Connected, RCSI Newsletter, May 2016 RCSI Bahrain gains Arab association membership RCSI Bahrain has been granted full membership of the Manager, Fadi Ghosn, accepted the membership Association of Arab Universities (AARU), following its 49th certificate from AARU Secretary General, Dr Sultan Abu General Assembly meeting, attended by university Orabi. President, Professor Sameer Otoom in Al Ain, UAE last month. The membership award comes on the back of a self- assessment report submitted to the association and a site visit conducted by a representative delegation earlier this year. The AARU works within the framework of the Arab League, with the objective of supporting and connecting its 280 member institutions from 22 countries around the region and enhancing cooperation among them. RCSI Bahrain Recognition, Careers and Alumni Mr Ghosn receives the certificate from Dr Abu Orabi British Ambassador visits Professor Otoom speaks RCSI Bahrain campus at JUST conference

Profesor Otoom presents a gift to Ambassador Martin Professor Otoom and Dr Shannon with Prof Al Shayyab, left His Excellency Simon Martin CMG, British Ambassador to RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom and The Kingdom of Bahrain, visited the university last month Institute of Leadership (IOL) Programmes Director and for a tour of the campus and a meeting with the Executive Senior Lecturer, Dr Michael Shannon, travelled to Irbid, Committee (EXCO). Jordan last month, for Jordan University of Science and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Stephen Harrison- Technology’s (JUST) eighth international medical Mirfield guided Ambassador Martin on the tour, before conference. a meeting with President, Professor Sameer Otoom and The conference was attended by more than 1000 fellow EXCO members to discuss the university’s ongoing participants from different countries and addressed a activities. variety of subjects in medical practice and medical Previously the Deputy Private Secretary to Their education. Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess Professor Otoom was one of a number of of Cornwall, Mr Martin joined the UK’s Foreign and international speakers, alongside those from the UK, the Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1984 and was US and Canada, as he presented the experience of RCSI appointed Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to The Bahrain in professionalism and its integration in the Kingdom of Bahrain in September 2015. medical curriculum and the graduate medical profile. The visit coincided with a series of celebrations taking Dr Shannon and Professor Otoom also took the place across Bahrain on the occasion of the 200th opportunity to meet with JUST President, Professor anniversary of relations between Bahrain and the UK, Mahmoud Al Sheyyab to discuss possible collaboration in including and a symposium to promote collaborations relation to postgraduate programmes run by the IOL. with UK institutions earlier this year. University President, Professor Sameer Otoom, visited the EXCO members visit UoB University of Bahrain (UoB) campus in Sakhir last month, where he met with its recently-appointed President, Professor Riyad Hamzah, and discussed potential collaborative projects between the two institutions. Professor Otoom, who was accompanied by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin; Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman and Head of School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Professor Davinder Sandhu, took the opportunity to congratulate Professor Hamzah on his appointment, which was announced in a Royal Decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in late March. Previously serving as Vice-president of Arabian Gulf University (AGU) from 1994 to 2005, Professor Hamzah has worked closely with RCSI Bahrain over the last five Professors Cowman, McMenamin and Otoom with Professor years, particularly in his role as Secretary General of the Hamzah Higher Education Council (HEC). RCSI Bahrain extends portfolio of collaborators

Dr Abel and Professor Otoom Professor Otoom with Dr Al-Sayed RCSI Bahrain signed a pair of Memorandums of A second MoU was signed in April with the region’s first Understanding (MoU) last month that will offer medical diabetes-devoted medical centre; Gulf Diabetes students further opportunities for valuable clinical Specialist Center. experience at facilities around the country. The main objective of this association is to promote The first agreement saw the university team up with international understanding and collaboration between the German Orthopaedic Hospital to offer students the the two parties with regard to educational, research and opportunity to apply to attend the Zinj-based facility for professional activities. clinical and research electives and clinical training and The MoU was signed during a meeting between experience. Professor Otoom and Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center The MoU was signed during a meeting between RCSI Medical Director, Dr Nasreen Al-Sayed. Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom and German Under the terms of the memorandum, RCSI Bahrain Orthopaedic Hospital Acting Medical Director, Dr Heiner students will have the opportunity to apply for clinical or Abel. research electives at the centre. As per the terms of the agreement, the two parties The two parties are also hoping to work together on will jointly appoint a designated member of the hospital a series of collaborative research projects, joint-venture staff to coordinate and supervise the clinical electives, in lectures and symposia, exchange academic information liaison with RCSI Bahrain’s Vice President for Academic and materials and promote further academic cooperation Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe down the line. McMenamin. Opened in 2004, Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center is the Both parties are also keen to collaborate on joint region’s first medical facility devoted entirely to the research activities, conferences and other educational and treatment of diabetes and related complications. academic activities. These latest announcements mark a significant This is a first working agreement between RCSI Bahrain enhancement of RCSI Bahrain’s portfolio of collaborators, and the German Orthopaedic Hospital and is a reflection which already includes many of the country’s hospitals as of the hospital’s mission to expand into extensive patient well as entities overseas, and could attract students for care, research and education. clinical electives as soon as the upcoming summer break. RCSI Bahrain hosts Colorectal Cancer workshop A special workshop took place at the university last month Roche representatives also took the opportunity to meet to raise awareness of colorectal cancer. with RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, to Nursing students, local media and representatives of discuss further collaboration between the two parties. non-governmental organisations, including members of According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Rotary Club of , took part in the workshop, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was organised by the Community Engagement colorectal cancer – also commonly referred to as bowel department, in collaboration with the Rufaida Honor cancer, colon cancer or rectal cancer – is the second most Nursing Society and Hoffman-La Roche (Roche) common cancer worldwide, after lung cancer and the pharmaceutical company. third most common cancer in men and women in the The event featured a presentation by Roche Oncology Kingdom of Bahrain. Manager for the Gulf region, Dr Fahmi Bahgat, on some of Among causes found to contribute towards colorectal the myths, facts and statistics behind colorectal cancer. cancer are old age, high-calorie/fatty diet, obesity, RCSI Bahrain Director of Nursing Bridging Programme smoking, physical inactivity, high alcohol intake, Crohn’s and Vice President of the Rufaida Honor Nursing Society, Disease, previous history of cancer and genetics. Dr Husain Ali Nasaif, highlighted research findings of a Following the conclusion of the workshop, organisers new study on colorectal cancer awareness, while the will make their way to Al Malkiyah Beach, where Bahrain Cancer Society outlined its activities in fighting representatives of Roche will inflate a giant colon the disease and how the media can assist in highlighting model, as an educational demonstration of colorectal the problem of colon cancer. cancer symptoms.

