RCSI Bahrain hosts second international research conference
Manama : Under the patronage of the Supreme Council for Health Chairman, Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) played host to its second annual International Research Conference.
Following the inaugural International Research Conference – run in collaboration with King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) – in 2016, this year’s event featured a packed programme of oral and poster presentations.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Executive Director of Education at the Office of Bahrain’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Roy Blatchford; RCSI Health Professions Education Centre Curriculum Innovator, Dr Martina Crehan and RCSI Associate Professor in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Professor David Williams focused on the areas of Innovation in Education; Qualitative Research and Opportunities in the Management of Strokes respectively.
Over 100 research abstracts were presented during the conference, with the international element reflected in representation from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Ireland, India, North America, Japan and China. The event also strongly showcased the level of research taking place in Bahrain, with particular emphasis on collaborative projects between RCSI Bahrain; Arabian Gulf University (AGU); University of Bahrain; King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) and the Ministry of Health.
Among almost 300 attendees were RCSI Bahrain students and staff, healthcare professionals, special guests and senior officials from the Higher Education Council (HEC), namely Secretary-General, Dr Abdulghani AlShowaikh and Assistant Secretary-General for Assessment and Accreditation, Dr Mona Al Balooshi.
Senior management from RCSI in Dublin, including President, Professor John Hyland; CEO and Registrar, Professor Cathal Kelly and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor Hannah McGee were also in attendance.
The multi-faceted aims of the conference were to showcase new knowledge to be used to help patients; to build further research collaboration between different countries and to inspire students of the university to get involved with and do research.
Addressing the assembled guests, RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom outlined some of the ongoing research activities the university is involved with, including collaboration with RCSI in Dublin through the support of postgraduate programmes; the joint-research grant offered in tandem with AGU and the work with KHUH on its nursing research strategy.
Professor Otoom also paid thanks to His Excellency, Dr Shaikh Mohammed for his patronage of the event and for his ongoing support and guidance on research and other activities at RCSI Bahrain.
RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in 1784. Like its Irish counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.
Research – along with Teaching and Learning and Community Engagement – is one of RCSI Bahrain’s three Strategic Pillars. The organisation of this conference falls in line with the university’s research strategy, which in turn is blue-printed against the HEC’s National Research Strategy.
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