RCSI Medical professionalism
About Us
Professionalism is at the core of the patient – doctor relationship and is fundamental for patient safety and the delivery of highest quality healthcare. Our work focuses on medical professionalism and personal and professional identity formation.
Our vision is to advance medical professionalism, to benefit patients through research, education and enhancement of clinical practice.
Medical professionalism relates to forming values, behaviours and attitudes that promote professional relationships, promote public trust and enhance patient safety.
As per the RCSI model of professionalism, it incorporates integrity, altruism, advocacy, self-care, compassion, evidence-based and reflective practice, cultural sensitivity, compassion, ethical practice and effective communication. These characteristics, which underpin the science and practice of medicine, form the basis of a social contract between the medical profession and society.
Medical Professionalism at RCSI is led by Professor Denis Harkin, who as Department Chair holds the only such post in an Irish medical university.
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Professionalism in a Pandemic:
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Medical Professionalism Team
If you would like to contact one of the team directly, please see below.
Prof Denis Harkin
Consultant Vascular Surgeon & Chair of Medical Professionalism
Professor Denis Harkin, was appointed Chair of Medical Professionalism at the RCSI in November 2020. Professor Harkin joins RCSI from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, where he was Clinical Lead for Vascular Surgery and Assistant Medical Director.
Graduating from Queen’s University Belfast, gaining Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh (FRCSEd) and Ireland (FRCSI), and placing first in European Board Exams he was awarded RCSI Travelling Fellow to train at the Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, and Stanford Medical Centre. His Doctoral research, funded by The Wellcome Trust, established the seminal link between ischaemia-reperfusion, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and remote organ injury. As Senior Lecturer in Surgery and Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Queen’s University Belfast and Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast, he has developed an international reputation in research and practice in vascular trauma and complex endovascular aneurysm care. A founding member of the Specialty Advisory Committee for Vascular Surgery, and elected Council of the Vascular Society, he has contributed in UK and Ireland to Curriculum, Training Programmes and Workforce Planning. He is an Examiner for Intercollegiate FRCS Vascular and European Board of Vascular Surgery. He was appointed Assistant Medical Director at Belfast HSC Trust, in 2015.
Professor Harkin’s work will focus on medical professionalism and personal and professional identity formation. Our vision is to advance medical professionalism, to benefit our patients, in research, education and clinical practice.
Ms. Áine Ryan
Postdoctoral Fellow
Áine currently holds the role of Postdoctoral Fellow in Professionalism in Healthcare in RCSI. She holds a PhD in Population Health and Heath Service Research from RCSI and a Master’s degree in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy from UCD. Áine previously held the role of Director of Professional Development on the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists Board (ISCP) along with being chairperson of the Professional Development Standing Committee of the ISCP. She has over ten years of clinical experience working in two teaching hospitals in Dublin along with private practice. Áine has held senior roles in Musculoskeletal Outpatients, Rheumatology, Pain Management and Orthopaedic Triage. Áine has worked as a lecturer in RCSI where she was responsible for teaching, examining and module coordinating in the BSc Physiotherapy programme. Her current areas of research interest are lifestyle medicine, professionalism and education in healthcare.
Ms Sinéad Hand
Digital Media Specialist
& Communications Officer
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