Media Representatives Attending the Workshop Organisers and student volunteers at Malkiyah beach

RCSI Bahrain and SCW supporting the advancement of Bahraini women A delegation from the Supreme Council for Women activities between the two parties. (SCW) visited the campus last month to discuss plans for At the earlier meeting, the attendees agreed to initially collaborative efforts in support of the advancement of focus on Impact Factors of Quality of Life and Lifelong Bahraini women. Learning. The delegation, which was led by SCW Assistant A joint committee, featuring Dr Jassim, Ms Hashim, RCSI Secretary General, Her Excellency, Dhaweya Al Alawi, Bahrain’s Head of Community Engagement, Julie Sprakel, met with senior university officials, including President, and senior SCW representatives, was established at that Professor Sameer Otoom. time, with the aims of identifying opportunities for health The SCW delivered a presentation on the National awareness campaigns and outreach programmes; consider Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women, while possible research topics and explore possibilities for a Professional Development Unit (PDU) Coordinator, Sumaya scholarship. Hashim, highlighted RCSI Bahrain’s efforts to support the advancement of Bahraini women. Female Bahraini staff members; Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, Dr Ghufran Jassim; Quality Officer, Amal AlGallaf; Director of BSc (Hons) Nursing Programme, Eman Tawash; English Language Lecturer, Sireen AlAradi and Arabic Language Course Coordinator, Rabab AlMouqahwi, also spoke about the respective research projects they have undertaken on the back of support from the university. The meeting followed on from a visit by senior RCSI officials to the SCW offices at the end of March, when a proposal was presented for a number of collaborative SCW representatives and RCSI Bahrain staff at the meeting Professor Sameer Otoom attends international education debate in Abu Dhabi RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom joined Nuaimi, and Microsoft Worldwide Education Vice fellow educators and business leaders in debating the President, Anthony Salcito. merits of national curriculums at the inaugural Bett Topics covered included the influence of game- Middle East Leadership Forum and Expo in Abu Dhabi changing EdTech (Education Technology) on the quality of last month. education in the region, management of security risks in a Organised by global education technology exhibition digital learning environment, and improving standards of and congress series, Bett, in partnership with the Abu English and Arabic through digital language learning. Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the event aimed to discuss the transformation of education in the Middle East, whilst promoting the discovery of technology and knowledge to enhance lifelong learning across the regional academic landscape. Representatives of a host of well-known global organisations and regional educational bodies attended the event, which included a series of keynote addresses, speeches, and interactive panel discussions. Among the keynote speakers were British Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency, Philip Parham; Abu Dhabi Education Council Director General, Dr Ali Rashid Al Professor Otoom during the debate

Nursing students to RCSI Bahrain welcomes attend Taiwan training Rotary delegation Senior officials from Rotary International’s regional governing body visited the university earlier this year for an introduction to the campus and the ongoing collaboration with the Rotary Club of Manama. The delegation was led by Rotary International District 2452 Governor, Mustafa Nasereddin and Deputy Governor Sebahat Isik, and also included Rotary Club of Manama President, Raj Damani. The meeting focused on the work of the Paediatric Mobile Diabetes Unit, which is run by RCSI Bahrain’s Community Engagement Department, in association with the Bahrain Diabetes Society. The mobile unit was originally donated to the Bahrain Diabetes Society by the Rotary Club of Manama in 2012. The delegation also met with RCSI Bahrain senior management, including President, Professor Sameer Mr Chen is received by RCSI Bahrain staff members Otoom, Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin, Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, N3 students Zainab Mohamed Ahmed, Farah Sunji and Professor Seamus Cowman and Chief Operating Officer, Ayesha Barakat will attend the Complementary Therapy Stephen Harrison-Mirfield. Programme at the National Tapei University of Nursing During the meeting, Professor Otoom acknowledged and Health Sciences (NTUNHS) in Taiwan in July. the long-standing relationship between the university The news was announced during the visit of the des- and the Rotary Club and opened discussion on further ignated representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan, collaboration and the formation of a joint-board. Michael Chen, to the campus last month. RCSI Bahrain and NTUNHS signed a collaboration agreement back in 2012 and this year marks the first time students from Bahrain will have the opportunity to visit the institution. The programme is open to international students from sister and partner schools overseas, as well as individuals with a particular interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Taiwanese culture, and provides a special opportunity to focus on such learnings through lectures, hands-on practices and hospital visits. Rotary officials and RCSI Bahrain staff during the visit Sara Hussain Nasaif wins Crown Prince’s Scholarship Sara Hussain Nasaif, daughter of RCSI Bahrain Director of students that took part in training sessions, courses and a Nursing Bridging programme, Dr Husain Ali Nasaif, has number of tests over recent months. been announced as one of the winners of the All applicants were required to have a GPA of 97% or prestigious Crown Prince’s International Scholarship higher, with Sara’s personal GPA currently standing at 99%. Programme (CPISP) for 2016. Set to graduate in June, Sara plans to attend the Hun The 17-year-old Secondary School School of Princeton in the US for two years, before pupil was one of ten selected for the coveted prize from enrolilng to study Industrial Engineering at Massachusetts a group of more than 60 private and government school Institute of Technology or Harvard University.

