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From Castlebar - County Mayo - Ken Wright An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD launches Mayo Medical Academy Programme at Mayo General Hospital Mayo General Hospital, in a unique partnership with the National University of Ireland, Galway and the GMIT in Castlebar, launched a new Medical Academy for the training of doctors at the Castlebar site. The programme was officially launched by An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD yesterday, 9 January 2012. The Mayo Medical Academy received its first batch of 20 student doctors on 3 January and a further batch of 20 students will arrive in September. These 20 students will spend a total period of 20 weeks at Mayo General Hospital.
For many years, Mayo General Hospital has proven to be a very popular destination for medical students from various universities throughout Ireland and overseas. Credit goes to many Consultants, past and present, who have given freely of their time to teach medical students in the various clinical specialties at Mayo General Hospital. The majority of the medical students rotated from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the hospital also developed considerable linkages with universities in Germany. The arrangements, as such, were generally informal and contact was usually initiated by students to individual Consultants.
Historically, Mayo General Hospital has benefited very significantly from its continuing contact with medical students. The hospital always received high ratings from the medical students from the National University of Ireland, Galway and, in general, the standard of Intern at Mayo General Hospital is extremely high. A recent Medical Council visit to Mayo General Hospital testified to the very high standard of Intern at the hospital and the Intern Teaching Programme was also considered to be one of the best in Ireland.
The development of a Teaching Academy at Mayo General Hospital has been discussed over the last number of years and is now to become reality. Mr Kevin Barry, Consultant Surgeon, has recently been appointed as Dean of Medical Education at Mayo General Hospital on behalf of the medical school at the National University of Ireland in Galway. Four medical tutors from various clinical specialities at Mayo General Hospital and a secretary have also been appointed. The plan is to have the teaching programme up and running beginning January 2012.
The Mayo Medical Academy will receive its first batch of 20 students in early January 2012. Each medical student will rotate through five modules, each of four weeks duration. The modules include exposure to human diseases in the areas of gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, acute care and care of the elderly programmes. The content of the teaching programme is laid down by the medical school at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The plan is to reproduce the exact teaching programme at Mayo General Hospital in order to ensure consistency and preparation for student examinations. All clinical specialties at Mayo General Hospital will become involved in the teaching programme over time as the teaching programme is rolled out gradually and in a co-ordinated manner.
The development of the Mayo Medical Academy is a strategic investment by the National University of Ireland, Galway. The fact that GMIT has agreed to work with the Hospital and the University in setting up the Academy will ensure that Castlebar will have the highest quality facilities, expertise and training Mr Kevin Barry, Consultant Surgeon and Dean of Medical Education, Mayo General Hospital, states; "I would like to acknowledge the support from the GMIT in bringing this project to fruition, in particular Barbara Burns (Head of Campus), who were extremely helpful in putting their impressive range of facilities at our disposal. I would also like to thank Professor Fidelma Dunne from the NUIG, who has supported the development of the Medical Academy in Castlebar".
"This development of the academy means that Mayo General Hospital will become part of an officially recognised teaching network. I believe that everybody will accept in time that this development is of strategic importance to the hospital itself and will help to safeguard the future viability of Mayo General Hospital during these recessionary times," Mr Barry added. Charlie Meehan, General Manager, Mayo General Hospital, has welcomed the development, stating; "The development of a teaching academy at Mayo General Hospital comes at a critical time in the reform of our health services nationally. The development of a teaching academy at Mayo General Hospital will enhance the hospital's reputation and contribute over time to even higher standards of patient care in all of our clinical departments."
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