Happy Birthday RCSI Bahrain

University announces its 10th anniversary celebrations

RCSI Bahrain has announced a number of exciting events to celebrate its 10th anniversary. At a launch event in the University on September 8, Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Bahrain announced details in an address to staff, students and members of the media. As part of the celebratory events, Dr Michael Brennan from the renowned Mayo Clinic in the United States will be the keynote speaker at a 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner in the Ritz Carlton Hotel on November 27. Dr Brennan has a distinguished career in endocrinology and professionalism in healthcare.

The black-tie gala event will also feature a 10th Anniversary video reflecting on RCSI Bahrain’s accomplishments over the past decade; performances from Irish Dance group Damsha and a dance performance showcasing traditional dancers from Bahrain. The winners of the annual Dean’s Awards will also be announced during dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The launch of the anniversary took place in the University’s atrium and included a speech from Dr Seamas Cassidy who was one of the first members of staff join RCSI Bahrain which began operations in the Seef District on October 9, 2004. To officially kick-start the launch, another original staff member, Dr Declan Gaynor was joined by two new students to cut a large 10th anniversary cake.

Other events planned for the year ahead include the opening of the University’s new sports facilities. Following a US$700,000 investment in a new all-weather pitch and a renovated Sports and Recreation Centre, a launch event next month will mark the official opening of the new facilities. An international food festival, organised annually by students will also take place in November; celebrations will coincide both with Bahrain National Day in December and with St Patrick’s Day in March and the University is also planning an event for its alumni. The anniversary celebrations will come to a close at the sixth graduation ceremony in June, when RCSI Bahrain will graduate

its1000th student.

Announcing details of the celebrations, Professor Sameer Otoom said, “RCSI Bahrain’s 10-year anniversary is a tremendous milestone for the University. Throughout the first decade of RCSI Bahrain, results of the final examinations indicate that our students perform as well as their counterparts in RCSI Dublin.” He said the next twelve months will be a special time for the University as it enjoys its 10-year anniversary celebrations. “We have come a long way over the last ten years”, continued Professor Otoom. “We opened our doors to 28 students in 2004 and today we have more than 1,300 taking courses in medicine, nursing and postgraduate studies. So our 10th anniversary celebrations will provide us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything that we have achieved over the last 10 years and also an opportunity to look towards the very bright future for RCSI in Bahrain.”

A 10-year reflection, by Professor Kevin O’Malley, Founding President, RCSI Bahrain Many challenges lay ahead. Firstly, student numbers grew almost exponentially, which was made possible by the Bahrain government’s support of many bright students. Secondly, a definitive university campus was required. Planning got underway quickly and RCSI’s input in the design for the King Hamad University Hospital was essential to the development of a contemporary, fit-for-purpose teaching hospital. We pursued regulatory approval in the GCC countries, which enabled RCSI Bahrain to broaden its student body. This is now reflected in the extraordinary diversity of RCSI Bahrain students today. In early summer 2004, RCSI was invited by the Kingdom of Bahrain to establish a medical university in the Middle East. RCSI readily agreed and began preparations to start its medical programme in October 2004. This very short lead time presented huge challenges such as procuring and fitting out a temporary teaching/learning facility in Bahrain and recruiting staff and students. By early August, four academic and three support staff were on the ground and just four students were registered. Following the brilliant official opening ceremony, which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Prime Minister of Bahrain and the then-Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, the pre-medical class of 28 students was set up with leased accommodation in the Seef district.

We also established Schools of Nursing and Postgraduate Studies and recruited first-rate staff to teach the middle years and the intense clinical years of the programmes. The successes of RCSI Bahrain today could not have happened without the support and commitment of so many people. The Bahrain government continues to be a crucial support to the University and one which we continually appreciate. The foundation staff who rose to the challenge of setting up a complex programme in totally new social, cultural and climatic circumstances deserve great credit. I won’t list names here for fear of inviting unintentional omissions, but getting the University to where it’s at today has been a momentous team effort. Many students and parents have remarked on the importance of having a substantial Irish presence among the academic staff. This was no mistake on our part. In establishing this University, we sought to bring the Irish

