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Contents P2 Introduction/Welcome %JBSZJO1JDUVSFT
P3 Keep in Touch 6$$.FEJDBM"MVNOJ4DJFOUJmD$POGFSFODF P4 Cork Medical Students at Leiden P5 A Special Colleague - Dr. Edward Kiely P6 D0/5&/54 Anatomy Forty Years On - A tribute to Prof MA MacConaill P7 The Agadir Earthquake 1960 %S)FMFO0.BIPOZ %S%FSNPU$SFBO%S"VESFZ#SBEMFZ %S.BSZ5XPNFZ%S$BUIFSJOF3ZBO
P8 Haiti pre and post the January 2010 Earthquake
P11 Letter from an Asian Tiger to a Celtic Pussycat P12 Pure Surgical Spirit .S4ÏBO.BOOJOH %S1BEEZ,JFMZ1SPG1BVM3FENPOE %S1BU)FOO %S%BO)JOET%S%BWJE(PVHI P14 Sleeping with the Enemy P16 Writing Skills and the Art of Medicine P17 UCC Affi nity Card P18 Frontiers
P19 A Conversation with Dr Don Coleman %S$MJPOB.VSQIZ %S"JTMJOO+PZ.S1BVM0#SJFO %S%BWJE,JEOFZ%S&EXBSE(PSEPO
P20 Patients and Peace at the Jennings 5IF*OBVHVSBM.S+PF0%POOFMM.FNPSJBM-FDUVSF Gallery
P21 Pharmaceutical Medicine: Experiences of a UCC graduate
P22 Appreciations
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Dr Will Fennell Dr John Ryan
Introduction Keep in Touch
In the past six months I have gotten more Then upon arriving here I felt a tremendous Similarly, there is an unwritten rule here Welcome to the 9th Newslett er. requests for information regarding moving amount of pressure to perform. There that is commonly understood among to America than I did in my six years living were so many Irish that had come before Irish Physicians. Even though everyone We have again an eclectic selection of and followed by the Scientifi c Conference We would also invite all Alumni, including here. Clearly this is related in a large part me to Boston and had excelled, that I dreams of returning home, no one admits topics from around the world, all from on Thursday, September 15, and the Gala Dental graduates, to give us feedback to the deterioration of the Irish economy felt similar things were expected of me. it. Any suspicion that there is an interest Alumni or faculty. We are deeply indebted dinner that evening at 7.30pm in the on the newsletter (negative or positive) and considerable pessimism. The process In reality the Irish training system equipped in returning to the “old country” will be to all our contributors. We now have a Aula Max. as we would like to improve the newsletter, of applying for residencies and fellow- me so well, that my concerns were met with disappointment and disbelief. very diverse faculty who are bringing but we do need you to contribute to ships in the US is well described but what unsubstantiated and after a few It may sound silly but Americans cannot new vigour and energy into the We invite all Alumni and faculty to join us your newsletter! is less well known are the challenges and months I had settled in here relatively imagine that anyone would want to work remarkable development going on within in September, irrespective of when one hardships that one encounters in comfortably. Of course there were anywhere else. And immersing oneself in US carving out a career here. Although I have diff erences in practising medicine here, healthcare obviously means developing a the Medical School. graduated, to visit the Alma Mater. This newsletter includes appreciations for no regrets on making the move out, I especially in terms of the reliance on research expertise. Research is not seen as an Giving us advance notice always many outstanding Alumni and faculty would have rathered been aware of the technology and blood tests, but as extra here, but rather an integral part of an The new Dean, Professor George Shorten, allows us to prepare for your visit. who unfortunately died in the last year. diffi culties one experiences here as I feel it would long as one is malleable, the high academic career. Once papers are produced, has taken over the leadership of the Off ers to present at Grand Rounds We shall not allow their contributions have prepared me more for my American life. volume, physical exam-centric practise then one is expected to win awards (again School of Medicine from Professor or in smaller groups are always welcome. to be forgotten. of Irish healthcare complements well as long as they are awards that Americans David Kerins after 4 busy and very In this piece I will not be with specialised, academic nature of are familiar with) and grants. Although fruitful years. David we are all indebted We would appreciate it if you could discussing the challenges of living US hospitals. It just takes time. this is very demanding and stressful, it is to you. send us your e-mail address, as we without Jaff a cakes or Championship completely congruous with the experience would like to transfer our Newsletter Hurling, but rather the professional A much bigger challenge I have of Irish Physicians. When I started getting This year the Annual Scientifi c meeting to an e-Newsletter next year. realities of American Medical careers. experienced is keeping in touch involved in research (and admittedly my will start with a get together and buff et The application process is standardised with and informed about