Sara, front row, fourth from left, and Dr Nasaif, front row, second from right, pictured alongside His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister and fellow scholars and family members

Four RCSI Bahrain students to take part in summer research initiative RCSI Bahrain students will take up half of the available in Suzhou, China for the same period. places on this year’s RCSI International Research Summer Groups of students from those host universities School (IRSS) programme. meanwhile, will travel to RCSI in Dublin. IC1 students Maryam Alzeera, Yousef Ashraf Ishaq Organised through RCSI’s School of Pharmacy, the IRSS Abousedu, Fatema Ahmed Hamza Ahmed Ali and Maryam is a student exchange programme open to Intermediate Shaikh Nasser will travel to Asia in July, after finishing Cycle medical students from across RCSI’s international among the eight highest-scoring of the 54 applicants – 20 campuses. from RCSI Bahrain – for this, the second edition of the RCSI Bahrain’s Ahmed Bassim Dhaif was among six IRSS. candidates who took part in the inaugural IRSS, which was Maryam and Yousef will join two colleagues from RCSI launched as part of a wider collaboration on teaching, on an eight-week research project at the University of innovative scientific research, student training, and Hoshi in Tokyo, Japan, as Fatema and Maryam attend technology development over the coming years. Soochow University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Professor Manaf Al Qahtani new BMS Vice President RCSI Bahrain Associate Professor Al Qahtani was re-elected to the board as Vice Professor of Medicine, BDF President for the next two years in last month’s election. Hospital Infectious Diseases In his new role, Professor Al Qahtani will be tasked with and Internal Medicine liaising with healthcare organisations in Bahrain with a view Consultant and RCSI alumnus, to promoting the highest professional ethics and standards Professor Manaf Al Qahtani, has and ongoing medical research, as well as communicating been elected Vice President with international medical societies. of the Bahrain Medical Society Founded in 1972 and recognised under the Ministry of (BMS). Health, BMS is the official and authorised medical society Professor Al Qahtani Having served as BMS and currently has more than 1800 active members. General Secretary since 2014, Research clusters in focus As part of RCSI Bahrain’s focus on encouraging medical members and external collaborators interested in research and development, the School of Postgraduate laboratory research. Studies and Research recently launched a programme of After introductions and discussion on the status of research cluster groups, focusing on a variety of areas. research and equipment available at RCSI Bahrain, In this edition, we take a look at the two of the five participants presented a number of research topic areas, cluster groups: including regenerative medicine, use of curcumin and lasers. The Health Professions Education cluster is led by In addition, the group put forward proposals regarding Associate Professor in Physiology, Fiza Rashid-Doubell, future collaboration between members of staff within RCSI and is made up of a number of RCSI Bahrain faculty Bahrain as well as those with RCSI in Dublin, Arabian Gulf interested in conducting research in medical education. University (AGU) and University of Bahrain (UoB). More than 20 participants attended the first meeting, where they addressed key issues revolving around moving the research forward. From there, participants have been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss, explore and develop potential research ideas. Professor Rashid-Doubell is particularly focused on facilitating educational research at RCSI Bahrain and developing key areas for research projects. One of the key areas that the cluster is exploring is student engagement in the classroom and in clinic practice.

Associate Professor of Physics, Professor Fryad Henari has been chosen to take the lead on the Bio Science cluster group, which has also drawn in a host of faculty The Health Professions Education cluster in session Students and staff experience virtual reality surgery University staff and students last month had the lenses arranged around the theatre, the operation could opportunity to view the world’s first virtual reality live- be viewed through the “VR in OR” app, using a virtual stream operation, with thanks to the UK-based medical reality headset that can be paired with a smartphone. training group, Medical Realities. Those who did not have a headset could watch the feed The procedure – to remove cancerous tissue from live online. the bowel of a male patient – was performed by Dr The initiative was launched by Medical Realities as a Shafi Ahmed at the Royal London Hospital in the UK and means to allow medical students, trainee surgeons and screened live around the world via the Medical Realities curious members of the public to immerse themselves in website, of which Dr Ahmed is a co-founder. the procedure in real time, albeit with a one-minute delay Using virtual reality headsets, the Student Council, with incorporated into the broadcast in case of any the assistance of IC3 student Latifa Sanad, transformed complications. room 441 unto a ‘viewing station’ as staff and students According to Dr Ahmed, the new approach brings a joined hundreds of thousands of people in experiencing valuable new feature to education, allowing viewers to the procedure from the 360-degree view of one of the focus not just on what the surgeon is doing, but also on surgeons in the operating theatre. what other members of the team are up to. Shot using two 360-degree cameras and a number of

Student Council members view the live surgery Professors Frank and Wayne Cunningham catch a glimpse International visits reach out to prospective students RCSI Bahrain’s annual international school visits were in full Undeterred by the torrential weather conditions in swing over the course of the second semester, as Head of Oman, the team visited and delivered information packs Student Recruitment, Frank McCarthy, met with potential to a host of schools across the city of Muscat. future students from around the region Next on the schedule was a trip to Qatar, where Mr Aimed at secondary school counsellors and potential McCarthy took part in the annual careers fair at the Gulf healthcare students, the visits offered an opportunity for English School in Doha before hosting an information those interested in studying at RCSI Bahrain to meet with open evening at the Marriott Hotel. university officials face-to-face and ask important After attending the Education and Training questions. International Exhibition (Edutex Bahrain) 2016, the team Mr McCarthy was joined on the visits, which kicked off in was on the road again in April as it visited schools in Oman in March, by RCSI Bahrain Chief Operating Officer, Kuwait and Jordan respectively. Stephen Harrison-Mirfield and Academic Director of Admissions, Dr Declan Gaynor.