way of teaching medicine - particularly clinical medicine – to Bahrain and the wider region. As a result, RCSI Bahrain uses the RCSI curriculum, examinations and qualifications, delivered by an eclectic group of academics with a preponderance from Ireland. When an organisation is doing well, its president often gets the plaudits. In my case, I was most fortunate with my colleagues – both academic and support staff – who performed to a very high standard. But perhaps most thanks should go to RCSI Bahrain students, their parents and sponsors who had faith in the University to provide the high quality of education and training which students seek and deserve. For me, the seven years I spent in Bahrain were among the most enjoyable and professionally fulfilling of my career. I was fortunate that my wife Mary agreed to move with me to Bahrain, because among other issues for her, the move meant giving up her job as a psychiatrist in Dublin. Without her support, I could not have made the commitment required. Thankfully, like me, she enjoyed her sojourn in Bahrain. Life teaches us that in an ever-changing world, the status quo is not an option. We need to set ambitious goals. These must include additional academic offerings. While limited expectations restrict, ambition energises and holds the future. I am confident that the RCSI leadership in Dublin and Bahrain are well aware of the path forward and will guide RCSI Bahrain to great success in the years ahead.

Communications Department secures almost BD10,000 in funding from Tamkeen The Communications Department has made a successful application to Tamkeen and secured almost BD10,000 in funding to help produce a number of promotional videos about the University. The Department availed of a marketing scheme being offered by Tamkeen called the Tasweq Scheme. The funding is being used to produce a five-minute generic video about RCSI Bahrain and separate videos about its School of Medicine, School of Nursing & Midwifery and School of Postgraduate Studies and Research. A film-production crew has filmed the campus, the University’s extensive facilities and interviews with staff and students. The short films are due to be completed and ready to watch on RCSI Bahrain’s YouTube channel from next month. Funding from the Tamkeen scheme is also being used to produce a number of three-minute webisode videos highlighting student life in RCSI Bahrain by showcasing student events such as Clubs and Societies Day, International Festival, the annual Talent Show and the Student Awards.

Plans unveiled for launch of $700,000 investment in Sports and Recreation Center Gym Impact Flooring By Frank McCarthy

As part of RCSI Bahrain’s design scope for the gym, high-impact rubber flooring has been recently installed in the male and female gyms and in the new general cardio areas. This flooring will provide users with comfort during floor exercises, by cushioning knees and ankles from impact. Made from sound-deadening material, the flooring will also provide slip resistance and protection from free-weights damage, ensuring a safer environment.

RCSI Bahrain’s new football pitch and renovated sports facilities will be officially opened during a ceremony at the University’s Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC) next month. Staff, students and a number of invited dignitaries are due to attend the opening ceremony, which will include football and basketball matches. New Artificial Pitch The design of the floodlit artificial pitch includes numerous components for maximum safety, functionality, cost-effectiveness, aesthetic form and reliability. The all-weather “Edel Soccer Future DS” surface, imported from the Netherlands is a FIFA-preferred producer of football turf.

New Digital Features In line with this refurbishment, eight digital multifunctional televisions will be installed in the SRC. These will be strategically positioned around the facility so students and staff can keep up-to-date with activities around campus and the SRC. The TV area will also have a gaming platform and TV channels showing sports, news and music. Wi-Fi Hotspot Another welcome feature of the renovated SRC will be new, open Wi-Fi hotspots, both within the complex and on the artificial pitch. This improved set-up will enable staff and students to access the internet without having to log in each time. Installation is expected before the end of October 2014.

The artificial pitch has been designed for multisport/multigame functionality. Using cleverly-designed removable goals, it will facilitate a range of sports such as football, touch rugby and Gaelic (Irish) football. In addition, clear markings incorporated into the pitch enable it to subdivide into smaller sections, facilitating one 11-a-side, two 9-a-side and four 5-a-side games. The pitch’s drainage facilities will ensure maximum usability regardless of year-round weather conditions. At full size, the 46m-wide by 95m-long pitch meets FIFA size requirements. New Basketball Court The investment into the SRC will also cover the cost of resurfacing the main hall with International Basketball Federation (FIBA) approved multi-purpose flooring (FIBA Competition Level 1). This high performance “Junckers” flooring was ordered from Denmark. The floor has been designed to accommodate a variety of sports including indoor football, badminton, basketball and volleyball and to meet the demands for shock-absorption, ball-bounce, resilience and friction.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees opens in the Sports and Recreation Centre The SRC welcomed the recent arrival of Gloria Jean’s Coffees to the first floor of the facility. The coffee shop opens from 8am to 8pm, Saturday to Thursday, with a 20% subsidy provided by the University on the prices displayed for RCSI students and staff. Outdoor seating has arrived for those who prefer the fresh air of the cooler winter months.

