RCSI BAHRAIN
ANNUAL REPORT
2013/14
RCSI DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE LEADERS W
HO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WORLDWIDE
CONTENTS
Governance
Board of Governors
8
Senior Management Team
9
President’s Review
10
Vice President for Academic Affairs Review
12
Chief Operating Officer’s Review
14
Education, Teaching and Learning
School of Medicine
16
School of Nursing & Midwifery
20
School of Postgraduate Studies and Research
24
Quality Assurance and Enhancement
28
Community Engagement
32
Student Activities
36
KEY
STATISTICS
RCSI BAHRAIN DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE LEADERS
WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WORLDWIDE
Students
Student
Nationalities
Alumni since 2010
Number of Fulltime
Staff
1,278 36 854 138
2 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
ENHANCING THE
QUALITY OF TEACHING
AND LEARNING
Dr Fatima Abdulla from Salmaniya
Medical Complex received a clinical
lecturer award from RCSI Bahrain
President, Professor Sameer Otoom
Staff during a training session run by
the Professional Development Unit
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 3
At the end of November, staff from the
School of Nursing & Midwifery travelled
to Saudi Arabia to begin delivery of the
School’s BSc Nursing Bridging programme
in Saudi Aramco
During the year, the Department of
Surgery ran a number of Basic Surgical
Skills Courses, which is an essential course
for junior surgical trainees
4 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
EXCELLENCE IN MEDICINE,
NURSING & MIDWIFERY,
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AND RESEARCH
Investing in facilities and nurturing research throughout our teaching, clinical network and research, delivers a
better-educated and more-informed graduate.
The James Finucane Prize in Medicine
was won by Mohamed Ahmed Maki
Ebrahim who is from Bahrain
Professor Sameer Otoom, President of
RCSI Bahrain, presenting the award to
the winner of the Rufaida Al-Aslamia
Prize in Nursing, Ms Nazia Mohammed
Bin Ali Al-Amri from Bahrain
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 5
In April, a delegation from RCSI
Bahrain visited Taiwan and signed a
number of agreements with National
Taiwan University College of Medicine.
The two institutions will explore
opportunities in student exchanges,
internships and research projects
During the year, staff from the
University held meetings with more
than 100 clinical lecturers in the three
teaching hospitals
6 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
COMMITTED TO
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
RCSI BAHRAIN ENHANCING THE STANDARDS OF
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
The 2013 Charity Challenge saw a team
of staff and students raise 5000BD
for charity when they paddled around
Bahrain in kayaks over three days
Staff and students during the annual
Community Engagment charity trip to
Lesotho in Africa
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 7
One of the winners of the Health
Awareness Awards, Ms Ebaa Mamdooh
Ali of Jidhafs Girls Secondary School
with Professor Riyadh Hamzah, the
Higher Education Council’s Secretary
General, and Professor Sameer Otoom,
President of RCSI Bahrain
Students along with the Diabetes
Mobile Unit visited the Abdulrahman
Kanoo International School (ARKIS)
where the children learnt about
diabetes and healthy lifestyle choices
8 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
BOARD
OF GOVERNORS
Mr Declan J. Magee
Professor Johan Hyland
Professor Cathal Kelly
Professor Hannah McGee
President, RCSI
Vice President, RCSI
Chief Executive, RCSI
Dean, RCSI
Mr David Moore
Major General (Professor)
Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa
Mr Mahmood Hashim Al
Kooheji
Dr Aysha Mubarak Jaber
Buaneq
Director of Bahrain Defence
Force Royal Medical Services
CEO, Bahrain
Mumtalakat Holding Company
Undersecretary,
Ministry of Health, Bahrain
Chairman, Academic Council,
RCSI
Professor Sameer Otoom
Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield
President, RCSI Bahrain
Chief Operating Officer,
RCSI Bahrain
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 9
SENIOR
MANAGEMENT
TEAM
Professor Sameer Otoom
President
Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield
Professor Joe McMenamin
Professor Seamus Cowman
Chief Operating Officer
Vice President for Academic
Affairs & Head of School of
Medicine
Head of School of Nursing and
Midwifery
Professor David Whitford
Dr Kathryn Strachan
Dr Jean Hughes
Mr Adrian Lydon
Head of School of Postgraduate
Studies and Research
Head of Quality Enhancement
Associate Director for Academic
Affairs
Head of Communications
Mrs Deborrah Anne
Concepcion-Lim
Mr Mohammed Abdulla
Ms Siobhan Traynor
Mr Cathal Prendergast
Head of Estates and Support
Services
HR Specialist
Head of Finance
ICT Manager
10 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
GOVERNANCE
PRESIDENT’S
REVIEW
Our strategic priorities are central
to providing our students with an
outstanding student experience and
inspiring them to be future world
leaders in healthcare and innovation
Building on the heritage of the Royal College of
Surgeons in Ireland, which was founded in 1784,
I am proud to say that RCSI Bahrain continues
to deliver its core mission to enhance health in
Bahrain, the other GCC countries and beyond,
through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in
education, research and service.
This annual report outlines the University’s position and highlights our achievements during the
2013/2014, which was a very productive and successful year.