Ireland. skill-set is still growing) I was concerned and straightforward through a central Physicians by their nature are very that it would be too divergent with what on Wednesday, September 14 at 7.30 pm system. However, the awards and busy on either side of the pond, and was going on in Ireland, especially in this scholarships that are off ered through NUI it can be easy to lose touch with the time of economic downturn. I could not and our universities are completely foreign happenings and occurrences in Ireland. have been more wrong, on two accounts. to US recruiters. Also the Irish grading system However, just as they are busy, they are First of all, my mentors in Ireland all does not translate easily into Ivy League also very supportive and available when encouraged me to follow this endeavour. Professor George Shorten equivalents. contacted. In my mind the eff ort to stay in Secondly, and arguably more importantly, touch with the goings-on in Ireland need many of those who went to Medical Therefore, when applying for training to come from the emigrant living overseas. School with me and remain in Ireland are posts here, one has to make The benefi t of remaining in communication engaging in high-level research either absolutely clear the exceptional nature pays considerable dividends in terms at an MD or PhD level, to the extent Welcome of obtaining 70% in Obstetrics of being invited to give talks as well as that at times I feel left behind. and Gynaecology. This is best remaining aware of potential job openings. achieved by having a letter writer who has Also it is so tough at times getting paper- I love working here in Chicago and trained in the US and can put these work and accreditations ready for any new although I emphasised the challenges in “Th e years teach much wh ich the days never know.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson achievements in context for an job here in the US, so having the ability this piece, that was simply to better equip American audience. Similarly, we Irish (and to pick up the phone to one’s home institution anyone who is interested in coming out I still say we) are notorious for underselling and getting the Medical School records and here. There has not been a single day that As a nation we are, at best, broke. At worst, HRB- funded Clinical Research Facility The University, the College of Medicine ourselves. US applicants simply do not do letters easily compiled is invaluable. I have regretted doing my training in the the “we” refers to our grandchildren or (CRF) and Dr John MacAdoo to the and Health and the School of Medicine will that. Their personal statements emphasise US, but a lot of my success has been due great grandchildren. And Cork, which has Advanced Southern Simulation Education welcome your initiative and act on it their exceptional potential and lay out There is a fi ne line that one has to walk to the support that I have obtained from propped up this economically maligned and Training (ASSET) Centre. Professor – try us. strict career pathways that we are not here in terms of identifying oneself as “the those at home. So please, let’s keep in touch. country in more than a geographical sense, Jonathon Hourihane has launched the used to doing, with fi ve and ten year plans. Irish guy”. In fact, I feel that the best way has not escaped. One might imagine that Discovery Centre for paediatric clinical We look forward to welcoming you And no matter how artifi cial it may feel to of enjoying success here in the US, is by promote oneself in this way, without it an incorporating oneself completely like any the UCC School of Medicine must be research (a HRB-funded satellite unit of to the 2011 Annual Scientifi c Conference application simply gets overlooked. To use other trainee just with a diff erent accent struggling for survival in the rarefi ed the CRF). Despite the imposed austerity on September 15 and wish you an the local sports analogy, when playing on (it is important not to lose the accent, (a euphemism for ruthless cutbacks), enjoyable and fulfi lling meeting. atmosphere of public sector reform. their court, one has to play by their rules. by the way). In fact, 2010/11 has been a successful the School of Medicine is alive and well. year for the School. The proposed new Twinning Programme to be off ered in An Alumnus who is favourably disposed partnership with NUIG and Malaysia might consider how he or she could is on course for a fi rst intake of contribute to the life of the School or students in September 2011. Our Graduate the University. There are plenty of op- Entry Programme under the Directorship tions: medical student electives, clinical or of Professor Mary Horgan was favourably research fellowships and collaborations, appraised by the Irish Medical Council. scholarship or exchange programmes come into being because someone We have been fortunate in securing the makes the proposal. More than ever, services of two outstanding Directors, UCC is looking to its alumni for advice, Professor Damian O’Connell to the ideas, proposals, and for partnership.