Professional Development Unit conducts training sessions for staff by Sumaya Hashim Since the establishment of the Professional Development Unit (PDU), a number of training workshops have been arranged to address training needs relevant to teaching and learning, research and management and administration. The 2014 academic year kick-started with Moodle-training sessions for all RCSI Bahrain staff and clinicians. These sessions were held both on and off campus and were attended by around 100 staff, academics and clinicians. Ms Aileen Jackson, Learning Technologist, RCSI Dublin facilitated the training. In the run-up to the annual Research Grant Funds, Professor David Whitford and Dr Catherine O’Neill hosted a workshop called “Writing Research Protocol and Gaining Research Funding.” Staff commented that the worksheets offered during the workshop have subsequently proven to be very useful for studying after the course completion. Maeve Fallon, Project Manager from RCSI Dublin, facilitated an intensive project management course, which was attended by 30 staff over two days. The course was well received by many who considered its content applicable to their respective day-to-day jobs. Two other initiatives launched by the PDU are the Teacher Training Programme (TTP) and the PDU’s version of TED-Talks to inspire and share insights. Of the TTP, Dr Kathy Strachan, Head of Quality Enhancement said, “it is a programme designed by Ms Sireen AlAradi in response to the teaching needs identified in the training needs analysis. Each TTP session is an hour long and this intensive course will run over the coming weeks.” During the TED-Talks event, Mrs Julie Sprakel, breast cancer survivor and RCSI Bahrain staff member shared her remarkable story of how it influenced every aspect of her life.

CPR training video watched more than 9,000 times on YouTube A CPR video, produced by RCSI Bahrain staff with the aim of increasing the number of people trained in CPR has been viewed more than 9,000 times on YouTube. Throughout September, the video was also shown on all Gulf Air flights on the airline’s new onboard channel called Helwa Ya Bahrain (Beautiful Bahrain). The channel is a dedicated health programme with a variety of instructional features. The CPR video was launched at the end of August during a joint press conference with Gulf Air, which was held at the University. During the press conference, Professor Sameer Otoom, President, RCSI Bahrain said, “We are delighted to have this collaboration with Gulf Air, bringing us on board and giving us the opportunity to showcase this important public awareness video.  “As an institution dedicated to enhancing health in Bahrain, we are delighted to extend our support to this worthy endeavor and look forward to reaching a global audience.” Nursing Lecturer, Ms Orla Merrigan, who came up with the concept for the video said, “this is an excellent opportunity for us to educate the public on the new hands-only guidelines when undertaking CPR in an emergency situation.” Ms Julie Sprakel and Dr Ghufran Jassim were also involved in the production of the CPR video. The video, which is in Arabic with English subtitles, features famous Bahraini footballers, Mohamed Ahmed Youssef Salmeen and Humood Sultan, along with RCSI Bahrain Community Engagement volunteers. It can be viewed through RCSI Bahrain’s YouTube channel on the University’s website.

Dr Ghufran Jassim to contribute a monthly article to Gulf Air Magazine Dr Ghufran Jassim has become a regular contributor to Gulf Life, the inflight magazine of Gulf Air, which has a potential monthly readership of 600,000 people. Written in accessible style using non-medical language, Dr Ghufran’s articles aim to provide information about common health conditions and medical emergencies. To date, she has written about hypoglycemia (caused by low blood sugar which is common in people with diabetes), gastroenteritis (stomach and bowel infection), seizures and renal or kidney stones

International Youth Ambassadors from Taiwan visit RCSI Bahrain

countries to promote a dynamic and diversified Taiwan to the international community, according to the online news outlet, Taiwan Today. In the university atrium the group performed different aspects of Taiwanese culture and heritage, including traditional dance, acrobatics and music played on traditional Taiwanese instruments. The delegation, led by the H.E. Michael T. Chen, met with Professor Joe McMenamin, Vice President of Academic Affairs and with Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of School of Nursing at RCSI Bahrain.