We continue to implement our five year Strategic Plan, which we launched in 2012. The plan
focuses on the three pillars of Teaching and Learning, Research and Community Engagement.
Our strategic priorities are central to providing our students with an outstanding student
experience and inspiring them to be future world leaders in healthcare and innovation. For
our staff, we are committed to investing in and developing our people as leaders in healthcare
education. The establishment of the Professional Development Unit during the year is a
significant step towards achieving this vision and will enable staff to reach their full potential
and develop collective excellence.
Within the area of Teaching and Learning, we introduced awards for the clinical lecturers and
clinical tutors who teach our medicine and nursing students during clinical placement.
I would once again like to congratulate those who received awards at our June conferring and
thank them for their exemplary teaching skills and helping our students achieve such great
success.
Within the area of Research, we continue to develop our research capacity. In the last year,
we had 26 research publications in peer reviewed journals - seven of these included our
undergraduate students as co-authors. Research with RCSI Dublin continues in projects looking
at solar disinfection of water, and separately we have continued collaboration with the Japanese
based firm SBI Pharmaceuticals, in oncology and diabetes research.
Within the area of Research we
continue to develop our research
capacity. In the last year we had
26 research publications in peer
reviewed journals
On the final pillar, Community Engagement, following a successful two-year pilot project in
collaboration with Bahrain Diabetes Society, which has seen more than 1206 primary school
students educated on the importance of healthy eating and lifestyle in combating Type II
diabetes, I was delighted to announce that we are continuing with this project. In June, in
collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we announced the winners of the new health
awareness awards competition programme for secondary schools, and in March we expanded
our international involvement for student experience to include Vietnam.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 11
Professor Sameer Otoom
President, RCSI Bahrain
We continue to invest in the future of our students and RCSI Bahrain. We announced a
US$700,000 investment in sports and recreation facilities, with the construction of an allweather football pitch and a revamp of existing facilities within the existing sports hall. We
look forward to opening these new facilities during the next academic year.
The year was marked by a number of appointments at senior management level. I was
appointed as President and Professor Joe McMenamin was appointed as Vice President for
Academic Affairs. We also appointed a new ICT Manager, Mr Cathal Prendergast.
The past year has been a successful and exciting year. The achievements and successes of RCSI
Bahrain are due to the dedication, energy and loyalty of the individuals who comprise the staff
of RCSI Bahrain and I would like to thank them all for their contribution.
Professor Sameer Otoom and Dr
Inder Pahal, Regional Director,
Africa, Europe, Central and South
Asia, Kaplan Health – International
Recruitment during the signing of the
agreement between RCSI Bahrain and
Kaplan Health
We continue to invest in the
future of our students and
RCSI Bahrain. During the year,
we announced a $700,000
investment in sports and
recreation facilities
I would also like to congratulate our students and staff for such outstanding achievements
and to acknowledge the continuing support of our colleagues in Dublin, senior management,
faculty and administrators. I also thank our stakeholders – the Ministry of Health including
Salmaniya Medical Complex, Primary Healthcare Centres, Ministry of Education, Higher
Education Council, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, King Hamad University Hospital, Tamkeen,
the Palm Association and the Private Hospitals, without their support we would not be able to
achieve our goals. I look forward to working with all of you towards the successes of our future.
12 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
REVIEW
The curriculum in both our medical
and nursing schools continues to be
reviewed and improved
During the year and under the leadership of Dr Jean Hughes, the Student, Academic and
Regulatory Affairs Department (SARA), underwent restructuring and re-organisation to become
more efficient and to offer more effective academic support.
SARA is responsible for student records, examinations, programme academic support, the
learning resource centre, careers and regulatory affairs and student support and development.
It also ensures compliance with all external regulatory requirements relating to student
documents, examinations and academic standards, as well as compliance with internal policies
and procedures in the registry area.
This transformation during 2014 expanded a number of small, discrete units into a new, fivedepartment structure which has several aims: to bring coherence and consistency across the
SARA areas; to achieve a greater understanding of the different departments responsibilities
and to achieve critical mass and shared expertise around core processes.
The following are the key changes implemented:
The Careers and Alumni area
has been strengthened by the
appointment of an Academic
Director of Careers
1.
Five departments: Academic Operations; Records and Regulations; Careers and Alumni;
Learning Resource Centre and Student Development and Wellbeing.
2.
The newly established Academic Operations team brings together the cycle administration
for the medicine programme and the programme administration for the nursing and
postgraduate programmes as well as all exam-related functions.
3.
New roles and responsibilities, in particular the devolution of exam coordination across a
wider group of people, will result in shared expertise, closer cooperation and more robust
academic administration procedures. This year the Final Medical Clinical Examinations
were held for the first time in the King Hamad University Hospital which is adjacent to the
University. The running of this complex examination process by SARA and our hospital
colleagues was deemed to be highly successful.
4.
Relocation of all departments to a central location.
5.
Introduction of a Student Desk, which provides a central point of contact for all student
queries and requests.
6.
