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Summer 2025 UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter
Summer 2025 UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter
Welcome:
Welcome to the 2025 Summer UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter. We hope that you can reflect back on this past rotation with pride and we especially congratulate those who have enjoyed recent exam success. We hope that our readers will have an opportunity to take a well earned break over the summer and we wish all those taking up new posts the very best of luck.
In this edition, Dr Patrick Seigne talks about his recent fundraising cycle from Cork to Paris. We congratulate “The Rebels” on their success in the CAI Congress Simwars. Dr Atilla Bondar writes about the Irish victory in the Eurodoctor Soccer Final and we wish him further success in the World Medical Football Championship which kicks off in July in Dublin. We also include photos from the recent Pan-Cork Anaesthesiology Kayaking Outing.
As always, we invite academic/departmental/social contributions from within the region and beyond.
Cork to Paris fundraising cycle:
Dr Patrick Seigne, Consultant, CUH.
Patrick is photographed with his lovely wife Susan and daughter Gillian.
On May 21st, a team of 12 cyclists set off for Paris, raising funds for CUH Charity. The team were photographed outside the Cork University Maternity Hospital with Deputy Lord Mayor Mr Honore Kamengi. Dr Patrick Seigne was one of the team and was cycling to raise funds for the relative’s facilities in the General ICU. Other members of the team included Professor Richard Greene (Consultant Obstetrician), other CUH staff members, previous patients and relatives.
After catching the boat from Ringaskiddy to Roscoff, the team cycled a massive 650kms via Rennes and Chartres to Paris where they were met under the Eiffel Tower by a great crowd of family and friends, including retired CUH Cardiologist, Dr Will Fennell, who now lives most of the year in Paris (centre below).
A total of €75,000 was raised for a very good cause, €12,500 of which was raised by Patrick. This hugely successful event will almost certainly be repeated next year and perhaps more might participate?
The CAI Annual Congress:
Dr Alan Horan, Consultant, CUH
The College of Anaesthesiologists in Ireland 2025 Annual Congress was held on the 15th and 16th of May at the O’Reilly Hall, UCD. Dr Gabriella Iohom (CUH- centre above) was the Congress Convener and Cork Anaesthesiology was well represented amongst the speakers and delegates.
Speakers included:
Dr Alan Horan (Consultant, CUH) ‘A vision for prehospital and retrieval medicine services in Ireland’
Dr Brian O’Donnell (Consultant, CUH) ‘Innovation in Anaesthesia’
Dr Murray Connolly (Consultant, CUH) Chair for the Obstetric Anaesthesia session
Dr Gill Crowe (SpR, CUH) ‘Updated PROSPECT guidelines for LSCS’
Dr Paul Ryan (SpR, CUH) Chair for the Trainee session
Conferrings from the Cork region included:
MCAI: Dr’s Yasi Besharatian, Roslyn Colgan, Andrew Duncan, Hassan Khan, Sershin Modley, David Reidy.
FCAI: Dr’s Karen Donnelly, Ameer Hamza, Mary Moore, Bianca Nicholls, Ben O’Connor, Qurratulain Saqib.
JFICMI: Dr’s Gillian Crowe, David Lehane, Paul Ryan.
The Congress also provided an opportunity for networking and catching up with friends and colleagues. Some of the Cork contingent were spotted debriefing after the day’s academic endeavours (below).
CAI Annual Congress Sim Wars:
Dr Laurens Minsart, PNB Fellow, CUH
The Cork delegation at the CAI Congress was not only present on the stage- a small group was able to leave the judges in awe during the annual SimWars competition. Faced with an enigmatic scenario, the trio — Dr. Caolan Abrahams (SHO), Dr. Karen Donnelly (SpR), and Dr. Laurens Minsart (PNB fellow) — worked together as a well-oiled machine and impressed the jury to claim the top spot in this year’s competition.