2 3 Professor Davis Coakley He published his principal work “On In 1749 Barry was elected President of the Critical and Medical on the Wines of the Digestion” in 1759 and in the preface he wrote: College of Physicians and in 1754 he was Ancients, and the Analogy between appointed regius professor of physic them and Modern Wines. It was a “The Principles, from whence I chiefl y derived at Trinity College Dublin. He resigned detailed work of nearly 500 pages. Cork Medical Students at Leiden my Observations, were such as the learned from both bodies in 1761 when he was Barry died in Bath in 1776. Dr. Boerhaave had laid down: I regarded put in an untenable position in a major him then with all the favourable Prejudice, row between the institutions because As the upper classes became more When one Cork doctor wished to voice Richard Frankland graduated M.D. in and warm Gratitude of a Pupil; nor has the Trinity, despite objections from the College conscious of their health during the his disapproval of the treatment Leiden in 1728. His thesis which he Experience of many Years altered my Opinion.” of Physicians, awarded a Medical degree seventeenth century the opportunities advocated by another in 1750, he said dedicated to his teacher Herman to a leading Dublin obstetrician! Aged for university educated physicians began pointedly, “And you, a student of Boerhaave!” Boerhaave is now in the British Library in Barry’s practice was based in College 63 Barry moved to London where he to increase gaining them large incomes London. Peter Bonbonous (1711-1767) Green and in 1751 he built Mespil House developed a practice. Boswell recalled and a privileged place in society. Edward Wettenhall (1661-1733) was who graduated in 1732 was the son of on the banks of the Grand Canal. This that Samuel Johnson made the following The absence of a University Medical School among the fi rst Cork physicians to study Jean Bonbonous a Huguenot refugee and house was demolished in 1944 but three remark about Barry at a dinner in 1776: at the time in Ireland meant that all students, at Leiden where he graduated in 1684. woollen manufacturer who came to Cork of its ceilings were saved, two are in whether Catholic or Protestant, aspiring His father, also named Edward Wettenhall, around 1686. Patrick Blair (1712-1781) Dublin Castle and the third is in Áras “Johnson mentioned Dr. Barry’s to be physicians had to study abroad. was Bishop of Cork and Ross and a prolifi c was a Scot who arrived in Cork around an Uachtaráin! Barry moved in the System of Physic. “He was a man,” he said, Although some Irish men had studied author on religious subjects. Father and 1745. He was subjected to a campaign intellectual and literary circles of his time. “who had acquired a high reputation in Medicine in continental universities in the son are buried in the south transept of unseemly criticism by other physicians In 1736 he wrote a witty note to his friend Dublin, came over to England and brought his early part of the seventeenth century, the of Westminster Abbey under a marble including Joseph Rogers and Peter John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork, about the reputation with him, but had not great success.” numbers began to increase signifi cantly as monument by the sculptor William Bonbonous which led eventually to his health of their mutual friend Jonathan Swift: Dr Edward Barry the century progressed and continued well Woodman. The Latin inscription states that dismissal from the staff of the North However Johnson was never lavish with into the eighteenth century. Catholic the doctor “for many years exercised Infi rmary. “Ramblers are like birds of passage” “I’m concerned to hear that Swift is praise and he may not be correct as we students tended to gravitate to French his profession in Cork, after the pure wrote Rogers pointedly “They stay as long confi n’d by some Disorder; I hope know that Barry was knighted in 1773. Medical schools whereas many Protestant example of the ancients.” Joseph Rogers as they are well fed.” Blair built a castellated nothing but a bilous cholic, which a His last book was published in 1776 and students went to Leiden in the Netherlands. studied at Leiden in 1704 before residence in Sunday’s Well which became few Satyrical evacuations will remove.” was entitled Observations, Historical, proceeding to Utrecht in 1708 known as “Blair’s Castle”. He also courted Leiden University which was founded in where he graduated. He published religious controversy and was the author 1575 had a very famous Medical school several Medical books, the fi rst entitled of “Thoughts on Nature and Religion: or an during the fi rst half of the eighteenth ‘An essay on epidemic diseases; and more Apology for the Right of Private Judgement” century. Many of the advances in particularly on the endemical epidemics which was published in Cork in 1774. Medical teaching made in Padua, the leading of the city of Cork’ was published in Cork Medical school of the Renaissance, were in 1732 and in Dublin two years later. In Edward Barry was the most distinguished subsequently introduced in Leiden. An this book Rogers described three major Corkman to study at Leiden. The son of a anatomical theatre and a physic garden epidemics of