Dr Gaynor, Mr Harrison-Mirfield and Mr McCarthy in Muscat Mr McCarthy pictured at the Gulf English School Career Day RCSI Bahrain hosts blood donation drive Students and staff donated 39 units of blood to the Cen- tral Blood Bank last month, through the second and final blood donation drive of the academic year organised by the Community Engagement department. The latest effort brings to 288 the total number of units of blood donated to the Central Blood Bank since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties back in 2012. Maintenence technician Mansoor Ahmed Tariq giving blood

Professor Rashid-Doubell gains BMJ publication RCSI Bahrain Associate “A Balancing Act: A Phenomenological Exploration of Professor in Physiology, Medical Students’ Experiences of Using Mobile Devices in Professor Fiza Rashid Doubell, the Clinical Setting”, went live on the BMJ Open website along with former colleagues, last week. Dr Catherine O’ Neill, Dr The BMJ Open is an online, open access journal, Khalifa Elmusharaf and MSc dedicated to publishing medical research from all Nursing graduate, Shereen disciplines and therapeutics areas and is part of the British Mohamed, have had their Medical Journal group of publications. study focusing on the use of Upon acceptance of the article, Professor Rashid- mobile devices in the clinical Doubell reserved special thanks for Head of School of setting accepted by the BMJ Postgraduate Studies and Research, Professor Davinder Open online journal. Sandhu for his contribution. The publication, entitled: Prof Rashid-Doubell

RCSI Bahrain welcomes ‘mad scientists’ activities, while also examining students’ professionalism in engaging with the wider community in Bahrain. The undergraduates are required to organise and conduct the science fair themselves, under the supervision and assessment of their elective coordinators, and prepare a reflective report noting their experiences and how the programme might be improved. The latest visit followed on from that by a group from Nadeen School last month and brought to 215 the number of school kids to have taken part in the programme since it was launched by RCSI Bahrain back in 2013. Among previous schools to participate include Views International School, Al Mahd Day Boarding School and Lycee Francais de Bahrain.

ARKIS students with the FY participants Twenty-five primary school students from Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS) visited the campus last month for the final ‘Mad Science’ session of the school year. The ARKIS contingent was met by RCSI Bahrain Foundation Year medical students taking part in the Professionalism module, in conjunction with the Community Engagement department. After donning their own lab coats and safety goggles, the Year 4 children were brought to the multi-purpose laboratory, where the medical students demonstrated a series of science experiments. The main aim of these sessions is to develop children’s interest in science by showing them fun and challenging The young scientists look on intently RCSI Bahrain donates to Red Crescent Society RCSI Bahrain presented a cheque for over BD1200 to the Bahrain Red Crescent (BRC) Society in late March, thanks to funds raised through the university’s second annual Health Week, Community Engagement and clubs and societies activities The cheque was presented to BRC Secretary General, Dr Fawzi Amin, by RCSI Bahrain’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Stephen Harrison-Mirfield and will be directed towards providing dignity kits to displaced people, both locally and regionally, in crisis situations. Launched by the SRC team in 2015 with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyle among staff and students, RCSI Bahrain’s Health Week programme falls in line with the Dr Amin receives the cheque from Mr Harrison-Mirfield university’s overall objective of advancing human health in Bahrain.

The latest workshop focused on elements of open University hosts latest surgery, endoscopic surgery and laparoscopic surgery and featured small group workstations to focus on basic skills surgical course and techniques as well as hands-on practice and review RCSI Bahrain conducted the latest of its Basic Surgical sessions. Skills (BSS) courses in March, with 16 participants from hospitals across the country attending the two-day workshop. Coordinated by Department of Surgery Professor and Chairman, Professor Martin Corbally, the course is designed to introduce surgical trainees to safe surgical practice within a controlled environment and aims to teach, assess and certify the ability of trainees to use safe and sound surgical techniques that are common to all forms of surgery. Attendees at the workshop Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy bid farewell “On our first visit there we were met by Pearce Cole of Mercury Construction, the company who later were to build our present building. It was a typical building site at that time but he assured us that everything would be in place for the start of term on October 9th and he was true to his word.”

Claire and Dr Seamas While small changes and developments are an inevitable part of life here at RCSI Bahrain over the summer break, those returning to the campus next September are sure to notice a huge change, in the absence of two of the university’s most recognisable faces. As anyone who has stepped foot inside RCSI Bahrain since it first opened its doors back in 2004 will know, Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy have been integral parts of the university experience in that time and indeed, have become something of an institution in their own right. Sadly, the time has come to bid farewell to two of our most dedicated staff over the coming weeks and it’s safe to say that this place will never be the same again. While staff members will undoubtedly be hugely sorry to see them go, it is their rapport with the students themselves that will likely be most difficult to replicate and it was fitting to see such a huge and emotional turnout for Dr Cassidy’s final lecture last month. Before their departure, we took the opportunity to speak to Dr and Mrs Cassidy, who reflected on the changes they Dr Seamas in the lab have witnessed, what they will miss the most and what they are most looking forward to back home in Ireland. “I remember our first staff meeting,” Dr Seamas goes on. “It was a gathering of our all staff at the time; three academics, five administrators, and three visitors from Dublin. It was a short ad rem discussion admirably chaired by Professor Kevin O’Malley and the main topic was whether we would have lectures on Christmas Day.”

