Summer Conferrings 2020 Online!

24 Jun 2020

Congratulations to Dr Francisco Pablo Donoso Vasquez and Dr Amnah Alshangiti who were both conferred with PhDs at the UCC College of Medicine and Health Summer Conferrings on June 18th 2020; a very special on line virtual conferring ceremony. 

Working under the supervision of Prof John Cryan, Prof Ted Dinan and Dr Catherine Staunton, Francisco was conferred with a PhD in Medicine and Health in Psychiatry and Neurobehavoural Science for his work on 'The neurobiological effects of naturally-derived polyphenols and phospholipids in cellular and animal models of stress'. After the online graduation Prof Cryan and Dr Vasquez, met in the UCC Quad for a socially distanced photograph.

Dr Amnah Alshangiti was conferred with a PhD in Medicine and Health in Anatomy and Neuroscience having worked on her thesis 'From neurons to neuroblastoma:dietary flavonoids as regulators of life, death and differentiation' under the supervisors Prof Aideen Sullivan  and Dr Gerard O'Keeffe. 

As a result of the Covid 19 virus the University adapted its Summer 2020 Conferring Ceremonies by streaming the ceremonies online and conferring the graduates remotely. UCC President Professor O'Shea welcomed the students and their families and congratulated them on their achievements under such unusual circumstances, and introduced guest speaker Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael Simon Coveney who delivered a warm speech to the graduates and their families. Head of the College of Medicine and Health, Professor Helen Whelton along with President O'Shea then performed the 2020 Summer College of Medicine and Health Conferring ceremony.

 Link here to the full Conferring ceremony (view from 42 mins for Anatomy and Neuroscience Graduates)  https://www.ucc.ie/en/live/med-health/

UCC President Professor Patrick O'Shea speaking at the conferring ceremony 

Guest speaker Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael Simon Coveney addressing the graduates. 

Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health, conferring students at the online Conferring Ceremony on 18th June 2020.