typhus which occured in doctor, he was born in Cork in 1698 and were established in 1592 and clinical the fi rst thirty years of the eighteenth studied at Trinity College Dublin before A Special Colleague - Dr Edward Kiely teaching was introduced in 1636. The century. He did not accept contemporary moving to Leiden where he graduated growing reputation of the Medical school theories that atmospheric changes were M.D. in 1719. Hermann Boerhaave began to attract students, particularly responsible for the epidemics but he promoted or sponsored Barry’s doctorate Only those who have learnt the power of Edward Kiely married Nicola Creamer in English speaking, from outside the attributed the aetiology to “morbid before the Leiden Medical faculty. In 1720 sincere and selfl ess contribution experience 1986, they have three boys all doing Netherlands and although a Protestant effl uvia” which he defi ned as “particles of all he began practice in Cork and he published life’s deepest joy; if this thought is as true Medicine and this is wonderful for him and Edward Kiely has certainly been an University Leiden promoted liberty of kinds detached from the animal, vegetable a book in 1726 entitled A Treatise on a as it sounds, Edward Kiely certainly has Edward’s Dad, the late John Kiely FRCS, my inspiration raising the hopes, aspirations conscience and was open to students of all and mineral kingdoms.” One of the chief Consumption of the Lungs. He was had a life of fulfi lment, achievements teacher, would be so proud, as would his and dreams of the young Irish Doctors religious faiths. The reputation of the Dutch industries of Cork at the time was admitted a Freeman of Cork together with beyond most of our dreams and that Gaelgóir Mum Helen and more so with the who can see that in this competitive school was at its peak between 1701 and 1738 the export of barrelled beef for Joseph Rogers in 1731 and he was elected magnifi cent attribute of humility and fact that Nicola’s Mum, Dr. Pat Hegarty MD world they can make a diff erence when the great champion of clinical teach- the navy and mercantile marine a fellow of the Royal Society in 1733. He modesty tempered by his gentleness was the daughter of Mr. Daniel Hegarty and, if given the facilities here at home ing Herman Boerhaave taught there, a period and Rogers implicates the unhygienic represented Charleville in the Irish – though it was not always so obvious, FRCS Consultant Surgeon to the North in our own hospitals and clinics, when over 40 of Cork’s doctors studied at conditions associated with the trade Parliament from 1745 to 1761. no more so than when he and I fi rst learnt Charitable Infi rmary Hospital previously. that they can reach great heights Leiden. Some of these doctors worked under in a number of what he described Barry’s reputation fl ourished and he moved how to cope with what we will call some and represent Ireland on the world Boerhaave and this was considered a mark as “concurring causes”. his practice to Dublin in 1739. “inconveniences” such as sharing a room in Edward Kiely was appointed to Great stage with gentleness, humour and of great distinction ever after. Ring College together in 1956. Even then Ormond Street in London in May 1983 humility like Mr. Edward Kiely FRCS. Rogers description of these concurring Edward Kiely was developing his amazing and has since performed 22 operations JPD causes give us some insight into living personality and generosity caring for separating conjoined twins, one other conditions in Cork at the time. For example all our little problems being away from person in the world has performed more Editors note: Edward Kiely was the recipient he describes: “the great quantities of fi lth, home. He progressed to Christian Brothers (27) we are all so very proud of his success. of the Medical School Medal in 2010 and ordure and animal off als that crowd our College where he excelled at Sport winning will receive the Distinguished Medical Alumni streets, and particularly the close confi ned a Munster Rugby Senior Schools Medal Edward Kiely maintains his Cork roots. Award for 2010 at the weather delayed alleys and lanes, at the very season that in 1962 and from there onwards to He has a house in West Cork that he visits ceremony on April 15, 2011. our endemics rage amongst us” and “the Captain the UCC Senior Rugby Team very regularly. He is fi rst and foremost a unwholesome, foul, I had almost said (being the third member of his family to family man despite all his professional and corrupted water that great numbers of the do so, previously David and Paddy had this sporting achievements he remains a team inhabitants are necessitated to use during honour bestowed upon them) collecting player. the dry months of the summer.” It was Munster Senior and Junior Medals there Rogers who fi rst promoted the Medicinal after. To Captain Landsdowne was certainly value of the waters of Mallow Spa. He was another great achievement and to lead elected a fellow of the Royal Society in them to a Leinster Senior Rugby Cup 1738. Richard Frankland, Peter Bonbonous Victory in 1972 was quite amazing. and Patrick Blair, three of the fi rst physicians on the staff of the North Infi rmary on its establishment in 1751, had studied at Leiden.