As part of a cultural exchange programme called the International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program – a group of 17 college students from Taiwan who were selected from more than 1,200 majoring mostly in the arts – visited Bahrain on September 18 to exchange views with RCSI Bahrain’s student council and showcase different aspects of Taiwanese culture and heritage. To take part in the International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program, participants complete 45 days of specialised cultural and communication-orientated training, before visiting various

Staff attend International Education Forum in Dublin By Dr Fiza Rashid-Doubell

In June, for the third year running, RCSI Dublin hosted the International Education Forum. The event’s theme ‘Curriculum Development in a Transnational Context’ provided an excellent opportunity for RCSI Bahrain staff to discuss and develop this topic with colleagues in Dublin and RCSI Perdana University, Malaysia. The first of the three-day forum was dedicated to evaluating and reviewing curricula for the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cycles by staff from the three RCSI campuses. The remaining two days informed attendees about current projects underway which integrate themes such as professionalism, genomics and psychiatry into the medical curriculum. Faculty had also been selected to deliver presentations on current research and innovations, which included the topics of educational technology, student support and research ethics competency. The event was a great success and it will become an annual event on RCSI’s academic calendar.

RCSI Bahrain graduate wins Salmaniya’s Best Intern Award Bahraini national, Doctor Isa Yusuf Al-Alwani has won the Best Intern Doctor award for the most distinguished intern at Salmaniya Medical Complex. An award ceremony was organised by the internship committee during the summer and held under the patronage of Dr Saeeda Al Balooshi, Acting Head of Medical Education & Training for Secondary Health Care and Dr Hala Al Mehza, Assistant Undersecretary for Training in the Ministry of Health. The Intern of the Year award is presented to a doctor who has achieved the highest score in all rotations, including consultant evaluations, end of rotation exams, punctuality, in conducting medical researches, attaining consultant recommendations, participating in workshops and conferences and in providing outstanding patient care. In August 2013, Dr Al-Alwani started his internship among a batch of 138 interns. Throughout the year, he conducted medical and surgical research, a clinical audit and a rare surgical case report. He participated in many workshops and conferences and volunteered in World Kidney Day, World Rare Disease Day and Diabetic Foot Screening public activities.  Dr. Al-Alwani is an alumnus of RCSI Bahrain. During his studies, he trained in RCSI Dublin and did his clinical electives and clerkships in Germany, Lebanon, Malta, Italy and Australia.

Student News More than 20 clubs and societies on show at annual event On September 16, RCSI Bahrain’s student clubs and societies kicked off the new academic year with the annual Clubs and Societies Fair. Hosted in a packed and bustling atrium, the fair featured more than 20 booths, ranging from well-established sports clubs such as basketball and football, to the Iraqi Society and Canadian Students Association and to newcomers including the Cailíní Nursing Society and the Dance Club. The fair offered plenty of opportunities for new and returning students to sign up for the year ahead. Each group had their booth decked out and provided a selection of treats to lure students in. Some of the University’s most prominent societies, such as the Nursing and Medics in Leadership Societies and the Art Society. were among those that stood out in particular. Attendance on the night of several hundred students was a great boost for activities in the coming year. RCSI Clubs and Societies, which is overseen by the Student Council, aims to provide students with a variety of social opportunities. Students may decide to partake in a favorite pastime or take up a new hobby, and those seeking leadership opportunities can take on an executive position. The respective elections for Student Executives will take place before the mid-semester break.

Nursing Students participate in AIESEC exchange program in India “It was amazing to see how these beautiful children appreciated everything we taught them and they were interested to learn more. Underprivileged and very poor, the children were very smart and hardworking, which taught us to appreciate the things we have.

