a snake. The supporters are two Irish elks. The motto "Consilio Manuque" is also on it.
See also
- Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Irish College of Ophthalmologists
- Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Royal College of Surgeons of England