4 5 Mr Christopher Constant information that I have passed to my In 1987 he took up the post of students over the years and particularly now Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon at pass on to those fi rst year medics who are Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge (UK), treading similar steps to those that I walked where for 20 years he specialised in Shoulder Anatomy Forty Years On -A tribute to Prof MA MacConaill 40 years ago. And if one’s respect for one’s and Elbow Surgery. He was awarded a teacher is refl ected in the amount of material Master in Medical Law from Cardiff Law School one learns, remembers, uses and passes on, in 1994 and an MA at Cambridge in 2000. In September 1969, I began reading respects and give thanks to those people Prof MacConaill taught 40 years ago are then my respect for ‘Mac’ is immeasurable. In 2009 he took up a shared post Medicine in earnest as a fi rst year Medic at by whose generosity we had so greatly still as relevant today as they were then. of Clinical Anatomist at Cambridge University College Cork. In that year, one of benefi tted. Today, the whole subject of Note about the author. University, where he is the Designated the three subjects was Anatomy. As a budding body donation is more open and The use of practical dissection as the lynch Mr Chris Constant (known to all Individual for the Human Tissue Authority Surgeon, even in those early days, Anatomy the issue is discussed with the pin for learning Anatomy is even more as ‘Mr C’) qualifi ed with MB, BCh, and Licensed Teacher of Anatomy. undoubtedly took my fancy. The study students. At a committal service towards important today, as it forms the 1975 MB Graduation BAO from UCC in June 1975. He was He is a Fellow of Trinity Hall Cambridge, of the human body by dissection the end of the academic year, the names basis of our understanding of the ( Prof. MacConaill is 6th from the left seated in the front) awarded the FRCSI in June 1979. and College Lecturer at Robinson College of human remains was utterly fascinating, of the subjects are revealed as they are structures aff ected by clinical disorders He did his higher surgical training at Cambridge. and was made all the more so by respectfully committed to the earth as and diseases. In the case of Surgeons Oxford, Toronto and Cambridge and our Professor of Anatomy, Prof Michael A either bodily remains or ashes. A memorial and interventionalists, a detailed knowledge was awarded MCh at UCC in 1986. MacConaill. As I recall, Prof. MacConaill was service to pay respect and give thanks to of relational Anatomy is essential if one
a man of medium build with a crop of donors and their loved ones is now an is to avoid serious complications and immaculately groomed white hair. He had a important part of the whole process in which structural damage. kindly face and an impish smile that students are encouraged to participate. Forty Col Peter Power persisted even when he failed you in the years ago sadly, there were no such services This is particularly relevant when one exams which, in my case he kindly did on or at least we were not aware of them. considers the increasing number of three consecutive occasions. His teaching minimally invasive operations that methods seemed unusual to me and my My recollection of those days in 1969 are being performed. At least when fellow students at the time, but 40 years is very vivid. The ante-room of the performing open surgery, there is the The Agadir Earthquake 1960 later when as Clinical Anatomist in the Dissecting Room had an array of framed opportunity to expose the tissues in On the night of March 31 / April 1 1960, was not smoke after all but black rely on indirect, inaccurate information Anatomy School at Cambridge University pages of anatomical terms and their layers from skin to bone under direct the city of Agadir was devastated by an volcanic dust hanging all over the city. conveyed in the heat of the moment by (UK), I look back on his teaching, I realise origins. It was part of the course to learn vision. A modicum of care, a basic knowl- earthquake and tidal wave. Some 12,000 observers ignorant of the real situation. that his methods instilled a lasting many of these terms and it helped our edge of Anatomy and a few year’s experience of the population of 50,000 were killed. As the situation was now under the memory and knowledge of Anatomy that was understanding of what were diffi cult will suffi ce in many cases. However, with control of French and American The real requirement, which was to serve me well throughout my career as an anatomical descriptions. A similar minimally invasive surgery done through At 9.00 am on April 2, three Shackletons of military forces, Major Power and his supplied eventually, was anaesthetic and Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon. They