The Student Welfare department has been renamed ‘Student Development and
Wellbeing’. This new title more accurately reflects the positive and developmental focus
of the variety of activities supported by the department, in addition to student welfare
and support. Within this department, the Student Support Centre has been renamed ‘The
Centre for Student Success’, also to positively reinforce the proactive, and developmental
opportunities afforded to all students in their learning pathways.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 13
Professor Joe McMenamin
Vice President for Academic Affairs
7.
The Careers and Alumni area has been strengthened by the appointment of Dr Ghufran
Jassim, Academic Director of Careers who will provide disciplinary advice to students on
future career choices. A successful Careers Symposium was held in February of this year
at which international and local faculty participated. We intend to hold this symposium
annually. The medical school is now a member of a number of international networks
including the Global Heath Learning Opportunity (GHLO) network which has significantly
increased the number of centres of excellence around the world where our undergraduates
may go for elective study periods. A new video entitled “Nursing as a Career in Bahrain”
was produced and launched by the School of Nursing & Midwifery.
In September, the student records system underwent a major upgrade. It now facilitates new
web-based functionality, better security, access to a wider group of staff and students and a
range of new functionality to assist in better supporting and recording the student journey
through RCSI Bahrain. In addition, our Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle) which provides
the platform for student learning for undergraduates in both the medical and nursing schools
has been significantly upgraded. The system now provides considerably more synchrony with
the RCSI Dublin system.
As is the case in most universities, a pattern of reduced attendance had been observed in
recent years, so it was decided that RCSI Bahrain needed to better record and monitor its
student attendance. RCSI, Bahrain has a 100% attendance requirement and although there is a
well-developed, manual recording system in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, a more robust
and efficient way to record and monitor attendance was needed in the School of Medicine.
Over the past year, a full attendance recording system has been introduced in Foundation Year
and Junior Cycle. This new system comprises a combination of electronic recording in large
lecture theatres and manual attendance recording for practical and tutorial sessions.
The curriculum in both our medical and nursing schools continues to be reviewed and improved.
Three curriculum review teams have been established to review the BSc Undergraduate, BSc
Bridging and MSc Nursing programmes and map against the National Qualifications Framework
(NQF). The Medical Commencement Programme underwent revision and was accredited
this year by the National University of Ireland. Curriculum reviews have also taken place in
Foundation Year, Junior Cycle and Intermediate Cycle.
An agreement with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) was established to provide the
BSc Nursing Bridging education programme in Saudi Arabia.
FinalIy, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our academic, administrative, support
and hospital based clinical staff for their endeavour and contribution during the past academic
year to the continued success of our medical university.
The Medical Commencement
Programme in the medical
school underwent revision and
was accredited this year by the
National University of Ireland
14 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER’S
REVIEW
The Operations team has contributed
significantly to the continued
development and improvement of
this institution and we have gone from
strength to strength
At the end of this, my first year with RCSI Bahrain, I look back with a great deal of pride in
what has been achieved in this time. The Operations team has contributed significantly to the
continued development and improvement of this institution and we have gone from strength
to strength.
During the Academic Year 2013-14, a number of new and upgraded systems were introduced
within RCSI Bahrain.
As part of our strategy of enhancing RCSI’s Organisational Capabilities, HR has been looking
at new ways to support Staff Learning and Development. Following a successful trial, we are
now providing all staff with access to the online training library of lynda.com. The lynda.com
library provides 24-hour access to video-based training on a multitude of topics, with a library
of over 2,000 courses. Courses include software skills covering all versions of Microsoft Office
and Moodle as well as business topics such as project management, running effective meetings
and team management.
Since March, a new admissions applications platform allows students access through a single
application to a fully-integrated, online system which tracks and monitors their respective
progression in the University.
RCSI Bahrain’s financial system, Agresso has also been upgraded to include online purchase
order requests, approvals and procurements.
In June, the University established a new HR system for staff use. Through the automation
of many previously manual processes, the new system, CORE, allows users to take a more
proactive approach towards human resources.
Following a review of the Admissions department in December 2013, a number of changes to
the department and its structure have been implemented.
The department was divided into two sections – Student Recruitment, which is responsible for
the marketing and promotion of student recruitment, and admissions, which ensures a good
flow of applicants and which processes applications quickly and efficiently.
One major improvement was the extension and upgrade of the University’s sports facilities. In
April 2014, it was announced that a US$700,000 investment would be made in the construction
of a multipurpose, all-weather pitch and an upgrade of the existing sporting facilities.
During the Academic Year
2013-14, a number of new
and upgraded systems were
introduced within RCSI Bahrain
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 15
Stephen Harrison-Mirfield
Chief Operating Officer
The investment was a direct result of previous student feedback, which we hope will greatly
enhance the non-academic side of the student experience at RCSI Bahrain.
Following the successful participation by RCSI Bahrain in the 2013 Summer Conservation
Initiative, the Estates and Support Services Department again achieved Bahrain’s Electricity
and Water Authority’s targets set during the peak load over summer 2014. The Estates and
Support Services Department also began working in collaboration with the Electricity and
Water Authority in 2014, undertaking an extensive energy audit. The findings of this report
will be actioned during the 2014/2015 academic year in order to reduce and conserve energy
within RCSI Bahrain.
A significant focus throughout the year has been on communication with staff and students.
In October 2013, a Staff Portal was launched. The Staff Portal is a key tool for disseminating
information on the various activities of each department.