Claire flying the Irish flag on St Patrick’s Day “We arrived in September 2004 and the heat was unbelievable, I’d never experienced anything like it before,” recalls Claire. “The drive to the hotel is something I will never forgot, my heart was in my mouth. “The university was in Seef, it was small and intimate and Dr Seamas and Claire with Professor Kevin O’Malley, the atmosphere was lovely. Bahrain was so beautiful in its Seamus O’Boyle and Professor Sameer Otoom at the own way and after living in a green country, the contrast Tenth Anniversary Gala Dinner was amazing.” “Our first location was in the Al Saffah building in Seef,” Perhaps unsurprisingly to many, the couple were in total adds Dr Seamas. “The university had rented the first two agreement as to what they would miss most about RCSI floors but these had to be reconstructed and converted into Bahrain. lecture rooms, staff rooms, laboratories etc. “The students and my interaction with them. They are great and I loved every moment with them, I will miss that “Dr Seamas and Claire Cassidy have not just been a so much,” states Claire without hesitation. part of the RCSI Bahrain family, they have been the very “I have been teaching for fifty five years at all levels, on heart of it from our inception in 2004. Many a person a number of continents and the students in RCSI Bahrain has received a winning smile and a warm welcome from have been the most respectful, mannerly and appreciative Claire and the influence Dr Seamas has had on the many learners I have ever come across,” claims Dr Seamas. students that have passed through his classrooms can “They are enthusiastic, eager to learn and grateful for all never be underestimated. They will both be missed and that is done for them. I wish them all well and I will miss we wish them a fantastic and relaxing retirement.” them.” - COO, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield

Surrounded by students after Dr Seamas’ final lecture Looking ahead to their next adventure back in ‘the Emerald Isle’, their sporting passions particularly come to the fore. “I’m looking forward to going back to my home, my family and my friends, going to the National Concert Hall On the golf course with Professor James Finnucane and and going to see Dublin play both in hurling and football,” Professor Joe McMenamin says Claire. “I will enjoy getting back to probably the best hidden “Dr Seamus has been an excellent teacher, loved by gem of a links course called The Island in North Dublin,” his students and always available to give them extra reveals Dr Seamas. “Hail, rain or snow, it is a beautiful academic support when needed. Claire is the Irish face of place with wonderful memories. Claire and I will hope to the University as you enter its door. Claire gets to know the have many of our golfing colleagues from RCSI Bahrain students like a mother figure and is always willing to help join us there for challenging golf, long chats and current with whatever problem they have” stories of how the university is progressing.” - Head of School of Medicine and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Joe McMenamin

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with both Dr Seamas and Claire. They are not only great colleagues who inspire others around them but are among my very close friends. Dr Seamas is a dedicated and talented teacher who is second to none in the university in his display of dedication to the academic success of our students. Claire is not just a joyful and friendly presence on the front desk but also my conduit to everything that is happening on the grapevine at RCSI Bahrain. I will truly miss them both.” - Senior Chemistry Lecturer and last of the original staff members at RCSI Bahrain, Dr Declan Gaynor

Claire receives a gift on her last day

“As we know, Dr Seamas and Claire are leaving us, their second family - RCSI Bahrain, to rejoin their first family in both Dublin and France! I would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their immense dedication and loyalty over all the years, and indeed since the very inauguration of our university. This is definitely the end of an era for us all and I know they will both be very much missed by staff and students – and of course the Royal Golf Club, as well as by all the very good friends they are leaving behind. I know I speak on behalf of all of us, to wish them the happiest of retirements and many, many years of enjoying the leisurely life that they so deserve.” - RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom. A message from the students Nursing students celebrate White Uniform Ceremony The annual White Uniform Ceremony is a symbolic event based around the presentation of the uniforms and marks the entrance of first year nursing students into clinical training. Addressing the assembled students in the presence of their family members, university staff and guests, RCSI Bahrain Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman spoke about the professional roles and responsibilities of nurses, stressing the code of conduct for nursing in Bahrain. He said it was important for students to be aware of their responsibilities and understand that the profession they are joining has a lot of sanctity attached to it. The ceremony concluded with the students’ recital of Nursing students recite the professional declaration the professional declaration, through which they vowed to maintain professional attitudes and behaviours in work Sixty-four nursing students celebrated a seminal moment and relationships with classmates, teachers, patients and in their training and future careers last month, as they the community. donned their white uniforms for the first time.

Student clubs and societies honoured The university drew the curtain on its clubs and societies In the sports categories, there was no surprise when the activities for the 2015/2016 academic year with the annual Men’s Basketball Team took home the coveted Team of Student Council Awards ceremony last month. the Year trophy after their historic championship victory The Medical Research and Surgical Societies shared last month, nor when the team’s hero-of-the-hour Zaid the spoils in being named Club/Society of the Year and Marcos was named Men’s Basketball MVP. Students’ Choice Club/Society of the Year respectively. Stephanie Hsu received the Ladies’ Basketball MVP The Medical Research Society also took the Event award for the third year running, with Basil Othman of the Year award, alongside the Medics in Leadership and Sarah Al Shehabi taking the MVP gongs for Men’s Society, for their joint efforts in organising the Oncology Football and Ladies’ Football respectively. Symposium earlier this year, while the Surgical Society The Student Athlete of the Year award went to Zainab retained the Students’ Choice Event of the Year title for Saad Ali, in recognition of her achievements in sports and its second annual Surgical Careers Conference back in academia, while Mehrunissa Kaiser Anis won the Alex January. Rodrigues Award for her outstanding contribution towards The Marine Conservation and Diving Club took the the university’s sports programme. honours for the New Club/Society of the Year, the There was also time to present a special award to Neuroscience Society received the Julie Sprakel Charity Senior Lecturer in Physics, Dr Seamas Cassidy, who will be Award, while Student Council Vice-President Zoha Ahmed retiring in the coming weeks, having been part of the won the Mahwesh Niaz Award for the second successive university staff since it first opened its doors back in 2004. year.

Zainab Saad Ali receives the Student Athlete of the Year award Maryam Fareed Ashoor receives the Club/Society of the Year from SRC manager Adam Wallace award from Professor Wayne Cunningham New Student Council elected (SC1), the new Student Council President will set about assembling the full team in time for the 2016/17 academic year. The new council will officially take office as of July 15th. Speaking after making the announcement, Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, congratulated the winning team and express his thanks to all of the competing teams for their contribution to the election. In a message issued to staff and students, the new council expressed its thanks to all who supported its campaign and expressed its excitement and hopes to build on the excellent work done by the outgoing council.