One of the judges was particularly amazed by their communication and expressed his envy at not being part of the team, which prompted the team to offer him a post in our CUH family. Unfortunately, his piloting skills wouldn’t make him the best fit in the operating theatre. ‘The Rebels’ (ironically made up by Cork converts rather than natives) were very proud to give the trophy a new home in the anaesthetic office at CUH
European Trauma Course:
Dr Alan Horan, Consultant, CUH
Faculty and Candidates - photo credit Dr David Hick
The European Trauma Course was held for the first time at Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC from 4th - 6th of June. The candidates consisted of Consultants and Fellows from Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesiology and various acute surgical disciplines. The faculty members were all experienced ETC instructors from across the UK and Europe.
Dr’s Attila Bondar, Kirsten Joyce and Alan Horan, CUH
The ETC course is a multidisciplinary course with a strong emphasis on teamwork. It is an ideal course for those who have already completed ATLS and have a special interest in resuscitative trauma care. Participants rotate through 30 group scenarios over three days which covers all aspects of the initial management of major trauma in-hospital.
https://www.europeantraumacourse.com/
CUMH Obstetric Anaesthetic Bootcamp:
Dr Fionn O’Laoire, Consultant, CUH (Course Convener)
The Cork University Hospital Department of Anaesthesia ran an 'Obstetric Anaesthesia Bootcamp' for the first time on Tuesday 6th of May in the co-located Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). This one day course was aimed at trainees who had recently started or would soon start their obstetric anaesthesia module. There was a mix of didactic lectures, interactive practical stations and a tour of the CUMH. Attendees were sent pre-reading to complete before attending the course. Topics covered included the use of ultrasound to facilitate neuraxial anaesthesia, the management of cardiac arrest in the obstetric patient and anaesthetic emergencies.
Faculty members included Drs. Fahd Aamir, Murray Connolly, Oonagh Hickey, Padraig Mahon, Mohsin Kamal, Ray O'Connor, Mary Walsh (Consultants) and Drs. Seamus Daly, Leena Rudrapogu and Eoghan Shanely (NCHDs).
The course was well received, with all attendees reporting that they felt better prepared for their obstetric anaesthesia module having attended the course. The course coordinators wish to thank our colleagues in the CUMH for supporting this initiative, including the provision of a classroom and catering for the day. We hope to run the next course in July.
The Eolas App:
Dr Fionn O’Laoire, Consultant, CUH
The Eolas Medical application has recently been introduced in the CUH Department of Anaesthesia. It is an IT solution designed to address the challenges of improving communication and access to online resources in a dynamic environment with regular staff turnover.
“Eolas” is the Irish word for knowledge and is pronounced "oh-lus”. The App was devised by a group of doctors in Northern Ireland and has since been adopted by several hospitals across Ireland, the UK and beyond. The app is available for both Android and iOS, and can also be accessed via web browsers on personal and work computers. It is free for end users but the department pays an annual fee.
Users can download the ‘Eolas Medical’ app from the usual app store and set up an account. Once registered, the user searches for our department (Department of Anaesthesia - CUH & CUMH) and requests to join. An admin (Dr Fionn O’Laoire or Dr Fahd Aamir) approves requests as appropriate.
Eolas serves as the virtual hub for our department. It is the central repository for guidelines, rosters, educational materials, teaching timetables and contacts. Every consultant’s and trainees phone number is listed, along with key departmental contacts such as theatre reception, on-call phones, and the Blood Bank. The aim is to ensure that any information related to working in our department is readily accessible via Eolas.
“Obstetric Anaesthesia & CUMH” is the first section of the department that is fully integrated into Eolas and includes clinical guidelines, teaching schedules, orientation documents, and educational materials- including previous departmental powerpoint presentations. We hope to expand to other areas of the department soon.
Beyond our department-specific resources, Eolas includes a built-in knowledge hub with links to a wide range of clinical calculators and guidelines, providing easy access to up-to-date information for complex clinical scenarios. Both the CUH and ISWID (Ireland South Women’s and Infant Directive) antimicrobial guidelines are now hosted on Eolas.