During the summer, Year 4 nursing students, Fatima Shaker Al-Sabbagh, Shayma Hamad and Mohammed Restam took part in a programme called Leap to Teach in Bangalore, India. Supported by AIESEC Bahrain – part of an international, non-profit organisation for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential – Leap to Teach aims to provide access to basic education to underprivileged communities to overcome illiteracy. Fatima Shaker Al-Sabbagh, described their experience over one month in India as overwhelming yet life-changing. “On arrival in India we wanted to return home immediately,” she said. “But as soon as we arrived at an orphanage and were introduced to the wonderful people who run it, we were more curious to meet the orphan children.

“We really loved working with these kids as well as helping in the ’Save Girl Child’ project,” Fatima added. “India is a big country filled with adventures that are waiting to be discovered. Getting to know that there are several cultures, religions and languages within the same country was amazing,” the N4 nursing student said. AIESEC – the world’s largest youth-run organisation – is present in more than 1,600 universities and has more than 50,000 members. Focusing on providing a platform for leadership development, AIESEC offers more than 10,000 leadership opportunities and in excess of 10,000 internship opportunities annually.

Student News

RCSI Bahrain holds Orientation Week for new students Around 300 new students have enrolled in RCSI Bahrain for courses in medicine and nursing. During the annual orientation week, with the support of RCSI Bahrain staff and senior students, students from 20 different countries were introduced to different aspects of student life. Attracted by the prestigious reputation and international caliber of RCSI Bahrain, this new intake of students from a diverse range of countries include some from as far afield as Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Canada. More than 60 students from Kuwait have joined RCSI Bahrain. Two newly-enrolled Kuwaiti students, sisters Danah and Noor were excited about their first day at RCSI Bahrain. Norah said she was attracted to RCSI Bahrain because it offers the same programme as RCSI Dublin and that Bahrain is closer to her home. She said “I am impressed with the campus and the professors.” Danah said “I love the clubs and societies on offer and that students get the chance to participate in charity work overseas in places like Vietnam and Lesotho.”

Students attend Arab Gulf Forum Congratulations as students get research work published Congratulations to JC1 students Fatema Abdulameer Almadhoob and Manaf Ali Yousif for publishing a paper on “Nonlinear Optical Properties and Optical Limiting Measurements of Ethyl 2-[(E)-4-(dimethylamino)benzylidenehydrazino]-5-Nitrobenzoate under cw Laser Regime” Int. J. Exp. Phy. 1, No. 1 (September-2014).

A group of RCSI Bahrain students attended the Second Arab Gulf Forum for Medical Administration (for medical errors and patient safety), held at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain between September 16-18. The forum programme comprised more than 200 participants including Dr Ghufran Jassim, who was a member of the organising committee and Dr David Misselbrook, one of the speakers who gave a talk about “ethics in medical error”.

Recent medical graduate, Dr Saif Al Bourgan, has had an article published in BMC Public Health called “Prevalence of tobacco smoking among health-care physicians in Bahrain”. Following a self-administered study of the smoking habits of primary care physicians, Dr Al Bourgan concluded that a recent increase in waterpipe (shisha)-smoking, now exceeds cigarette-smoking among physicians in Bahrain. The research was under the supervision of Dr Ghufran Jassim and co-authored by Zaid A Marhoon, Mohamed A Almuqamam, Mohamed A Ebrahim and Peter A Soliman

Department Profile Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Department Location: First Floor, Room 136 Number of Staff: 5 What we do in a nutshell:  The ICT Department is responsible for: • Ensuring the reliable delivery of all ICT services to more than1,800 RCSI Bahrain staff and students • Providing a resilient and highly available ICT infrastructure to accommodate dozens of applications that service the educational and business needs of RCSI Bahrain • Providing the underlying support for the Moodle virtual learning environment and the Quercus student record system   About the ICT Department: This department has three distinct functions: • Service Desk - the public face of the department which deals with ICT-related issues and requests • Operations - responsible for maintaining the underlying infrastructure of the educational and business systems on campus • Projects - plans and delivers ICT projects for the University, by relying on resources from the Service Desk and • Operations   A day in the life of the ICT Department: Regardless of which function ICT staff belongs to, no two days are the same. In general, though, those who work at the Service Desk begin their day by checking the help-desk system to respond to the latest calls in the queue. Those in Operations begin a typical day using various proactive monitoring tools to analyse the previous night’s backup routine and to run a status check on the server and switching infrastructure. Once caffeine levels are sufficiently topped up, the day progresses by dealing with calls; escalating internally or externally with a support vendor and adapting the software and hardware environments to resolve issues or change requests.

