Saturday, 16th February 2008-Charter Day Meetings Take Place at RCSI

THE annual RCSI Charter Day Meetings were held in the College from the 14^th – 16^th February. A number of leading Irish and international speakers attended the three day event and discussed numerous topics relevant to surgery and surgical training in Ireland.


President of RCSI Professor Gerald O’Sullivan delivers the Presidential Address at the annual Charter Day meetings. To read a copy of the address please click here
On Thursday, 14^th of February a one day conference was held on the new Cancer Control Strategy. This closed meeting provided an opportunity to debate and address the opportunities and challenges that this strategy presents for surgeons.

On Friday the 15th of February, highlights included the Presidential Medal Competition and sessions on Venous Disorders; Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery; Trauma and Orthopoedic Surgery/Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Surgical Training.   


Professor Gerald O’Sullivan, President of RCSI with Dr. Joseph P. Vacanti, Harvard Medical School who delivered the 83^rd Abraham Colles Lecture.  

Dr. Joseph P. Vacanti, Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School delivered a speech on ‘Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine from First Principles to the Present Time’ at the 83rd Abraham Colles Lecture. The President of RCSI Professor Gerald O’Sullivan also gave his Presidential address.


Pictured from l to r are Professor Frank Keane, Vice President RCSI; Dr Joseph P. Vacanti; Professor Gerald O'Sullivan, President RCSI; Professor Barry O'Donnell, Past President RCSI.

RCSI also bestowed its highest honour of Honorary Fellowship at the special event on Dr. Gerald B. Healy, President of the American College of Surgeons and Mr. Bernard Ribeiro, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.


Pictured from l to r are Profesor Oscar Traynor, Director, National Surgical Training Centre / Dean of Postgraduate Surgical Education; Mr Michael Horgan, CEO of RCSI;  Professor Arthur Tanner, Director of Surgical Affairs, RCSI and Dr Terry McWade, Deputy CEO, RCSI.

Charter Day Meetings are held annually to commemorate the 11th of February 1784 when the RCSI was first established by royal charter by King George III. This Charter gave the College the power to control the practice of surgery and to make provision for surgical education.


RCSI Council members Ms. Eilis McGovern and Countess Laura Viani.

Today Charter Day is a unique opportunity for the many Fellows and Members of the College and their colleagues from the international surgical community to come together and discuss aspects of emerging surgical techniques and research in their varying areas of expertise.


Past RCSI Presidents Mr Michael Butler, Mr Dermot O Flynn and Mr William Hederman



Speakers at the Presidential Medal Competition Mr Kieran M Hirpara; Mr Colin Peirce; Dr John P Burke; Dr Tara Ní Dhonnchu; Mr Mark O’Donnell and Mr John Byrne.