RCSI FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010
PAEDIATRICS
Professor and chairman
Alf Nicholson DCH, FRCPI, FRCPCH
Associate Professors
Joseph Mc Menamin MD, DCH, FRCPI
Tom Clarke DCH, FRCPI, FRCPC, FAAP
Philip Mayne MD, MSc, FRCPI, FRCpath
Professor of Paediatric surgery
Martin Corbally FRCSI
Senior Lecturers
John Murphy DCH, FRCPI
Martin White, FRCPI
Michael Riordan MRCPCH
Tutors/ Lecturers
Ciara Mc Donnell MRCPI, Acting Senior Lecturer
Vi Chong MRCPI
Niamh Lynch MRCPI
Lauren Brennan FAAP
Tutors in neonatal medicine
Helen Mulcahy MB, DCH
Clinical lecturers, Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street
Dr O Hensey
Dr M King
Mr M Earley
Professor M O’Keefe
Professor P Mayne
Mr S Awadalla
Dr B Lynch
Professor M Cafferkey
Dr D Slattery
Dr S Macken
Dr D Corcoran
Dr P Keenan
Dr N Murphy
Dr A Awan
Dr J Murphy
Dr M Riordan
Professor E Treacy
Dr A Monovari
Dr A Twomey
Dr S Ryan
Dr V Donoghue
Dr E Twomey
Dr L Kyne
Dr S Finn
Dr M McKay
Dr O Franklin
Clinical Lecturers, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin
Dr H Monaghan
Dr M Waldron
Dr A O Marcaigh
Dr R Watson
Dr M White
Dr D Webb
Dr K Butler
Dr M Walsh
Dr G Canny
Dr P Oslizlok
Professor A Greene
Dr A O’Meara
Dr C Costigan
Dr K Walsh
Dr S Walsh
Dr R O’Sullivan
Dr C Mc Mahon
Dr D Cody
Dr O Killeen
Professor A Irvine
Mr J Russell
Dr E Phelan
Dr R Hayes
Clinical lecturers, Affiliated hospitals
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
Dr S Gormally, Senior Lecturer in Neonatology
Dr E Gordon
Dr M Mc Cormack
Dr S Gashout
Dr G Prendiville
Dr M Thomas
Regional Hospital, Mullingar
Dr Terry Bate
Dr Imelda Lambert
Dr Farhana Sharif, Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics
Regional Hospital, Waterford
Dr N Goggin
Dr P Mc Mahon
Dr A Das
General Hospital, Kilkenny
Dr C O’Reilly
Dr M Dillon
Dr D Waldron
General Hospital, Cavan
Dr A Leahy
Dr A Finan
Dr N Van der Spek
Secretaries
Norma Mc Eneaney (Temple Street)
Anna Mc Alinden (Crumlin)
Academic activities
Professor Nicholson
Member of European Academy of Paediatrics and chair of Accident Prevention working
group
Member of Primary/Secondary working group of European Academy of Paediatrics
Member, European Child Safety Alliance
Member, Paediatric Speciality Training Committee, RCPI and Associate Dean for basic
specialist training in Paediatrics
Member, National medical education committee
Professor Mc Menamin
Fellow of the RCPCH
Newly appointed Professor of Paediatrics RCSI Bahrain – a wholly deserved recognition
of many years of excellent teaching and research output
Professor Mayne
Council member of Society for the study of inborn errors of metabolism
External examiner in M Sc in molecular Pathology in TCD and DIT
Professor Clarke
Member of the Board of Faculty of Paediatrics, RCPI
Dr J Murphy
Editor, Irish Medical Journal
National Speciality Director for Higher Specialist Training in Paediatrics
Dr Finan
Member, Part 1 Examination Board, RCPCH
Member, Board of the Faculty of Paediatrics, RCPI
Dr Van der Spek
Member, editorial board of Epi-insight
Tribute to Elizabeth Griffin
Just as the end of year examination in Paediatrics was about to commence in June 2009
, we were all saddened to learn of the death of Elizabeth Griffin who had a long and
distinguished career as a neonatologist in the Coombe and Crumlin and who gave
excellent tuition in neonatology to many students over the years . May she rest in peace.
Academic vision
As Professor of Paediatrics , my immediate priority is to continue to build on and improve
an excellent undergraduate programme .In this regard there will need to be
infrastructural improvements and innovative teaching techniques to cater for increased
student numbers and a now six week course .We have extensively revised the
curriculum with a clear emphasis on problem-based learning , less formal lectures and
more lecture topics delivered via the Camtasia process and more in-course assessment
. We have also introduced the concept of DVD clips in our end of year examination and
these proved very successful in June 2009 .I wish to develop a strong post-graduate
teaching ethos in the Children’s University Hospital and to establish a vibrant research
group with a number of research themes in an academic centre . I have received grant
approval (€280,000 over 3 years) for an injury surveillance system to allow us to explore
injury patterns in Ireland. I have co-authored a book on child health for parents titled
‘when your child is sick’ and this book was published by Gill and Mc Millan in May 2009.