also list is provided to all our students portals, there is no opportunity to see the Coastal command RAF, based in Gibraltar, team’s assistance were not required. resuscitation equipment, as well as the now form an important part of how I teach today at Cambridge in the “Handbook of tissues between the skin and the fl ew into Agadir with Medical Having unloaded all supplies the services of Anaesthetists, General and Anatomy to our current day Medical students. Anatomy” as they begin the course, comple- structures requiring surgical attention. supplies and rescue equipment. Major Shackletons took off , avoiding Orthopaedic Surgeons to deal with the mented by a list of embryological terms. A detailed knowledge of the ‘invisible’ Peter Power RAMC fl ew in the plan with all the cracked parts of the runway, injured survivors. As I complete the 40 year cycle from Anatomy is necessary and will only the Medical supplies which had and returned to base in Gibraltar. fi rst year student of Anatomy at UCC Anatomy itself, per se, has not changed be gained by using dissection of been organised with Major Bob On arrival at the airport in Extracted from ‘Proceedings of the Royal in 1969 to my appointment as Clinical radically in the past 40 years. However, human remains before approaching the Thompson, QM of BMH Gibraltar. Gibraltar, Major Power met three Army Medical Corps Miliatary Historical Anatomist at Cambridge University in 2009, the clinical applications to which budding live patient and performing surgery He had reduced the hospital surgeons who had fl own out from Society (Winter 1994/1995)’ responsible for organising and teaching doctors have to put their knowledge of without opening the skin. An extreme to three days supply remaining, in the the UK. They were experts in the Anatomy, I refl ect on the similarities and Anatomy has changed dramatically in example of this vital knowledge is hope that he would be resupplied treatment of burn casualties, and changes over the four decades. In doing so, that time. Forty years ago Anatomy was demonstrated when one considers the within that time, which indeed he was. having decided to go and assess the situation I am struck by how little has changed when I learned to a great extent in operation of transvaginal cholecystectomy, Flying in over the devastation of the for themselves they returned immediately consider the important basic principles. isolation, without refl ecting on the leaving no external signs whatsoever city, Major Power was in the bomb to the UK. They too had been mislead clinical importance of its knowledge. of the surgery that has been performed, bay underneath the aircraft with a clear by the reports of black “smoke”, and In 1969, within days of beginning the Today, at Cambridge, respect for the but a catalogue of disastrous complications view of the ground below; found on arrival in Agadir that this Anatomy course, Prof MacConaill made dead is considered paramount, and while if the Surgeon is not truly familiar with this was covered with what was indeed dust and there were no fi re or a point of instilling in all of us the there is a considerable amount of pure the Anatomy of the trunk from top appeared to be a dense pall of burn casualties. The moral of this tale is the importance of having respect for the Anatomy to be learned by practical to bottom, or more accurately from black “smoke”. On landing and importance of acquiring early and cadavers we would use to study Anatomy. dissection, its clinical application runs Diaphragm to Perineum. subsequently touring the devastated accurate information from direct The terms ‘cadaver’ and ‘stiff ’ were not to be side by side in the form of applied area on foot, it transpired that this survey of the damaged areas, rather than used. In their place we would henceforth Anatomy sessions using radiographs, In going through life, we all learn from refer to the bodies under our care as computer and magnetic scans, ultrasound, others. Some of what we learn we keep ‘subjects’. We were repeatedly reminded anatomical and clinical skill models, clinical and use, accepting its worth in our lives and that “respect for the dead would photographs and live patients, providing passing it on to future generations. Other bring with it respect for the living”. the students with an understanding of the things we choose to forget, while How very true. An appropriate dress relevance of the Anatomy they are expected some information is recalled merely and behavioural code was mandatory to learn now, and an appreciation of its by the eccentric way in which and those failing to respect the dead, importance in the clinical work they will do they were presented. In considering the by reason of the way they behaved or in the future. Anatomy I studied 40 years ago, presented themselves, were excluded until I have no doubt that what