Second cohort of BSc Medical and Health Sciences graduate at recent College of Medicine and Health Conferring ceremony

3 Nov 2023

Congratulations to the BSc Medical and Health Sciences graduates 2023 the second cohort of BSc Medical and Health Sciences students to graduate from this innovative and exciting new cross-College BSc degree programme. Graduates 2023:Eoin De Buitléar, Senan O'Brien, Emma O'Donovan, Cliona O'Connor, Conor Mahony, Cillian Power, Jessica Walsh, Annie O’Callaghan, Sean O'Flaherty, Grace Corbett, Catriona Curran, Emily Wadding, Laoise Byrne, Jade Lawless, Sacha Moore, Emma Walsh, Elena Galvin-Mc Elligott, Amy Ahern, Sarah Walsh, Erika Kenny, Ifeoluwa Olajide, Aoife Franklin, Abby Troy, Maggie Nolan, Ellena O'Keeffe, Ríbh Ardern, Marianne Conlon, Rachel Roberts, Ellen Power, Mark Leahy, Danielle Murphy, Caoimhe Foster, Ciara Sherlock, Hannah Emerson, Aine Rice, Eibhlis Myers, Brian Curtin, Emily Coughlan, Grace Kenny and Nora Murphy.

Professor Aideen Sullivan, Academic Director BSc Medical and Health Sciences, chatting about the success of the course explained that one of the drivers in setting up the BSc in Medical and Health Sciences 'was to offer an opportunity to school-leavers to enter a programme which focuses on human health and disease from year one, which is different from many other Science programmes and allows the BSc Medical and Health Sciences degree programme the space and time to educate the students to a deep level in human Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology and Public Health, and to introduce modules on Translational Medicine (which is research that is aimed at taking laboratory discoveries through to clinical applications) throughout the degree'. 

Photo: BSc Medical and Health Science Gratuates: Ellena O'Keeffe, Jade Lawless, Erika Kenny, Grace Corbett, Emma O'Donovan, Emma Walsh and Danielle Murphy

In addition to completing their BSc studies, the students of the class of 2023 also had to contend with the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The Class of 2023 were in their first year of MHS in 2020 when their studies moved fully online. 'Working from home in isolation for the remainder of their first year of university and all second year was a testament to the students' tenacity and commitment to the programme' commented Dr Louise Collins, Course Coordinator BSc Medical and Health Sciences. The students were in third year of their studies before a normal college life fully resumed. 'Despite the difficulties imposed by a global pandemic, feedback from the students has been very positive, and the graduates confidently leave with all of the skills and competencies to pursue careers in a wide range of sectors, from medical research, through pharmaceutical and biotech industries, to health promotion education and policy, as well as science communication and marketing.’

Professor Sullivan, complemented the class of 2023 saying they 'had hugely embraced the course content and made considerable contributions to the Medical and Health Science degree translational medicine activities which included the setting up and running the ambitious and active award winning Translational Medicine Society. 

Photo: BSc Medical and Health Science Gratuates: Emma Walsh, Sean O'Flaherty, Cillian Power,Mark Leahy, Brian Curtin and Eoin De Buitleir

In collaboration with the staff of the Medical and Health Science programme the students in the Translational Medicine Society developed organised and hosted a now annual flagship ‘Narrowing the Void’ conference. The inaugural conference was held online in 2021 during Covid-19 restrictions with over 500 attendees and 16 international speakers presenting their work. The 2022 Narrowing the Void conference was UCC's first hybrid conference, and at the 2023 Narrowing the Void conference Professor Sullivan praised the students saying 'our students study translational medicine as a major theme running through the four years of the degree it is really rewarding to see their enthusiasm for this topic in the many events and activities organised by this dynamic student-led Society.

In 2022 the UCC Translational Medicine Society also partnered with Cleanmarine to host the Women's Health Conference and in collaboration with the Medical Research and Technology Society also organised and hosted UCC's first Life Science Career Fair in 2022 and again in 2023.

Photo: BSc Medical and Health Sciences Graduates Ellen Power and Rachel Roberts with Professor Aideen Sullivan, Academic Director BSc Medical and Health Sciences 

The BSc Medical and Health Sciences degree is an innovative and exciting new cross-College BSc degree programme (CK707) which was conceived and developed by a team led by Professor Aideen Sullivan, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience. With its first student intake in 2018, the course has attracted students with a keen interest in the biosciences and in medicine and health. It provides students with an in-depth scientific knowledge of the medical and health sciences, state-of-the-art research methods, and an insight into how research impacts human health and medicine.

Photo: BSc Medical and Health Science Graduates with Dr Cathal McCarthy, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Dr Louise Collins, BSc Medical and Health Sciences Course Coordinator; Professor Aideen Sullivan, Academic Director BSc Medical and Health Sciences and Dr Roisin Kelly-Laubscher Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Links

CK707 BSc Medical and Health Sciences

Medical and Health Sciences website

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News story and photographs Bereniece Riedewald