The victoriuos United Council team

Outgoing IC3 medical student, Karthikaikumar Sivakumar, has been announced as the next RCSI Bahrain Student Council President, following the university’s most hotly- contested election last month. Two days of intense campaigning brought out the best in the competing teams, ‘Super Council Returns’, ‘United Council’ and ‘Action Potential: Students for Students’ but when the votes were cast through the VLE, it was Karthikaikumar and his United Council team, that emerged victorious. Along with fellow core members, Vice-President, Raheel Siddiqui (IC3), Nursing Academic Officer, Farah Sunji (N2) and Medical Academic Officer Ahmed Osama Alsayed Students turn out in force for the election campaign Alumni Talks discuss North American applications The latest Alumni Talks event featured a bumper series North American Match Facebook group, for further focusing on North American applications with three RCSI engagement with alumni on the medical school journey. Bahrain graduates, joined by one of our SC2 students and Last month also saw RCSI Bahrain graduate and former an alumnus of RCSI. staff member, Dr Alex Rodrigues, return to deliver an The talks were hosted by the Careers and Alumni Office, Alumni Talk on the subject of Sports Medicine in the UK. in collaboration with Canadian Students Society, and attracted a substantial crowd of students interested in working in the US and Canada. Participants received information on examinations leading to applications, the process and planning, visas to consider and helpful tips to take on when attending observerships and electives from RCSI Bahrain Alumni: Houston Methodist Hospital Internal Medicine Resident (July 2016), Dr Emily Gammoh; Brooklyn Hospital Center Resident, Dr Karim AlSabek and University of Ottowa Resident, Dr Tala Abu-Hijleh. RCSI alumnus and Tufts Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Fahad AlSindi meanwhile, discussed a range of topics from developments in Cardiology to how to read an ECG and current SC2 student Hari Hullur spoke about prepar- ing for Canadian exams. During the same week, Dr AlSindi conducted a series of one-on-one sessions for CV improvement and direction, while the Canadian Students Society hosted its JC2 Mock OSCE. Following the culmination of these events, students Dr AlSabek, Dr Gammoh and Dr Abu-Hijlah with fellow RCSI were encouraged to visit the newly-created RCSI Bahrain Bahrain alumni, Dr Anthony Habib and Dr Alma Hajar Student Conference and Travel Awards Over the course of the last semester, the Department of Student Development and Wellbeing has awarded several conference and travel awards to students to fund them in their professional development activities. Following N3 student Maryam Abdulhameed Abdulla’s attendance at the 35th annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education conference in Dublin in March, JC2’s Maria Mustafa also travelled to Dublin for the RCSI Research Day. Maria exhibited a poster on her research on the SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) effect on Turbid Water, which was supported by RCSI Bahrain Human Biology Lecturer and Research Laboratory Manager, Dr Michael Keogh and Senior Demonstrator and Research Assistant, Preeti Borde. Elsewhere, Alaa Mohamed Mahdi Alakri from IC3 and Hussain Mustafa Alsroo from SC2 attended the Medical Students Forum: Gulf Thoraic Congress in Dubai, while IC3 student Kiara Rebekka Verhagen will be taking part in the 12th International Tropical Medicine Summer School in Indonesia in August. Congratulations must also go to N3 students Zainab Mohamed Ahmed, Farah Sunji and Ayesha Barakat, who were selected to attend the Complementary Therapy Programme at the National Tapei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan in July. Students interested in applying for a Student Conference and Travel Award can find information on the VLE or ask at the Centre for Student Success. Maria Mustafa pictured at the RCSI Research Day in Dublin

Students make a splash at charity raft race A group of intrepid medicine and nursing students took Ali Ayaz, Toshimitzu Yue, Samreen Afroz, Bushra Ahmed, to the waters of the Al Bander Hotel and Resort in Anjali Nair and Uzma Ahmed. last month, for the 40th Charity Raft Race, organised by First held in the 1970s, the raft race has established the Rotary Club of Salmaniya. itself as the Rotary Club’s main fund-raising event of the Some 30 teams from local schools, universities, banks, year and, to date, has raised more than BD2 million for hotels, businesses and government entities from around local charity projects such as the Rehabilitation the country took part in this year event, which raised funds Centre, the Ministry of Health, Al Noor Institute, Uco for local diabetes charities. Parents Care Centre and the Bahraini Society for Mental The RCSI Bahrain team was made up of Hanaa Iftikhar, Retardation. Nalin Mathur, Mohammed Al Reefy, Manpreet Dadwal,

RCSI Bahrain students dive into the lagoon for the start of RCSI Bahrain students dive into the lagoon for the start of the raft race the raft race Bapco honours RCSI Bahrain volunteers Nursing Lecturer, Catherine Abouzaid, joined a group of communication skills and the most recent edition marked students in accepting an award from Bapco in March, on six years since RCSI Bahrain first got involved. behalf of the Community Engagement team that took part in the biennial Family Day event at Bahrain International Circuit last October. The event was part of a wider Health and Safety Week, organised by Bapco for its employees and their families and saw more than 4,000 through the gates of the BIC, where nursing and medical students joined Ms Abouzaid and Head of Community Engagement, Julie Sprakel, at the giveaway booth. The Family Day is seen as an ideal opportunity for stu- dents to interact with the general public and work on their Ms Abouzaid and student volunteers receive the award

MCP students reach out to

Acommunities group of Medical Commencement Programme (MCP) students donated more than BD150 in cash to the Palm Association as part of the inaugural MCP Community Charity Project module. The donation – raised through a flower sale in the atrium – was one of a number of charity drives to emerge from the nine-week module, which included a 40% assess- ment criteria mark and consisted of group work, proposal development and a report presentation. The programme aimed to provide students, as future healthcare leaders, with a snapshot of local non-govern- mental organisations available in Bahrain that support dif- Palm Association Chairperson Karen Tennant, right, receives the ferent arenas of the community; an important insight when cash from MCP student Aqsa Patel and MCP Director, Dr understanding what support mechanisms are available to Caroline Holden-Rachiotis support their patients. Among the other local non-governmental organisations Al Kawther Charity; the Royal Charity Organistaion; Al that benefited from the project were Alia: For Early Inter- Sanabel Orphan Care Society; Durrat Al Riffa Senior Social vention; Bahrain Down’s Syndrome Society; Hidd Charity; Club and Migrant Workers Protection Society.

