Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care
20.12.2010

UCC Medical School and St Patrick’s Hospital/Marymount Hospice recently celebrated with the graduating class of the Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care. A Presentation of Parchments Ceremony was held in Brookfield Health Sciences Complex attended by the Diplomates, their families and colleagues. The two-year, interdisciplinary programme, which is run in partnership between the Medical School and St Patrick’s/Marymount, was introduced in 2007, and is designed to increase the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in Palliative Care.

Opening remarks were made by Professor George Shorten, Dean of the Medical School who expressed his genuine pleasure in offering congratulations on behalf of UCC’s School of Medicine to the graduates, their families, the course faculty, the staff of Marymount Hospice and in particular to Ms Gerardine Lynch and Dr Denis O’Mahony. He said: “This Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care course represents the very best of interdisciplinary training from which patients will derive comfort and benefit”. He went on to conclude that, with their newly acquired expertise, he expects the graduates will “lead the way in delivering excellent care and in inspiring others to follow their example”.

Dr Denis O’Mahony, Co-ordinator of the programme, and Mr Kevin O’Dwyer, CEO of St. Patrick’s/Marymount also addressed the group. In congratulating the new Diplomates, Mr O’Dwyer emphasised that education was a core component of Specialist Palliative Care. “To deliver the required level of care, we need highly qualified staff, people who have been trained to the highest standards, people who are aware of the latest national and international developments, people who can introduce new practices and inspire their colleagues, people like you” he said.

In addition to the Diploma parchment, the Diplomates were also presented with a badge. The badge was designed by the first graduating cohort (2009), and is presented to all graduates of the programme. In the centre of the badge is the sunflower, which symbolises hospice, and four colours in the centre of the sunflower symbolising the Physical, Psychological, Sociological and Spiritual aspects of Palliative Care.

Applications for September 2011 entry will be available shortly via www.ucc.ie/apply Details: edcentre@stpatricksmarymount.ie or medschool@ucc.ie

Picture L-R: Ms Bridie O’Connor (graduate), Professor George Shorten (Dean, Medical School UCC), Ms Gerardine Lynch (Education Centre, St. Patrick’s Marymount), Dr Denis O'Mahony (Department of Medicine), UCC, Ms Ann McAtamney (graduate). Back row: Mr Kevin O' Dwyer (CEO, St. Patrick’s Marymount), Ms Orla Sheahan (Education Centre, St. Patrick’s Marymount), Ms Una Downey (graduate), Ms Amanda Stokes (graduate), Ms Fiona McManus (graduate), Ms Winnie Pedder Hegarty (graduate), Ms Bridie McCarthy (School of Nursing & Midwifery UCC) .

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