The introduction of regular Town Hall meetings now provides both students and staff with
opportunities to ask questions in an open forum and to provide feedback to the senior
management team on the most pressing issues.
This year we have also carried out an upgrade of Wi-Fi across all student areas in the University.
Staff at RCSI Bahrain will always be its greatest asset and it is a priority for us as an organisation
to ensure that all parties engage with each other.
There were a number of appointments during the year. Ms Kim Dewhurst was appointed Head
of Admissions, Mr Frank McCarthy was appointed Head of Recreation and Services and Mr Tom
Hanratty took up the position of Student Services Manager.
The introduction of regular Town
Hall meetings now provides
both students and staff with
opportunities to ask questions in
an open forum
16 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 17
RCSI Bahrain aims to nurture, to
challenge and to motivate our
students to realise their full potential,
not just as undergraduates, but by
creating life-long learners.
18 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE
On June 16, 2014, RCSI Bahrain held its annual conferring ceremony on campus. This year, 81
students graduated and were presented with their degrees by the University’s new President,
Professor Sameer Otoom, the new RCSI Dublin President, Mr Declan Magee and the National
University of Ireland Registrar, Dr Attracta Halpin.
The ceremony was also highlighted by the presentation of awards for the best hospital-based
clinical teachers chosen by Final Year medical students.
I would like to thank and congratulate the winners: Adjunct Professor Mary Lynch Altarif, Bahrain
Defence Force Hospital; Dr Ahsan Butt, King Hamad University Hospital; Dr Fatima Abdulla,
Salmaniya Medical Complex and Dr Farishta Hussain, Department of Family Medicine.
This year, the final medical clinical examination was held for the first time in King Hamad
University Hospital. I would like to thank the hospital administration and staff at the hospital
for facilitating this. The examination process was highly commended both by our graduating
students and external examiners. I would also like to thank the other Bahrain hospitals which
assisted in providing clinical cases for this examination.
Professor Joe McMenamin with medical
graduates during the June conferring
Since 2010, RCSI Bahrain has graduated five cohorts of students totalling 307 medical graduates.
We are very pleased to report that in the past two academic years, the performance of RCSI
Bahrain students in the final year has been comparable with their RCSI Dublin counterparts.
This year, 65 internship places were offered to RCSI Bahrain’s 2014 graduating class by our
three affiliated hospitals, King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital and
Salmaniya Medical Complex.
Since 2010, RCSI Bahrain graduates have been accepted into postgraduate training posts in
GCC countries, the United States, Canada and several European countries including the United
Kingdom.
Across different provinces in Canada earlier this year, RCSI Bahrain was designated an “eligible
institution for student financial assistance”. This was the result of a successful application by
RCSI Bahrain, which met all of the eligibility requirements.
In 2013, the medical school was invited to join the Global Education in Medicine Exchange
(GEMx) affiliated to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) and
the Global Health Learning Opportunities Collaborative (GHLO), affiliated to the Association
of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Both initiatives provide a network of collaborating
institutions around the world, facilitating global mobility for our medical students pursuing
international clinical or research electives.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 19
Professor Joe McMenamin
Head of School of Medicine
RCSI Bahrain and Kaplan Health recently signed an agreement which will allow Kaplan Health
to offer its USMLE - Step 1 Live Preparation Programme at RCSI Bahrain.
This includes a lecture series of live online lectures offered by Kaplan’s world-class US medical
faculty with the quality, structured, interactive experience normally only offered in Kaplan’s
American centres.
In March 2013, the School of Medicine hosted a Career Guidance symposium which was
attended by more than 100 students from RCSI Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf University.
The symposium featured a list of distinguished national and international speakers who spoke
on a variety of specialty career choices. The symposium was deemed a great success by all
attendees.
Dr Ahsan Butt from King Hamad
University Hospital receiving the award
for best hospital-based clinical teacher
Congratulations to Dr Ghufran Jassim, Department of Family Medicine, who has been appointed
Director of Career Guidance.
Another successful symposium was organised and held by RCSI Bahrain students in April. The
symposium on dermatology, which included poster illustrations of common skin diseases,
attracted a large number of students, including some from the Arabian Gulf University. The
speakers were from various health institutions in Bahrain.
On behalf of the School of Medicine, I would like to thank Dr Jean Hughes, Associate Director
for Academic Affairs, for setting up the new Student Affairs Regulatory Authority (SARA) in RCSI
Bahrain and for her significant contribution to facilitating convergence of the exam process
between RCSI Bahrain and RCSI Dublin.
The School of Medicine is delighted to announce the promotion of both Dr Ghufran Jassim,
Department of Family Medicine and Dr Declan Gaynor, Director of Foundation Year to Senior
Lecturers. The school is also pleased to welcome two new members to the academic staff, Dr
Azra Mahmud, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and Dr David Misselbrook, Senior Lecturer,
Department of Family Medicine.
Dr Joshua Brooks from Kaplan Health
presenting certificates to candidates
20 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL
OF NURSING
AND MIDWIFERY
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 21
The School of Nursing and
Midwifery aims to continue to be
innovative, flexible and responsive
to our potential student population
in our educational approach.