We currently have 90 departmental members in our Eolas workspace- 50 used Eolas last month, resulting in 488 total sessions. The most accessed areas are phone numbers, rosters, the obstetric neuraxial quick reference dosing guide and antimicrobial guidelines.
We encourage feedback from our users. We are always looking to expand and there are plenty of QI project opportunities to help improve the app for everyone. If users have seen features that work well in other departments, we’d love to hear about them.
Happy scrolling!
PRactical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT):
Another successful PROMPT course was held on March 15th at the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). This program involves team training for the management of obstetric emergencies and it has been shown to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. Candidates included midwives, obstetricians and anaesthesiologists.
We were delighted to also include Mr Eugene Tangney, Advanced Paramedic, as a candidate on the course. This reflects the ongoing partnership between prehospital and hospital care providers which will further benefit our mothers and babies.
The faculty for the “Maternal Collapse and Anaesthetic Emergencies” workshop were Ms Annette Keating (Midwife Teacher) and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultant Anaesthesiologist).
Publications:
Leonard A, O’Brien B, Conrick-Martin I, Healy K, Gaffney A. The passage of Ireland's Human Tissue Act: challenges, consequences, and cross-border cooperation. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: June 2025; Vol 13; No. 6; 484 - 487.
- The passage of Ireland's Human Tissue Act: challenges, consequences, and cross-border cooperation - The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
- Human Tissue Act.docx - Google Docs
O’Keeffe S, Angelov S, Sheehan C, Aslam Z, O’Brien B. Functional status of patients recovering from severe COVID-19. Ir Med J; April 2025; Vol 118; No. 4; P59.
EuroDoctor 2025:
Dr Atilla Bondar, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, CUH
The Irish Medical Football Masters Team (aged above 45) won the EuroDoctor 2025 tournament for the first time, held in Salou/Cambrils, Spain.
Ireland participated with 2 teams in the very popular 'European Championship' among other 12 teams, some of them coming from as far as Australia, Columbia and Canada. No better proof of the strength of our squad is that the 2 Irish teams played the final (nicknamed by many as the 2nd Civil War).
Cork gave 4 players to the squad: Dr Atilla Bondar (Consultant Anaesthesiologist, CUH), Mr David Morrissey (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, CUH), Mr Frank O’Brien (Consultant Urologist, CUH) and Dr John Browne (Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Pain Specialist, CUH and SIVUH).
After the well-deserved celebration there is no time to rest, as the World Medical Football Championship kicks off in July on home soil, in Dublin.
A big thank you to all players who gave their time, devotion, passion and blood (astro turf can be pretty nasty) to the cause. An even bigger thank you to our relentless organiser Mark Rogan and the cool coach Paul Lally in helping to make this happen!
Pan-Cork Kayaking Outing:
On Saturday June 14th, anaesthesiologists from the Bons, the Mater, the SIVUH, the MUH and the CUH gathered for the 2025 Pan-Cork Kayaking Outing at the Oysterhaven Outdoor Activity Centre (“for more fun, just add water”).
The morning started with a guided tour of the bay in kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. A claim by Dr Aisling McCann (CUH) of a successful handstand on her paddleboard has not been substantiated.
The group then tested their teamwork by paddling out to the pontoon on giant stand up paddleboards and an inflatable dinghy. Enthusiasm was high and almost compensated for the overall lack of coordination or skill.
The next challenge was “The Moonwalk”. The aim was to run as far along the inflatable moonwalk as possible before gracefully dismounting into the water. Dr Furkan Akram seized the honour for the CUH. Dr Dan Mullane (Bons) achieving a close second, also claimed victory in the “over 60’s” group.
The survivors dried off before gathering for a hot debrief and refreshments. This is the first team building activity which has included anaesthesiologists from the five departments in Cork City. The CAI Tutor Fund was utilised to part fund this activity and the refreshments.
We would like to thank the staff at The Oysterhaven Outdoor Activity Centre for facilitating such a fun morning.
