Academic GP Ireland Annual Conference 2026
The Department of General Practice at University College Cork, in collaboration with Academic GP Ireland (AGPI), the Irish College of GPs, and the Cork Specialist GP Training Programme, hosted the Academic GP Ireland Annual Conference 2026 from 4–6 June 2026.
The Department of General Practice at University College Cork, in collaboration with Academic GP Ireland (AGPI), the Irish College of GPs, and the Cork Specialist GP Training Programme, hosted the Academic GP Ireland Annual Conference 2026 from Thursday 4 June to Saturday 6 June 2026.
Held in the Aula Maxima and West Wing at UCC, the three-day conference brought together approximately 150 delegates from across the island of Ireland, including clinicians, researchers, educators, trainees, and students, all united by a shared goal of advancing evidence-based patient care in general practice and primary care.
A programme showcasing excellence
The conference opened on Thursday with an early-career event, followed by two days of plenary lectures, parallel research presentations, workshops, and the presentation of the Fiona Bradley Award to Dr Anna Marie Naughton, recognising her sustained contribution to healthcare.
Friday's programme opened with a welcome from Dr Andy Philips, Regional Executive Officer, HSE South West, followed by a joint plenary from Professor Rob Scully (University of Galway) and Dr Padraic McCarthy (GP and Irish College of GPs Curriculum Fellow) on postgraduate GP curriculum reform. The afternoon featured the Fiona Bradley Award ceremony and a keynote address from Professor Dame Louise Robinson (Newcastle University), Regius Professor of Ageing and internationally recognised expert in dementia care and prevention. Her presentation explored recent advances in dementia research, including work from the NIHR Global Research Group on Dementia Care and Prevention.
Saturday opened with an address from Professor Paula O'Leary, Dean and Head of the UCC School of Medicine, followed by the Presentations of Distinction, showcasing the conference's highest-scoring research abstracts. The closing keynote was delivered by Dr Margaret McCartney (University of St Andrews), academic GP, award-winning writer and broadcaster, whose thought-provoking lecture, No Innovation Without Evidence, challenged delegates to consider how innovation in healthcare must remain firmly grounded in robust evidence.
Across the two main conference days, delegates selected from more than 120 research presentations and workshops covering a wide range of topics, including:
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Medicines optimisation and polypharmacy
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Long-term conditions management
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Cancer diagnosis in primary care
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Health inequalities and vulnerable populations
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Rural practice and workforce planning
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Education and workforce development
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Digital health interventions
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Research infrastructure and health data
Reflecting on the conference, Professor Emma Wallace, Co‑Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, Professor of General Practice at UCC, said: 'We were delighted to host the national Academic GP Ireland conference in UCC this year. This conference was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements and impact of general practice and primary care research and innovation on the island of Ireland.'
Professor Maureen Kelly, Chair of the AGPI Executive Committee and Professor of Primary Care Education at University of Galway, added 'This conference provides an important forum for sharing new knowledge, fostering collaboration, and supporting the development of evidence‑based clinical practice, education and policy. As our health system continues to evolve with the implementation of Sláintecare, the role of general practice as the cornerstone of accessible, high‑quality patient care has never been more vital.'
Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC and Chief Academic Officer for HSE South West, commented, 'Hosting the AGPI conference at UCC was a welcome recognition of the strength of general practice research and education in the South West region. The collaboration between UCC, the Irish College of GPs, and the Cork Specialist GP Training Programme reflects exactly what an Academic Health Sciences System should look like – universities, the health service, and frontline clinicians working together to improve patient care.'
Building collaborations
Alongside the scientific programme, the conference provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration. The social programme on Friday evening in Devere Hall gave delegates the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Ireland, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in advancing research and improving patient care.
The Department of General Practice extends its thanks to the organising committee, conference partners, sponsors, presenters, chairs, and delegates whose contributions made the conference such a successful event.