Mobile Diabetes Unit hits the road The Mobile Diabetes Unit school visits restarted last interactive games and activities. month, with a team of N3 students visiting Girls Since its launch, more than 2,000 primary school stu- Primary School. dents from 34 government and private schools have taken Organised by the Community Engagement department, part in the activities, which have now become part of RCSI the school visits are aimed at educating primary school Bahrain’s nursing curriculum. students about Type II diabetes through a host of

N3 students at Zallaq Girls Primary School Children take part in games as part of the Mobile Diabetes Unit visit to Zallaq Girls Primary School Now you can view this issue online..... www.rcsibahrain.edu.bh/newsletter Student Development and Wellbeing department play stress-busters Student Development and Wellbeing department play McConalogue from the SRC. stress-busters The second event was held in conjunction with the Art The Student Development and Wellbeing Department Society, under the title; ‘Art Therapy – Wanna Querkle?’ conducted a trio of events in April for all nursing and and generated great interest and enthusiasm from the medical students to help manage stress ahead of the end- 27 student ‘artists’, who painted their own Querkles to of-year exams. soothing music and tasty pizza. The series started with a ‘Stress Buster and Exam The final event of the series saw Mr Salacup conduct a Preparation Workshop’, in which presentations were Laughter therapy session, where students learned of the made by department staff members Paddy Behan, impact of laughter in coping with stress and acquired skills Asal Kazerooni, Donna Rice, Gilbert Salacup and Dr to incorporate humour into everyday life. Zina Haddad, RCSI Bahrain alumni, as well as Alana

Students de-stress with some art therapy Mr Salacup with students at the laughter therapy session

No Smoking campaign paves way for campus policy

The Student Development and Wellbeing Unit hosted a hand to offer students and staff the opportunity to test ‘No Smoking Day’ back in March, in collaboration with The their CO levels and lung function. Ministry of Health’s Public Health Department. In the wake of the event, a proposal has been made to Set up in the main atrium, the team offered information introduce a no smoking policy across the entirety of the leaflets and advice on how to quit smoking and what kinds RCSI Bahrain campus, which is set to be implemented of treatments and clinics are available in Bahrain. over the summer break. Representatives of the Ministry of Health were also on

A student tests his lung capacity Staff with student volunteers during the ‘ No Smoking’ campaign RCSI Bahrain backs Tribal Fitness challenge RCSI Bahrain is rowing in behind a unique, two-part sporting quest, which is set to come to a close later this month. The first part of the Tribal Fitness Run and SUP Expedition saw Tribal Fitness owner and founder, Craig Heslop, run the full length of Bahrain – from Amwaj to Hadd Al Bahrain – in an impressive time of just under 12 hours last month. The 67km run took Mr Heslop from Amwaj, across , along the Sitra Causeway, past Askar, Jow, Shaikh Isa Airbase and , right down to the southernmost tip of Bahrain at Hadd al Bahrain. On May 5th, Mr Heslop and his friend, Hussain Bader, owner of Sport Marine Supplies, will embark on the Mr Heslop (middle), with Tribal Fitness colleagues and SRC second stage of the challenge, a 150km SUP voyage over staff members, Adam Wallace and Alana McConalogue the course of eight days, starting from . The planned route will take the intrepid duo from Al Dar (RCO) and provides the perfect send-off for Mr Heslop, to Marassi Beach, Nurana Island, , Zallaq, who is leaving the island for pastures new this summer, around Hadd al Bahrain, to Al Dar Port and Askar, before After six years of residency. finishing back at Al Dar Island on May 12th. In line with the its aim to advance human health The event is being organised by Tribal Fitness to worldwide, the university jumped on board the project to promote the activities of the Royal Charity Organisation provide the necessary safety equipment. Students support Bahrain Spartans Medicine students Nazha AlFaraj (FY), Mohammed Al The occasion marked the end of Nazha’s elective at Shammari (FY) and Toshimitzu Yue (JC2), joined Human Intouch Clinic and provided her the chance to see ‘field Biology Lecturer, Ebrahim Rajab and the rest of the Intouch rehabilitation and medicine’ in practice. Clinic team at the inaugural Bahrain Spartan Sprint event at Organised by XDubai, Bahrain’s first Spartan event took the Bahrain International Endurance Village last month. 3,000 eager participants – including our own Associate The trio got the opportunity to observe, as athletes of Director of Marketing, Lesley Byrne – through 27 obstacles, all ages and abilities were treated for the likes of cramp, such as rope climbs, high walls, barbed wire ditches and muscle strains, rope burns and minor abrasions and treated ice pools, over the course of a gruelling 7.8km. in the recovery area, the triage and the medical tent.