More Soccer:
Dr Cathal Lee (Registrar, CUH) & Dr Yasi Besharatian (SpR3, CUH)
On the last weekend of June, on a surprisingly dry morning, Dr Atilla Bondar (Consultant) arranged a relaxed and friendly game of football for the CUH Department of Anaesthesia. The distinct lack of bicycles or icy swims certainly had people out of their comfort zones, nevertheless tip-off proceeded without a hitch after the customary Champions League anthem.
What followed was a thoroughly enjoyable, if not quite stellar, display of athleticism and skill. A sense of fairplay was strictly adhered to, even if the established legality of football rules were considered more of a guidance. The confusion surrounding the actual score was only topped by the uncertainty of what precisely is the false-nine position.
Dr Bondar (a member of the victorious Irish Eurodoctor 2025 team) displayed his international pedigree in the midfield. Dr Griffin's beauty of a left foot was clinical and he was only slightly held back by his right foot directing traffic into his own net (twice). The coveted “Man of the Match” (MotM) was shared although Dr Besharatian laid a deserved claim to the “Lady of the Match” (LotM) accolade.
However, overlooking the unavoidable sprains and niggles, this match can only be considered a genuine success. After a beverage and debriefing, everyone left in one piece, confident in the fact that not only were they solely responsible for the win, but that today their quality was appreciated in Bishopstown- tomorrow will be the Bernabeau!
L-R back row: Brian O’Brien (MotM), Paul Ryan (MotM), Cathal Lee (MotM), Sershin Moodley (MotM), Yorsenen Mookien (MotM)
Front row: Yasi Besharatian (LotM), Sean Griffin (MotM), Atilla Bondar (MotM), Tamer Farah (MotM), Dylan Foley (MotM)
Departmental end of rotation party:
Dr Robert and Anne Marie Plant kindly hosted the summer CUH departmental party. Prior to the signing of NDAs, a single photo was taken, proving that a fantastic night was had.
We wish those moving to other posts, cities, countries the very best of luck.
Wedding Belles:
We congratulate Dr Saba Noor Hamid (Reg, CUH) and Mr Fahad Muneer on their recent wedding at the Innishannon House Hotel. They were joined on their special day by some members of the CUH Anaesthetic Department (below).
We also congratulate Dr Paul Ryan (SpR, CUH) and Sarah Cotter on their wedding in April at Dunmore House Hotel in beautiful west Cork. They were blessed with unseasonably fantastic weather for their big day.
Dr Ameer Hamza (Registar, CUH) married Hubia Ijaz on April 20 in Lahore, Pakistan.
We wish all the newly-weds every good fortune and happiness in the future.
Baby news:
We congratulate Dr Islam Dafalla (SHO, CUH) and Mr Mohamed Abdalla on the arrival of baby Ali (photo).
We congratulate Dr Hafsa Raoof (Registrar, CUH) and Mr Rizwan Raoof on the arrival of baby Wali.
We also congratulate Dr Nasir Ali (PNB Fellow, CUH) and Ms Faiza Ahmed on the arrival of baby Muhammad.
UCC Medical Graduations:
Congratulations to all the recent UCC College of Medicine and Health graduates. We wish them all every success and happiness in their future careers in healthcare.
The glorious weather facilitated the taking of some lovely photographs of the graduates and their very proud family members on the historic UCC campus.
Dr Aisha Ghori is photographed with Dr Sabrina Vassia and Dr Kamran Ghori, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Bons Secours Cork.
Dr Sophie Sleeman is accompanied by Dr Clare Murray (Consultant Anaesthesiologist, SIVUH) and Professor Duncan Sleeman. Dr Sleeman is hoping to pursue a career in Anaesthesiology.
Dr Lucy Plant is photographed with Dr Robert Plant (Consultant Anaesthesiologist, CUH). Dr Plant’s sister, Sylvie, has just completed third year medical, UCC.
Editors:
Dr Yasi Besharatian, SpR3, CUH
Dr Alan Horan, Dr Oonagh Hickey, Consultant Anaesthesiologists, CUH
Dr Vinnie Wall, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, SIVUH