Ongoing ICT projects, which are aligned with these day-today activities, also take up a large part of the team’s working day. And finally, a typical day always has time for some office humour such as this team favourite: “Please help! The internet is broken.” Meet the Team Name: Cathal Prendergast Where are you from: County Meath, Ireland How long have you been working in RCSI Bahrain: Since October 2013 What are you responsible for: Managing a comprehensive and integrated ICT service, which enables the University to deliver the educational curriculum to its students.   Name: Hussain Al Sayed Where are you from: Bahrain How long have you been working in RCSI Bahrain: Four years What are you responsible for: For day-to-day system infrastructure ‘up time’ and overall systems stability   Name: Joey Dagami Where are you from: Philippines How long are you working in RCSI Bahrain: Five years What are you responsible for: Proper and optimal operation of servers and ICT-related systems so that services such as internet, VLE and email are always available for staff and students Name: Nevin Mathew Where are you from: Kerala, India? How long have you been working in RCSI Bahrain? Three years What are you responsible for? Providing staff and students with whatever ICT support they require   Name: Cherish C. Cheriyan                                                 Where are you from: Thrissur, Kerala, India                                            How long have you been working in RCSI Bahrain: Five years What are you responsible for: Providing support and maintenance of desktops, laptops, AV devices, telephone systems and printers                         Contact the ICT Department: Phone extn 2421; department email: [email protected]

20 students and graduates from Bahrain and abroad complete Kaplan course In addition, each enrolled student received 12-month access to Online Prep, which includes more than 200 hours of Step 1 on-demand, online video lectures, featuring clinical correlates and high quality animations. In addition, they received 12-month access to Step 1 QBank (online question banks) which provides 2,200+ Step 1 practice questions, full explanations and a performance summary. Twenty students and graduates from Bahrain and abroad completed the course, after which participants received awards for completion.

RCSI Bahrain and Kaplan Medical partnered to offer Kaplan’s USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 1 Live Prep programme on-site at RCSI Bahrain, from July 22 to August 21. The live programme included 260+ hours of lectures covering various basic science topics such as anatomy, behavioural science, biochemistry, immunology, medical genetics, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and physiology.

RCSI Bahrain and Kaplan Medical are currently discussing plans to offer the course during summer 2015, as well as other short courses during the academic year such as Clinical Skills Training. Senior Cycle student Nawal Al Daqqaq, who completed the Step 1 LivePrep course said, “Words cannot describe how privileged we were to have Kaplan staff personally lecture us at RCSI Bahrain. Over the seven-week course, each lecturer not only shared their passion for the subject, they also gave us an insight into how cases would present to the physician and how they would be managed - hence making it easier for us to target questions.”

RCSI Bahrain to be venue for Kingdom’s Life Support classes A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between RCSI Bahrain and the Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services who will provide a Life Support course at the University. Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services is an international Training Centre who sponsors life support classes in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Life Support courses will be run twice a year, during the summer and at the end of the year and will be of three days in duration. RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom said that “the agreement adds to the many areas of collaboration between RCSI Bahrain and BDF Hospital and reflects the longstanding relationship between the two organisations.”

Potential for a new postgraduate Intensive-Care Nursing programme Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery is reviewing the potential for a new postgraduate course in Intensive Care Nursing. Following a recent visit to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Salmaniya Medical Complex and a meeting with its staff, Professor Cowman presented staff with an overview of what a course about intensive-care nursing would entail and its learning outcomes. After the meeting, Head Nurse at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Fatima Khairalla said, “we are certain that the commencement of this programme will further improve nursing services in the ICU. Therefore, we enthusiastically set ourselves ready to do what is required to realise it.” Professor Cowman has carried out similar meetings in King Hamad University Hospital and at Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services.

Dr Aneta Hayes among 10 finalists for Research Award A study paper written by Dr Aneta Hayes and published in the Bahrain Medical Bulletin is among ten finalists for the Sheikh Mohamed Research Prize. Dr Hayes’ study paper was titled “Bridging the Gap: A Program to Enhance Medical Students’ Learning Experience in the Foundation Year”. A special awards ceremony will take place in King Hamad University Hospital on October 23. 

