Calling all Healthcare Professionals TWO BRAND NEW POSTGRAD PROGRAMMES STARTING IN SEPT 2022!

 The University College Cork College of Medicine and Health is excited to announce two new postgrad programmes in the fields of Paediatrics and Child Health and Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Both programmes will launch in September 2022, and applications are currently open. If you or someone you know are interested in upskilling in these areas, please read on!

In order to meet the demand for dynamic multidisciplinary healthcare models, UCC's Department of Paediatrics and Child Health has designed these two new programmes with healthcare professionals in mind. We understand how busy healthcare professionals' schedules are, which is why these programmes are online, flexible, and part-time. You will have the choice to study for one to three years, where you can earn a postgraduate certificate in the first year, a postgraduate diploma in the second year, and a MSc in the third year. Your postgrad, your way.

Whether you decide to earn your PG Certificate, PG Diploma, or MSc, you will gain invaluable knowledge and skills that you can immediately put into practice in support of your community. Healthcare professionals who hold a primary honours degree in a relevant healthcare discipline and who (ideally) have at least 1 year's professional qualified experience are welcome to apply!

Prof Mark Turner, Adjunct Professor, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health

Prof Mark Turner gave his inaugural lecture  “Inspiration, perspiration & research infrastructure: critical success factors for clinical research” to an online audience of over 160 people today via Microsoft Teams.  Prof Turner is Professor of Neonatology and Research Delivery at the University of Liverpool. His research aims to improve the access of newborn babies and children to high quality medicines. This includes studies of dosing, safety and efficacy, and research about excipients, manipulations of medicines, the avoidability of adverse drug reactions and the value of age-appropriate formulations. 

He believes that the coherent integration of the design and conduct of clinical trials is key to improving the quality of medicines. He works to develop efficient medicines research infrastructure in Europe and globally as Chair of the European Network for Paediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency (EnprEMA) (2013 – 2019), Convenor of the European Paediatric Clinical Trials Research Infrastructure, co-Director of the International Neonatal Consortium and as co-Coordinator of c4c.

Prize Giving Ceremony - 22 November 2019

The annual School of Medicine Prize-Giving Ceremony took place on Friday 22 November, 2019 in Brookfield Health Sciences Complex.  The Dean of the School, Professor Paula O’Leary welcomed the large number of prize-winners, their families and friends to the Ceremony.  The Department of Paediatrics RGG Barry Prize for the medical student who who has obtained the highest marks in Paediatrics at the Final Medical Examination and the Aodán Ó Donnchadha Prize for best Paediatric Project were awarded on the day.

2019 RGG Barry Prize	2019 Aodán Ó Donnchadha Prize
Prof Deirdre Murray & Dr John Kehoe (Prize Winner)	Dr Ganakirthana Kalpenya Devi (Joint Prize Winner),  Prof Deirdre Murray & Dr Christina Moore (Joint Prize Winner)

Congratulations of our new Emeritus Professor

In June 2019 Prof Tony Ryan became the fourth Department of Paediatrics & Child Health Emeritus Professor,  Professor Ryan became an Associate Professor in our Department in 2004.  He led the newborn side of the planning, design, development and delivery of neonatology teaching until his retirement in 2018. Prof Ryan’s deep commitment to medical education included the introduction of the neonatal resuscitation programme, PALS and Stable programme, which trained staff from all over Ireland.

Congratulations of Professor Jonathan Hourihane in his New Post

In October 2019 Prof Jonathan Hourihane moved to his new post as Chair of Paediatrics, RCSI. 

Prof Hourihane became the third Professor and Chair of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2005. Under the leadership of Prof Hourihane, the Department was developed and expanded exponentially with the increase of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students by fostering and supporting excellence in teaching and developing a leading centre for paediatric research in Ireland.  Prof Hourihane made sure that the students received the best teaching facilities possible and the new unit was opened in March 2017.  The dedicated UCC Paediatric Academic Unit at Cork University Hospital is the first of its kind in Ireland and is the home of teaching and training for both undergraduate medical students and postgraduate paediatric and health discipline trainees.  It is the only such fully integrated facility in the School of Medicine, where tomorrow’s doctors can see research-led healthcare both being both developed and delivered.  The Department of Paediatrics & Child Health wish Prof Hourihane all the best in his new post.

October 2018 -Independent Thinking Magazine

Prof Jonathan Hourihane was interviewed recently for the UCC Independent Thinking Magazine.  Check out "Impact of allergy research goes more than just skin deep"  Independent Thinking Magazine 2018

April 2018 - Announcing our New Head of Department

The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health would like to announce the appointment of Professor Deirdre Murray as the new Head of Department.  

Professor Murray  has taken over from Professor Jonathan Hourihane who has held the post since 2005 and will now take on the challenging role of lead for paediatrics in the south and south -west hospital group.  under the leadership of professor hourihane, the department has developed and expanded exponentially, now being the leading centre for paediatric research in ireland, housed in the new paediatric academic unit, opened by tanaiste simon coveney td on 18^th june 2018.  Professor Hourihane has supported and mentored both students and staff, including Professor Murray, by fostering a culture of critical thinking, education and impactful research during this time.

Professor Deirdre Murray joined the department in 2008 as senior lecturer.  Professor Murray has developed her research interest into early brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcome since that time and in 2013 she became one of 9 principal investigators in the irish centre for fetal and neonatal translational research (Infant Centre).  Professor Murray is looking forward to her new role as head of department and the challenges and opportunities it will bring. with the staff of the department of paediatrics, and the infant centre.   Professor Murray aims to make ucc the leading centre for paediatric clinical trials and postgraduate studies in ireland, linked to the infant maternal and child health institute. We will build on our international reputation for research excellence in paediatrics and neonatology, whilst continuing to provide high quality, student-centred teaching to our undergraduate students, and our growing body of multi-disciplinary post-graduate students.  