I have edited 3 chapters of the new ‘Euro Mastercourse’ textbook which is designed as a
core Paediatric textbook for trainees in Paediatrics across Europe
Invited Lectures / Publications
Professor Alf Nicholson was invited to give keynote addresses on the topic on injury
prevention at international conferences in Istanbul (Europaediatrics June 2008).
Professor Nicholson chaired a session on injury prevention and presented a keynote
address at the European Academy of Paediatrics meeting in Nice, France in October
2008
Publications
(1) Beard JH, Bell RL, Duffy AJ. Reproductive considerations and pregnancy after
bariatric surgery: current evidence and recommendations. Obes Surg 2008;
18(8):1023-1027.
(2) Burns P, Foster A, Moran T, Blayney A. Multifocal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis:
a case report. Ir J Med Sci 2008.
(3) Byrne S, Morgan S, Fitzpatrick C, Boylan C, Crowley S, Gahan H et al.
Deliberate Self-Harm in children and adolescents: a qualitative study exploring
the needs of parents and carers. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2008; 13(4):493504.
(4) Donoghue V, Ryan S, Twomey E. Perinatal tumours: the contribution of radiology
to management. Pediatr Radiol 2008; 38 Suppl 3:S477-S483.
(5) Gardiner C, Lanigan B, O'Keefe M. Postcataract surgery outcome in a series of
infants and children with Down syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol 2008; 92(8):11121116.
(6) Gill D, Walsh J. Plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and cranial orthotic devices:
misshapen heads and helmets. Arch Dis Child 2008; 93(9):805-807.
(7) Glynn F, Osman L, Colreavy M, Rowley H, Dwyer TP, Blayney A. Acute
mastoiditis in children: presentation and long term consequences. J Laryngol
Otol 2008; 122(3):233-237.
(8) Hinds G, Thomas VD. Malignancy and cancer treatment-related hair and nail
changes. Dermatol Clin 2008; 26(1):59-68, viii.
(9) Kirwan C, O'Keefe M. Higher order aberrations in children with amblyopia. J
Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2008; 45(2):92-96.
(10) O'Keefe M, Kirwan C. Screening for retinopathy of prematurity. Early Hum Dev
2008; 84(2):89-94.
(11) Paul R. Interventions to improve communication in autism. Child Adolesc
Psychiatr Clin N Am 2008; 17(4):835-83x.
(12) Quinlan C, Dorman T, Gill D. A big boy with proteinuria: question. Pediatr
Nephrol 2008; 23(12):2175-2176.
(13) Quinlan C, Dorman T, Gill D. A big boy with proteinuria: answer. Pediatr Nephrol
2008; 23(12):2177-2178.
(14) Quinlan C, Gill D, Waldron M, Awan A. Cyanide poisoning in the posttransplantation patient-a cautionary tale. Pediatr Nephrol 2008; 23(12):22732275.
(15) Ryan S, Finn S. Pancreatic replacement by cysts in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Radiol
2008; 38(10):1141.
(16) Stafrace S, Molloy J. Extraventricular choroid plexus papilloma in a neonate.
Pediatr Radiol 2008; 38(5):593.
(17) Sweeney T, Sell D. Relationship between perceptual ratings of nasality and
nasometry in children/adolescents with cleft palate and/or velopharyngeal
dysfunction. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2008; 43(3):265-282.
(18) Tsai JC. Influencing ocular blood flow in glaucoma patients: the cardiovascular
system and healthy lifestyle choices. Can J Ophthalmol 2008; 43(3):347-350.
(19) Young O, Watters K, Sheahan P, Hughes J. Penetrating air gun wound in the
neck. Auris Nasus Larynx 2008; 35(3):426-428.
(20) Chronic pain in childhood – choosing your approach. Nicholson AJ. Forum 2008; 25; 4:
45-46
(21) Injury Prevention in children and adolescents – a call to action. O’Carroll C, Egleston C,
Nicholson AJ. Archiv Dis Child 2008; 93 (suppl): A87
(22) Accidental ecstasy ingestion in a two year old. Akinlabi LO, Al-Assaf N, Donnelly J,
Nicholson AJ. IMJ 2008; 101:5: 156-157
(23) Human Papillomavirus Vaccination. Nicholson AJ IMJ 2008; 101:10: 318
(24) Treating constipation and soiling in Children. Koe S , Nicholson AJ . Forum 2008 : 25 ; 11 :
46-48
(25) Treating recurrent headaches in children. Ricotti V, Nicholson AJ. Forum 2008: 25; 9: 6163
(26) Murphy AM, Lambert D, Treacy EP, O’Meara A, Lynch SA. Incidence and
Prevalence of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I in the Irish Republic. Arch Dis Child 2008,
May 7. (Epub ahead of print).
(27)Tuppen HA, Fattori F, Carrozzo R, Zeviane M, Di Mauro S, Seneca S, Martindale J,
Olpin SE, Treacy EP, McFarland R, Santorelli FM, Taylor RW. Further pitfalls in the
diagnosis of mtDNA mutations homoplasmic mt-tRNA mutations. Am J Med Genetics,
2008 Jan (45), (1): 55-61.
(28)Varghese M, Cafferkey M, Treacy EP. Is varicella vaccination required for children
with inherited metabolic disorders. Arch Dis Childhood. 93(suppl 1). A63