Saudi Arabian Cultural Attaché visits RCSI Bahrain On 11th September, Dr Turki bin Fahad AlAyyar, the new Saudi Arabian Cultural Attaché to Bahrain, visited RCSI Bahrain. This is Dr Turki’s first visit to RCSI Bahrain, during which he met with the President, Professor Sameer Otoom, followed by a tour of the facilities. Discussions with the President mainly revolved around the recognition of RCSI Bahrain in Saudi Arabia and the status of Saudi Arabian students currently studying at RCSI Bahrain. Dr Turki was very impressed with the facilities and the quality of education offered at RCSI Bahrain and he promised to continue efforts to resolve the recognition issue.

RCSI Bahrain to continue operating Mobile Diabetes Unit A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Diabetes Society and RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, which will allow the continued operation of the Paediatric Mobile Diabetes Unit. An initial two-year pilot project involved more than 1,200 primary school-aged children from both government and private schools who were educated about Type II diabetes. Ms Julie Sprakel, Head of RCSI Bahrain’s Community Engagement Office said, “The mobile unit’s success is in part due to the programme being included within the University’s School of Nursing’s Year Three curriculum, in which only the top academic students can participate.” The mobile unit was donated to the Bahrain Diabetes Society by the Rotary Club. The Diabetes Society’s ongoing support enables the mobile unit to provide children with educational leaflets and interactive educational games.

Arab Gulf Forum speakers visit the University

Three international keynote speakers from the 2nd Arab Gulf Forum for Medical Administration visited RCSI Bahrain on Thursday 18th September. The delegation received a short presentation about RCSI Bahrain’s history, background and mission in leading medical education. From left to right: Professor Joe McMenamin, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Ghufran Jassim, Professor Diana Kloss, Barrister Senior Lecturer at Manchester University, UK, Professor Mahmood AlShayyab, a former Minister of Health in Jordan and Dr Chris Godeseth, Medical Risk Manager from the Medical Protection Society, UK.

Community Engagement Office extends recycling drive Supporting RCSI Bahrain’s ’green’ efforts, several bins for recycling have been located around the University. The bins are colour-coded red for glass and aluminum cans, blue for paper and yellow for plastic. This collaborative effort involves Community Engagement, Estates and Support Services and Friends of the Environment Club and Society.

Congratulations to Professor Martin Corbally on the publication of his article: Can we Improve Patient Safety?, published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, section Pediatric Surgery. Professor Corbally writes in the article: “Despite greater awareness of patient safety issues especially in the operating room and the widespread implementation of surgical time out World Health Organization (WHO), errors, especially wrong site surgery, continue. Most such errors are due to lapses in communication where decision makers fail to consult or confirm operative findings but worryingly where parental concerns over the planned procedure are ignored or not followed through.”

Staff Nominations for the 2014 Dean’s Award Opens Is there a star player on your team, in your department, school or faculty or even someone from another department that you feel deserves recognition and acknowledgement for their hard work? This person will be someone who consistently delivers the requirements of the job and demonstrates efforts above and beyond the normal duties of their post. If you know this person, then what are you waiting for? This is your opportunity to nominate your colleague whom you believe should be recognised and rewarded for their contribution and commitment to RCSI Bahrain. All you need to do is complete the nomination form which is available on the staff portal and follow the instructions. Awards will be made based on the guiding principles of the University’s Noble Purpose - Endeavour, Innovation, Collaboration & Service. There are two categories for the award – Academic and Administration. All full time staff members, with the exclusion of Heads of Department, Heads of School and Faculty Executives, who currently hold an RCSI Bahrain contract of employment are eligible to be nominated for this award. Each recipient will be presented with a commemorative award and a BD500 cash award by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Joe McMenamin at the 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner on the 27th of November in the Ritz Carlton Hotel.Download your nomination form and find out more information on the Dean’s Awards via the staff portal.