Professor Murray looks forward to meeting you and working with you in the future.

October 2018 Prof Jonathan Hourihane's Appointment to National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

We are delighted to announce that Prof Jonahtan Hourihane has been appointed to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board for a period of 5 years by Mr Simon Harriss, Minister for Health.  Prof Hourihane commented,  I’m honoured and delighted to represent RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics,UCC and HSE’s SSWHG  on this important committee for the next 5  years. I look forward to bringing some regional perspective  to their discussion and oversight of the huge NPH project that we are also keen to see be completed as quickly as possible”  

September 2018 -Retirement of Bernadette Fitzgerald

Ms Bernadette Fitzgerald retired from her role as National Resuscitation Programme Coordinator today.  Over the last 20 years in her role, Ber made a significant contribution to newborn survival and well being. Not only did she organize local NRP courses, but Ber supported over 50 active instructors in 19 units where babies are born. Ber was also involved in organising the Stable Programme, PALS, APLS courses and PILS courses.   We wish to thank Ber for her dedicated service in ensuring, nurses, doctors and EMT's received the necessary emergency training.  The Department wishes Ber all the best on her future retirement.

 Prof Deirdre Murray, Ms Bernadette Fitzgerald, Dr Liam O'Connell

September 2018 - Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Award Winner

Professor jonathan hourihane was awarded the le prix milton gold memorial lecturship award at the csaci annual scientific meeting this month (http://csaci.ca/csaci-awards/.  the milton gold memorial lectureship is presented to the speaker whose lecture exemplifies the role of advocacy in the field of allergy & immunology, an attribute that dr. gold was well known for throughout his career. 

18 June 2018 - Opening of Paediatric Academic Unit

 Tainiste Simon Coveney & Leah Conway

On the 18th June 2018 the dedicated UCC Paediatric Academic Unit based at Cork University Hospital was officially opened by Tainiste Simon Coveney and  Ms Leah Conway.  This unit is the first of its kind in the country and is home for both UCC Paediatric academic teaching and training and the Paediatric Clinical Research arm of the INFANT Centre.  The unit has been designed and developed to foster and encourage collaboration between clinicans, researchers, academics, industry, students, trainees, patients and their families to work togther in improving childrens health.

The unit facilitates teaching and training for both undergraduate medical students and postgraduate paediatric and health discipline trainees in an integrated facility where tomorrows doctors can partcipate and observe research led healthcare being developed and delivered.

Prof Jonathan Hourihane, Ms Anita McGuire, Mr Gerry O'Dwyer, Mr Patrick O'Shea, Tainiste Simon Coveney, Mr Tony McNamara, Prof Geraldine Boylan, Prof Deirdre Murray, Prof Helen Whelton

The Department Welcomes Dr Daragh Finn

Dr Daragh Finn has joined the Department as part-time Senior Lecturer.  

Dr Daragh Finn graduated from NUI, Galway in 2008 and commenced his role as a Consultant  Paediatrician with special interest in Paediatric Cardiology in Cork University Hospital in 2018. Prior to this role he was a Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Cardiology in the Royal Brompton Hospital, London. He completed a research fellowship with the INFANT centre in UCC in 2015/2016. He was the lead clinical fellow on a number of trials funded by Science Foundation Ireland including CUPID, a randomised controlled trial assessing different cord clamping strategies in preterm infants. He was awarded an M.D. from UCC in 2019. He is a member of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI). 

First Chair of Neonatology in Ireland

Thanks to a donation from UCC alumnus Daragh Horgan and his wife Anne the Department has appointed of Ireland’s first Chair of Neonatology, Prof Gene Dempsey.  This new role represents an exciting opportunity to continue the delivery of excellence in our undergraduate and post gradate academic programmes and establish the INFANT Centre at UCC as a world leading research centre in newborn care.

Prof Gene Dempsey said "I see exciting collaborative networks developing locally, nationally and internationally. We have already developed strong interdisciplinary links at UCC, for example with the Physiology department exploring the implications of too much or too little oxygen delivery, with the APC exploring the maternal and neonatal microbiome, and with IPIC assessing light as a means to measure oxygen levels within the lung. Nationally we are a key member of the Mother and Baby Network and are currently leading a trial on brain oxygen monitoring in preterm infants.   We will continue to develop strong international collaborative links in newborn clinical trials.  We will lead and partner in some of the exciting multinational trials in newborn care, all aiming to generate new knowledge and enhance patient outcome. These trials currently include aspects  of newborn stabilisation at delivery, studying antiseizure medication in term newborns and drugs to improve heart function in preterm infants.   I  want to ensure we deliver excellence in our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching program, and mentorship to our junior trainees. The ultimate goal is to establish an internationally renowned research centre here at UCC, delivering high quality clinical care and  improved outcomes for newborn infants.’

Dr Jackie Pando Kelly receives Peruvian Award

 Dr Jackie Pando Kelly received an award from the Peruvian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her outstanding humanatarian work supporting rural communities in the Andes through fundraising in Irelaant to send medical aid to a hospital.  Dr Pando Kelly also volunteers in the hosptial during the summer and takens medical students to provide medical care to children in the deprived aread.   Peruvian nationals  were nominated by their embassies in different countries  where they are residing  and the award was given to 5  Peruvian citizens  around the world who have contributed significantly  to the improvement of the lives of their compatriots  living in Peru .

Awarded by the Peruvian Government on the 18/10/2021 and presented to Dr Jackelina Pando Kelly  by  Mr Alberto Gonzales, Deputy Head of Mission and Mrs Fiorella Altez Head of Consular Section, on the  15/12/2021  in a  Ceremony at  the Irish Peruvian Embassy in Dublin.