Mohammed, Nazha and Toshimitzu observe Dr Rajab Ms Byrne tackles the Spartan Challenge

Professor Cowman wins latest golf outing Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Anybody interested in getting involved in the RCSI Seamus Cowman took the honours in the latest outing of Bahrain Golf Society is asked to contact Professor the RCSI Bahrain Golf Society. Cowman for further details. Launched last year as a means of providing university staff and associates an opportunity to enjoy a game of golf in a social setting, the society welcomes all players of all levels of ability and experience. Professor Cowman’s victory in the most recent event was based on his totaling the best stableford score over the Royal Golf Club’s Montgomerie Championship Course and followed on from previous victories by Denise Dunne, wife of Professor Kevin Dunne, and Mary Fox, wife of Dr Gabriel Fox, in October and January respectively. Cathal Prendergast, Prof Frank Cunningham, Mrs Fox and Prof Cowman RCSI Bahrain Crowned Basketball Champions

The triumphant team with coach Abbas

RCSI Bahrain claimed a first ever competitive sports complete a sensational victory. trophy in the back in March as the men’s basketball team Ten men’s teams from companies, social groups and captured the 2016 RCSI Bahrain Basketball Championship other organisations around the country signed up to take in dramatic fashion. part in this, the second edition of the RCSI Bahrain Supporters flooded the court at the sound of the final Basketball Championship, which kicked off in February. hooter, after an enthralling game that eventually finished Split into two groups of five, the teams battled it out in 85-84 in favour of the hosts over a much-fancied Al a round-robin format, with the bottom-placed team Qadseya outfit. eliminated before the knockout stages and the eight As dramatic an ending as that was, the closing stages of remaining facing off in seeded quarter-finals. regular time could scarcely be believed, as Al Al Qadseya Drama seemed to be a consistent theme for the RCSI took a three-point lead from the free-throw line with only Bahrain team – affectionately known as the Lions – over one second left on the clock. the course of the campaign as they came from 21 points Amazingly though, when the restart was played to Zaid down in the final quarter to take an unlikely 66-65 victory Marcos, his shot from deep inside his own half sailed over American Mission Hospital (AMH) before a more straight into the basket to tie the game at 73-all and spark straightforward 77-68 win over Trexsol in the semi-final. hysteria in the stands. A great night for RCSI Bahrain and coach Abbas Buoyed by the unlikely reprieve, the RCSI Bahrain boys Almass’ team was capped off later as Zaid Marcos was held on through overtime against their more experienced confirmed as the competition’s MVP, while Kinan Alriyahi opponents – who had a number of former professional took the top-scorer award. and national team players among their ranks – to RCSI Bahrain hosts second annual Sports Day An eclectic mix of sports and games took place on the Foundation Year elective programme. sports field last month, as part of the university’s second Run in collaboration with the Sports and Recreation annual Sports Day. Centre (SRC) team, with the aim of promoting the Based around participation, rather than high-end importance of health and fitness, the elective programme competition, the event had students and staff battling it also featured a series of lectures throughout the second out in volleyball, tug-o-war and bubble football semester. competitions and formed the culmination of the

Students take part in tog-o-war Maintenance Technician Jaffar Ahmed in relay action by Alana McConalogue you get the most nutrients from the salad. Vitamins A, Calories and Carbs D, E, and K are all fat-soluble, meaning your body can’t 10 simple food swaps to cut calories! absorb them unless you eat fat (like those in nuts!) along with them. Carrots, kale, spinach and corn to name a few vegetables which have fat-soluble vitamins. Granola to Oatmeal A half-cup serving of Quaker Steel Cut Oats contains Ice Cream to Frozen Banana just 150 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of sugar. Replacing what you would usually call junk food or a Sprinkling a few fresh blueberries onto your oatmeal adds splurge with fruit is a win-win. You not only avoid lots natural sweetness for around 8 calories per 10 blueberries. of sugar, but you score plenty of potassium, folate, and Meanwhile, a half-cup of Quaker’s Apple, Cranberry, and vitamin C. Just throw the banana in the food processor to Almond Granola clocks in at 200 calories, 5 grams of fat, give it the same creamy, spoon-able texture as your and a massive 13 grams of sugar, and that’s before you favourite soft serve ice-cream. Add some unsweetened add any milk. Cooking your oats in water and adding fruit almond milk to improve the consistency if it’s too thick. still gives it that sweetness however, adding water to your granola doesn’t really have the same effect! Milk Chocolate to Dark Chocolate The darker your chocolate, the less sugar and milk and the Flavoured Yogurt to Plain yogurt with fresh fruit more antioxidant-packed cacao it has. It’s no wonder that The jam-like concoction at the bottom of yogurt research in the American Journal of Clinical containers is typically more sugar than fruit. Save Nutrition found that dark chocolate improves insulin yourself the sugar and calories by choosing a plain or sensitivity and reduces blood sugar, both markers of Greek yogurt. Slice up some fruit such as strawberries or diabetes and heart disease. Meanwhile, peanuts give the throw in some blueberries for a healthier and fresh take on treat a salty and protein-packed crunch. Anything over the fruit-yogurt combo. 70% is good.

Café Latte to Americano Choosing a regular black coffee will give you a more concentrated coffee, as well as its free-radical fighting antioxidants. If you hate black coffee, adding some milk will still save you lots of calories in comparison to lattes. Skip the sugar by switching to a sweetener before trying to cut out sugar from your coffee completely!

Noodles/Pasta to Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) Automatically make your pasta a veggie-filled one with this low-cal, high-fiber replacement. With under 20 kcals per cup of zucchini it really is the perfect way to ‘bulk up’ your meals without the calories. As well as being low in calories zucchini is full of potassium and vitamin C which can help control blood pressure and help the functioning of cells in the body.

French Fries to Oven roasted potatoes Drop the calories from deep frying chips by chopping up potatoes, seasoning and oven-roasting in a pan.

Mashed Potato to ½ potato ½ cauliflower mash Cauliflower delivers almost a day’s worth of vitamin C for the small price of 27 kcals per cup. In comparison to potatoes, which clock in at 116 kcals per cup, you can almost half the calories per serving whilst keeping the consistency and taste!

Sour Cream to Greek Yogurt Plain Greek yogurt and sour cream are so similar in taste and texture that you really have no excuse not to use the lean, protein-packed alternative to fattening sour cream. Used as a topping for nachos or fajitas, as a sauce base, or veggie dip; a dollop of Greek yogurt can save you 20- plus grams of saturated fat while more than doubling your protein intake.

Croutons to Nuts If you love a crunch with your salads, try switching your croutons for nuts. The nuts will still have that crunch, as well as adding unsaturated fatty acids, which can help