22 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL
OF NURSING
AND MIDWIFERY
During the annual conferring, which took place on June 16, 2014, 135 degrees in nursing
were awarded. During the ceremony awards were presented for the best hospital-based clinical
tutors as chosen by Final Year nursing students.
At the conferring ceremony in November, the families of two nursing students, Ms Ramla Ali
Ahmed Qassim Ahmed and Manal Adel Mohamed Qamber, who died in a tragic car accident
on their way to clinical placement were presented with Aegrotat Awards.
At the start of start of the academic year, 490 students were registered with the School’s nursing
education programmes
The families of the two nursing
students who died in a traffic accident
receiving Aegrotat awards at the
November conferring ceremony
In December, a significant development during the year was the signing of a contract between
the University and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) to provide the BSc Nursing
Bridging education programme in Saudi Arabia. Staff from the School of Nursing & Midwifery
in Bahrain regularly travel to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia to deliver the programme’s individual
modules. There are 20 candidates registered with the University for the programme.
During the year three curriculum review teams were established to review the BSc Nursing, BSc
Bridging and MSc Nursing programmes. This is the first major review since the commencement
of the programmes.
High-quality clinical learning environments are essential to clinical competency developments
in nursing. It is significant, therefore, that during this academic year, nursing students at RCSI
Bahrain were offered clinical placements in the King Hamad University Hospital. This important
collaboration, alongside our other partner institutions – the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital,
Salmaniya Medical Complex and several primary care centres in Bahrain – which provides a
strong base for clinical learning at RCSI Bahrain.
A new clinical Teaching & Learning Committee has been established in the School and
includes representation from our clinical partner institutions and the University. A review
of Clinical Tutor job descriptions and new policy and procedures have been agreed.
More than 80 nursing students attended a Basic Life Support (BLS) course, provided by
the American Heart Association. Following examination, the students were certified as BLS
providers.
Professor Sameer Otoom presents the
Clinical Tutor Award to Ms. Cini G.
Thankachan from King Hamad
University Hospital
The School celebrated International Nurses Day on May 13, 2014. Among those who attended
were representatives from other health service institutions and the event included a scientific
seminar and a range of social and interactive activities conducted by nursing students and
lecturers.
Through the School’s ongoing work to develop the Ruffaida Honor Nursing Society, membership
numbers have increased, which include registered nurses and students.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 23
Professor Seamus Cowman
Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery
During 2014, three well-attended events were held. The Rufaida Honor Nursing Society
organised a successful Nursing Careers Day at RCSI Bahrain for graduating students, attended
by more than 200 students and staff from RCSI Bahrain and the College of Health Sciences,
University of Bahrain.
In April, a new blog for the Rufaida Honor Nursing Society, www.ruffaidahonorysociety.com
was launched and in November, an induction ceremony for new fellows took place, at which
Professor Rowaida Al-Ma’aitah from Jordan University of Science & Technology was the keynote
speaker.
As part of her PhD, Ms Eman Tawash, nursing lecturer, produced a video on nursing as a career
in Bahrain. The PhD study aims to identify factors that influence high-school students and their
parents in choosing nursing as a career. It also explores strategies to promote nursing.
More than 200 students and academic
staff from RCSI Bahrain and the
College of Health Sciences in the
University of Bahrain attending a
Nursing Careers Day at the University
In promoting nursing as a career, the video will inform high-school students in both government
schools and private schools, as well as their parents and career advisors. The video will be used
for research purposes and utilised as a marketing tool for nursing recruitment in Bahrain.
Dr Catherine O’Neill and Mr Sultan
Muhammad launching a website for
the Rufaida Honor Nursing Society
The Rufaida Honor Nursing Society hosted a
very successful Nursing Careers Day on the 3rd
June
In January, I was appointed to the Lancet Commission in England to be part of an international
committee undertaking a review of Nursing in England.
24 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL OF
POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES
& RESEARCH
The mission of RCSI Bahrain in
research is to improve human health
through clinical and laboratory based
research informed by bedside
problems, societal and global health
challenges.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 25
26 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
SCHOOL OF
POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES
& RESEARCH
The School of Postgraduate Studies and Research plays an important role in RCSI Bahrain.
It provides access to fourth-level education and encourages research within the remit of the
University’s Strategic Plan 2012-2017, which outlines the following three objectives:
• Developing research-active staff
• Promoting research-led teaching and learning
• Developing a small number of key thematic areas and research clusters
In October, four faculty from Kochi
University visited RCSI Bahrain and
participated in a research workshop
Research
The University’s research capacity continues to grow slowly but surely. It is hoped that the
recent commission by The Health Education Council in Bahrain of Stanford University to assist
in developing a national research strategy, will facilitate the further development of the local
research centre. In the meantime, RCSI Bahrain is seeking to increase its internal expenditure
on research.
One highlight of the year has been the establishment within RCSI Bahrain of two MSc by
Research students assisting Dr Claire Donnellan in her research on “Predictors of vascular
cognitive impairment post stroke in a Bahraini cohort: A case-control proposed comparison”.
This research is a collaborative project with the Neurology Department at the Salmaniya Medical
Complex and the Al-Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine.
