2013 Press Releases
Diploma in Military Medical Care to save lives
The School of Medicine recently launched the Diploma in Military Medical Care Programme, which brings together the Irish Defence Forces and UCC in providing professional training in Military Medical Care.
The Diploma was launched by Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research & Innovation. It represents one of a few examples of collaboration between university and military systems at undergraduate level, and UCC is delighted to be partners with the Defence Forces in this initiative.
The students, who are drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Corps, learn to provide emergency care for their fellow members of the Defence Forces in a variety of situations including in the field of combat.
Professor George Shorten, Dean of School of Medicine opened the event, commenting: “This partnership is evidence of how successful cross sectoral co-operation can be, even in times of economic difficulty. It also represents another step in providing Technology Enhanced Learning for Health Professionals in innovative and cost effective ways. We see the Defence Forces in Ireland as ideal partners with complementary experience and expertise to our own”. The ASSERT for Health Centre at UCC is a key enabler of this Diploma. The Centre will build on successes such as this to improve patient safety, design and integration of new medical devices and to build communities of learning amongst health professionals.
Professor John Higgins, Head of College of Medicine and Health welcomed the programme, praising the expert staff of the College, and its facilities, which have combined to deliver the customised teaching these students require.
On behalf of the Defence Forces, Lt Col Anthony Corcoran, Deputy Director of the Medical Corps, welcomed the programme as a significant step for the Medical Corps, and the Defence Forces as a whole, in ensuring delivery of the highest standards of training to Defence Forces personnel. This then enables the Defence Forces to provide a quality service to its personnel and to the wider population. “At this time, the importance of pre-hospital emergency care is becoming more and more well recognised for duties here in Ireland and when our personnel are serving overseas. We are confident of the standard of this course, not least because of who we are working with, the UCC School of Medicine and the Academy of Emergency Care", Lt Col Corcoran said.
In his address, Minister Sherlock said: "The Diploma in Military Medical Care is expected to impact strongly on the civilian population, as the training being provided will improve the first responder experience (including CPR) across the country and beyond, not least when graduates of the programme are ultimately posted to combat zones or on peace-keeping missions overseas in locations such as Chad, Kosovo, Lebanon and East Timor. The bottom line is that this training will save lives".
Also among the attendees at the launch were Commodore Mark Mellett DSM, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service; Col Jim Burns, Director of Defence Forces Training and Education and Lt Col Barry Hanan representing GOC Air Corps, as well as senior UCC personnel.
For further information contact: Ms. Connie Mulcahy, Manager, School of Medicine, UCC Tel: 4901574 or email: msm@ucc.ie