16th National Congress of Pediatrics Conference

Master Class in Grounded Theory

Dr Khalifa Elmusharaf, lecturer in Epidemiology & Public Health Medicine was an international speaker at the 16th National Congress of Pediatrics, held in Palembang, Indonesia at the end of August. He talked about a study he conducted among 900 school children in Sudan in 2012, which evaluated the impact of UHT milk on their nutritional status, cognitive function, and quality of life. 

Dr Catherine O’Neill and Ms Maryam Yaqoob from the School of Nursing & Midwifery attended a personalised Master class in Grounded Theory at the School of Nursing & Midwifery in University College Cork. The focus of the Master class was theorizing the data for their research study entitled “Nurses Caring Practices at End of Life in Intensive Care Units in the Kingdom of Bahrain”.

4th International Conference of the Arab Society for Medical Research The 4th International Conference of the Arab Society for Medical Research was held in Ain Sokhna, Egypt from 13 – 16th September 2014. The aim of the conference was to increase research cooperation and networking between medical schools in the Arab world. RCSI Bahrain was represented by Professor David Whitford and Dr Hussein Ali Nasaif. Professor David Whitford was invited to chair two of the sessions and also presented research carried out by medical students in RCSI Bahrain. He presented both an oral on “Screening, Prevalence and Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Bahraini Population” and a poster on “The Bahrain National Stroke Care Audit: from acute event to hospital discharge”. Both of these studies highlighted the issue that standards of care developed in North America and Europe are not suited to an Arab population. During the Conference, Dr Husain was invited to be a reviewer for the Journal of the Arab Society for Medical Researchers. Dr Husain also explored possible collaborations with the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO) during a meeting with officals from EMRO and the WHO in Cairo.

Successful visit by University delegation to Oman

RCSI Bahrain staff to establish a Golf Society

During an official visit to Oman on September 24, Professor Sameer Otoom, Professor Joe McMenamin, Mr Stephen Harisson-Mirfield and Mr Fadi Ghosen met with His Excellency Dr Ali Talib Al-Hinai, Undersecretary for Planning Affairs at the Oman Ministry of Health. The purpose of the meeting was to request that RCSI Bahrain be included in the Oman Ministry’s scholarship plans for 2015 for medical and nursing student. Professor Otoom gave a brief presentation about RCSI Bahrain during the meeting. RCSI Bahrain would like Oman to start sponsoring students to study at the University. RCSI Bahrain was recognised by the Oman Ministry of Higher Education in 2012.

With the aim of providing a social outlet for staff, a number of staff members have come together to form a Golf Society. The following officers were nominated and elected - President: Dr Seamas Cassidy; Captain: Prof Seamus Cowman; Secretary: Ms Claire Cassidy; Treasurer: Mr Frank McCarthy; Handicap Secretary: Prof Frank Cunningham, Dr Patrick Walsh is also a committee member. The Society aims to have five golf outings during the year.

Association of Medical Educators in Europe Conference

Dr Fiza Rashid-Doubell and Dr Aneta Hayes presented their research at the five-day AMEE (Association of Medical Educators in Europe) conference in Milan, which began on August 30.

Photograph Competition Winner

The conference attracted more than 3,500 participants from around the world. Dr Aneta Hayes presented an e-poster called “Ensuring equal learning opportunities for international students studying medicine and STEM subjects in two higher education institutions”. Dr Fiza Rashid-Doubell presented a short communication at the Feedback 1 session titled “Building student ownership into formative feedback results in improved learning behaviour amongst first year undergraduate medical students”. Senior Cycle 1 student, Ali Ayaz is the winner of the photography competition which was for best photo during the Harley Davison Owners Group visit to RCSI Bahrain. The University was a main stop at the Harley Davison Owners Group (HOG) breast cancer awareness rally in support of Think Pink Bahrain. Around 60 people of different nationalities participated in the rally on Friday 3rd October, creating a pink wave of awareness around the country. The bikers were received with welcome cheers from RCSI Bahrain staff and students, who took the opportunity to take creative pictures of the pink crowd for the monthly photo competition. Ali wins a BD20 voucher for City Centre Mall.

Taiwanese National Day Professor Joe McMenamin, Mr Michael Chen, representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan in Bahrain and Professor Sameer Otoom at the Taiwanese National Day celebrations in the Gulf Hotel.