Another highlight of the year was the PhD graduation of Dr Ghufran Jassim. Dr Jassim graduated
from RCSI Dublin and was awarded her PhD at the ceremony in Bahrain for her research titled
“Quality of life of Bahraini women with breast cancer”.
Collaboration continues with SBI Pharmaceutical, a Japanese company producing a food
supplement, 5 aminolevulinic acid. Three projects are underway: Professor Martin Corbally is
developing research into the use of this compound in photodynamic diagnosis, photodynamic
therapy and screening of various cancers; Professor David Whitford is developing a clinical
trial of the use of 5 ALA in diabetes control, and Dr Edwina Brennan is looking into anti-fungal
properties of 5-ALA.
Dr Michael Keogh continues a research collaboration with Professor Kevin McGuigan in RCSI
Dublin on the SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) project. He is also working with Dr Khalifa
Elmusharaf in developing research in Sudan on medicinal properties of gum arabic.
Dr Ghufran Jassim receiving her PhD
parchement from Dr Maurice Manning,
Chancellor, National University of Ireland
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 27
Professor David L Whitford
Head of School of Postgraduate Studies
& Research
Summer Student Research
Enthusiasm for research among students continues with RCSI Bahrain’s funding of 11 student
research projects for the summer of 2014. In addition, the University produced 14 research
publications in the past year and awarded eight research grants totaling BD41,000 to faculty.
Postgraduate Studies
RCSI Bahrain is committed to providing more opportunities for postgraduate studies, both
research and taught, on a comprehensive ladder of continuing education. This includes
extending the numbers of taught programmes at Masters level and moving towards the
provision of PhD opportunities. Presently, there are 10 faculty engaged in Doctoral studies.
The University continues to deliver taught programmes (Masters in Nursing), as well as hosted
programmes delivered through the Institute of Leadership (Masters in Healthcare Management
and Masters in Quality & Safety in Healthcare Management).
Dr Claire Donnellan with two MSc
research students, Dr Mona Abdulla and
Dr Noor Ghuloom.
Dr Kevin McGuigan, RCSI Dublin with Dr Michael Keogh and Dr Khalifa Elmusharaf presenting at
RCSI Dublin’s research day on the 20th March
“Physicians are no more likely
to intervene in conditions where
simple therapeutic changes
are necessary as opposed to
complex changes. Greater clinical
inertia leads to poorer outcomes.
There continues to be substantial
clinical inertia in routine clinical
practice.”
Whitford, D. L., Al-Anjawi, H.
A., Al-Baharna, M. M. Impact of
clinical inertia on cardiovascular
risk factors in patients with
diabetes. Primary Care Diabetes
2014; 8:133-138
28 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
QUALITY
ASSURANCE &
ENHANCEMENT
REVIEW
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 29
A Professional Development
Unit was established in February,
which supports staff in enabling
each individual to reach their full
potential and develop collective
excellence.
30 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
QUALITY
ASSURANCE &
ENHANCEMENT
REVIEW
In keeping with RCSI Bahrain’s Strategic Plan, to embrace a culture of quality within the University
and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, the Professional Development Unit (PDU)
was established in February 2014. The PDU supports all staff to enable each individual to reach
their full potential and develop collective excellence.
The remit of the PDU is to promote and where appropriate, provide support in:
• Staff Development
• Teaching & Learning
• Healthcare Professions Research
The PDU has conducted a training needs analysis (TNA) of all clinical lecturers in medicine and
all academic and administrative staff in the University. A professional development programme
has been implemented, based on the TNA for both clinical and academic staff.
To support the work of the PDU a health professions education working group (HPEWG) has
been set up with the remit to stimulate and support a culture of faculty and staff excellence. It
will promote and enhance best practice in teaching and learning to improve the quality of the
student experience.
The PDU supports all staff to
enable each individual to reach
their full potential and develop
collective excellence
RCSI Bahrain staff attending the Education Forum in Dublin in June
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 31
Dr Kathryn Strachan
Head of Quality Enhancement
National Qualifications Framework - Pilot Programme Mapping
The RCSI Bahrain BSc Nursing undergraduate programme was successfully validated as part of a pilot to map the programme for level and
credit against the new National Qualifications Framework.
Institutional Listing - Pilot Programme
RCSI Bahrain participated and gained full approval in an Institutional Listing pilot programme to map academic policies and procedures
against international standards.
Surveys
In 2013-2014, the Quality Enhancement office developed staff, student, employer and alumni surveys. The staff survey has been conducted
and assessed progress in achieving the key performance indicators of the strategic plan, and the findings were presented at the staff Town
Hall meetings. The results are below.
1. RCSI Bahrain Staff Survey
Summary of overall responses (56%)
Rating status by pillar
Pillar
Positive
Negative
Blank/Neutral
g
positive61.69%
Community Engagement 87
0
13
g
negative15.15%
Teaching & Learning
84
1
14
g
neutral18.12%
Research*
42
17
40
g
blank5.04%
*note respondents recognized early stage
in development and commitment for future
development
2. RCSI Bahrain Alumni Survey
The design of the alumni survey is based on the CareerEdge’s employability tool. The employer
and alumni surveys are interrelated and are mapped against the medicine and nursing graduate
profiles. These two surveys will be used on an annual basis to gain information on the quality of
RCSI Bahrain graduates and their respective programmes of study.
Results of the student, employer and alumni surveys will be published during the next academic
year, 2014 – 2015.
New staff members
In February, Ms Amal Al-Gallaf joined the Quality Enhancement Office as the Quality Officer. Ms
Amal has considerable experience as an academic member of staff in the Language & Culture
Unit and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at the British University in Dubai.
Staff during a training course being run
by the Professional Development Unit
In July, Ms Sumaya Hashim returned from RCSI Dublin following completion of her MSc in Health
Professions Education to join the Professional Development Unit as administrative coordinator.
With both Ms Al-Gallaf’s and Ms Hashim’s assistance, the Quality Enhancement Office will grow
from strength to strength.
32 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
RCSI Bahrain recognises the significance
of education and health management in
both the life of an individual and within the
community. It is committed to finding ways
in which to give back to our communities in
Bahrain. We support and salute the efforts of
many of our staff and students who volunteer
their time and skills on a continued basis.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 33
34 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
More than 60 students participated
in the RCSI Bahrain Science Fair as
part of the Foundation Year Elective
The Community Engagement Office aims to support the University’s strategic goals; to expand
on the foundations of the University’s mission and vision and to remain in line with the “2030
Framework” for the Kingdom of Bahrain (Al Manamah Document).
The office is supported by staff and students who volunteer their time and business acumen.
Professor Riyadh Hamzah, the Higher
Education Council’s Secretary General,
and Professor Sameer Otoom, President
of RCSI Bahrain, inspect the winning
entries in the Health Awareness Awards
The Paediatric Diabetes Mobile Unit
A two-year collaborative pilot project between the Bahrain Diabetes Society (BDS) and the
University was completed in June 2014. Centered around educational and awareness activities
in relation to a healthy lifestyle and fitness, the Paediatric Diabetes Mobile Unit has educated
1206 primary school children in both government and private schools within Bahrain. This
project is supported by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Rotary Club of
Manama and Lilly.
Incorporated into the School of Nursing curriculum, 54 undergraduate nursing volunteers from
Year 3 collaborated during the two-year pilot programme. This same group also supported
and participated in the many diabetic-related external events such as the 2013 BDS Diabetes
Walkathon, 2013 Diabetic Picnic, 2013 and 2014 IKNS Health Awareness Days, 2013 and 2014
Shurooq Camp, BNI Arad Bay Walkathon, Durrat Day in support of BDS, and the 2014 RCSI
Bahrain Charity Challenge.
Charity Challenge
In November 2013, the Charity Challenge – an annual event based on the concept of a physical
challenge – saw a team of staff and students circumnavigate Bahrain in open seas kayaks (165
kilometres) in three days. The challenge raised BD6000 which was donated to the Bahrain
Diabetes Society Insulin Pump Programme. Two paediatric candidates were presented with the
insulin pumps in the presence of H. E (Dr) Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, President
of the Bahrain Diabetes Society, family, staff and media at an event in RCSI Bahrain in February
2014.
The Community Engagement Office supports the Charity Challenge, which is the brainchild of
Dr Declan Gaynor.
Staff and students at the completion
of their charity challenge in Amwaj
Marina, Amwaj Islands
Foundation Year Elective, Outreach
A programme in which undergraduate medical students can earn credits for their participation
in the RCSI Bahrain Outreach Programme under the umbrella of the ‘Professionalism’ elective,
is now in its third year.
During this six-week programme, students attend a variety of selected community projects on
a voluntary basis, which are completed with a report and presentation. Participating groups
included Alia for Early Intervention; Little Starz Pre-school; Batelco Care Centre for Family
Violence; Be-Free Center; Hope Institute for Special Education; Durrat Al Riffa Senior Social
Club and the RIA Institute.
The elective exposes the students to a variety of support mechanisms available in the Kingdom,
which, for many participants, was their first form of community engagement.
As the Outreach elective is the most requested by Foundation Year students, it will now be part
of extracurricular credit in the coming Foundation Year.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 35
Ms Julie Sprakel
Head of Community Engagement
Staff and student Community Engagement volunteers support a
number of other events throughout the year. They support charity
events as marshals and volunteers or utilise their clinical knowledge
by supporting healthcare clinics in areas such as non-invasive
blood pressure, health awareness techniques, body mass index,
glucometre analysis, and data collection for research.
These events include:
• Health Awareness Days
• Shurooq Camp for children with diabetes
• Blood Donation Drive
The Community Engagement Office has been a major supporter
of a University policy on reduced printing and recycling paper
waste. The Office has overseen the introduction of recycling bins
throughout the University.
Each year the Community Engagement Office organises blood
donation drives among staff and students
Health Awareness Awards
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Community
Engagement Office successfully piloted a Health Awareness
Awards project to raise awareness of pertinent health matters
among Bahrain’s teenage population.
Directed at Year 11 and 12 students in the government school
system, the scheme aims to enable the students to have a better
understanding of current health issues among young people in
Bahrain.
Each of the 28 submissions from nine different schools was judged
on three main aspects: clarity of the health issue; the written brief
and graphical impact.
Students Ms Zina Al Haddad and Ms Hawra
Al Nasooh on the International Community
Engagement trip to Vietnam with Professor
Martin Corbally and a team from Operation
Child Life
International Community Engagement
Cooperating with health-focused institutions and international charitable organisations in neighbouring developing countries, RCSI Bahrain
initiated support in cooperation with Action Ireland for a visit to Lesotho in February for the second time, and Vietnam, in collaboration with
Operation Child Life, in March.
In February, one member of faculty from the School of Nursing and four final-year students from nursing and medicine, travelled to Lesotho
in southern Africa.
The students worked with local healthcare workers alongside a GP, a dentist and nurses from Ireland. They were also involved in community
projects, assisting in hospital refurbishment and teaching and training e.g. Basic Life Support with Dublin Fire Brigade which was delivered
to staff members in the Roma College of Nursing and St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma.
In March, two undergraduate students travelled to Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. The students were part of an Operation Child Life Volunteer
team, providing surgical services and care to patients at the Children’s Hospital.
36 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 37
RCSI Bahrain students are
involved in several
extra-curricular activities,
with highlights during
the year including the
International Festival and
Clubs and Societies Day.
38 RCSI Annual Report 2013/14
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
THERE ARE 25 CLUBS AND SOCIETIES IN
RCSI BAHRAIN WHICH HELP CELEBRATE
INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY
Student Activities
As well as providing top-level academic programmes, RCSI Bahrain offers a variety of
extracurricular activities which strive to make the overall student experience well-balanced and
worthwhile.
Students are invited to join the annual Model United Nations Conference, International Night
and the Clubs and Societies Day, in addition to a range of sports, social and other activities
organised throughout the year alongside more than 25 established clubs and societies within
RCSI Bahrain’s Student Council. There are also further opportunities to suit the University’s
culturally-diverse student population.
Some of the main events throughout the year included:
Clubs and Societies Day
Clubs and Societies Day took place at start of the academic year. It provided an opportunity for
established clubs and societies to showcase their activities and attract more members, and for
new students to see all that the University has to offer.
International Festival
The International Festival has quickly become one of the most popular events at RCSI Bahrain.
All students are invited to join in and celebrate their respective countries with traditional foods,
traditional clothing and entertainment. With such a diverse range of nationalities represented
at the college, including GCC states, African, European and Asian countries as well as North
and South America, the International Festival provides a fascinating insight to what, for many,
are new tastes and cultures.
Winter Ball
The annual Winter Ball continues to
be one of the biggest events of the
academic year. Taking on a different
theme each year, the black tie ball
invites students and staff to put their
gowns and tuxedos to good use at one
of Bahrain’s top hotels.
St. Patrick’s Day
RCSI Bahrain went green on March 17
to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. In similar
fashion to Bahrain National Day, the
St Patrick’s Day celebrations featured
displays of Irish food and dance as well
as plenty of fun and games for staff and
students.
RCSI Committed to Education Excellence 39
Skin Disease Symposium
This symposium was organised and
held by RCSI Bahrain students in April.
The symposium on dermatology, which
included poster illustrations of common
skin diseases, attracted a large number of
students, including some from the Arabian
Gulf University. The speakers were from
various health institutions in Bahrain.
Bahrain National Day
The month of December could not pass without celebrating Bahrain’s National Day (December
16) and, like so many on the island, we here at RCSI Bahrain like to go all out. With the atrium
of the main campus decked out in the colours of the Bahraini flag, celebrations included henna
painting, dance performances and live cooking of traditional Bahraini fare.
Homecoming
Traditionally, the first major social event on the calendar, Homecoming serves as a ”welcome
back to university” for returning students after the summer holidays and it also provided a
great opportunity for new students to mingle and be introduced to others in different classes.
Talent Show
Run by the Student Council in conjunction with the Student Services office, the annual Talent
Show is the perfect showcase for the students’ varied and often previously-hidden talents.
Over the last couple of years, the Elite Seef Residence has provides a superb setting for an
eclectic mix of performances including song, dance, instrumentals and monologues.
Mr
Stephen
Harrison-Mirfield
presenting Student Council President,
Ms Mahwesh Niaz with the Mahwesh
Niaz Award. This Award has been
introduced to honour Ms Mahwesh’s
outstanding contribution to the
Student body
Clubs and Societies Awards Ceremony
The annual Clubs and Societies Awards night in May marked the official culmination of this
year’s student events calendar and once again took place in the extravagant surroundings of
the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Reflecting the development of RCSI Bahrain’s clubs and societies as well
as the Student Council itself, the event provided an opportunity to acknowledge contributions
made towards college life, by clubs, societies, sports teams, individuals and events.
In April, Mr Tom Hanratty was appointed Student Services Manager. Thank you to Ms
May Maher, Events Manager, who looked after Student Events prior to Mr Hanratty’s
appointment.
RCSI Bahrain
Building 2441, Road 2835
Block 228, Busaiteen
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel: +973 1735 1450
Fax: +973 1733 0806
Email: info@rcsi-mub.com
www.rcsi-mub.com