I learned they learned the error of their ways. In teaching Anatomy to fi rst year from Prof MacConaill fell into all We never knew and never enquired where Medical students these days, while of these categories. His eccentricities are the subjects had come from. We never there is now less emphasis on the use of still very clear in my mind. What I found out the identity of the subjects that memory and a greater emphasis on the have discarded from memory, clearly remained under our care for the year and application of relevant Anatomy to clinical I cannot remember, but there we never had the opportunity to pay our problems, the principles of the Anatomy remains with me a huge memory bank of SAAD Hotel, once twelve stories high on the beach at Agadir, April 1960
6 7 Professor Cillian Twomey These doctors have been giving their saline mini-bags and vii) a selection of services on a pro bono basis for over 20 years. topical antibiotics were presented to Dr The Executive Director who coordinating Bernes Chalumeau, Medical Director, CRUDEM Foundation‘s eff orts in Milot Hospital pictured with his colleagues Haiti pre and post the January 2010 Earthquake recent years is Irish-born, Denise Kelly. below.
The January 2010 Earthquake The journey from Gonaives to Milot is a Global Poverty & Deprivation On Tuesday 12th January 2010 Haiti was struck 7-hour drive from Gonaives on a horrendous The Millennium Declaration, endorsed by 189 world leaders at the UN in September 2000, is a commitment to work by the worst earthquake in over 200 years. ‘road‘. Thanks to Leslie & Carmel Buckley together to build a safer, more prosperous and equitable world. The Declaration was translated into a roadmap setting Dawn brought horrible scenes to for making available the helicopter which out eight time-bound and measurable goals to be reached by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). light in Haiti‘s capital on Wednesday: allowed Niall Macnamara, Nurse Laura Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger piles of disintegrated concrete, with Duggan and me travel to Milot much more Goal 2 Achieve universal primary education limbs sticking out and muffl ed cries comfortably and speedily to formally Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women emanating from deep inside; present samples of the Medical Goal 4 Reduce child mortality wounded people staggering supplies the April 2010 volunteers had Goal 5 Improve maternal health through the streets. Thousands were helped to bring to Haiti. Thanks too for Goal 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases missing or reported dead, buried under their assistance in ensuring the safe Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability rubble in the Port au Prince area with delivery of the rest of the supplies to Goal 8 Develop a global partnership for development hundreds of buildings including the Milot Hospital. Presidential palace and the UN headquarters destroyed. Power A decade after the Millennium supplies and communications networks Declaration, there have been noticeable were severely disrupted. As the then reductions in poverty globally, signifi cant President René Préval told newspapers: “All of improvements in enrolment and gender the hospitals are packed with people. It is a parity in schools, reductions in child and catastrophe.” maternal mortality and increasing Haiti comprises part of the island of Build-it-Week 1 – October 2009 Hispaniola and shares a border with the Going to Haiti was some experience – it is only The houses built in October ‘09 had 3 HIV treatments. Progress across the Build-it-Week 2 – April 2010 MDGs is being achieved where strong Dominican Republic. A statistical résumé of when one sees things with one‘s own eyes rooms with an adjoining shower cum toilet Three and a half months after the government leadership, eff ective Haiti reveals the following: that the extent of the appalling deprivation is area. Feedback from the local Haitians re- January earthquake together with 297 policies and institutional capacity realised. This was very evident in Ounaminthe, vealed that they did not want the shower / other volunteers I set off on the 2nd for expanding public investments are - Population 8.5 million an isolated and extremely poor rural area. The toilet facility – indeed a two-roomed house Haven ‘Build-it-Week‘ to Haiti, this time to complemented by fi nancial and technical - One-third the size of Ireland people have few, if any, basic services i.e. no with an outdoor veranda would be ‘just Gonaives a seaside city in the North West of Donation of medical supplies to support from the international community. - Languages: French and Creole running water and no electricity; the fact perfect‘. So the houses built in Gonaives - Capital: Port au Prince that many do not even have mirrors was Haiti some 160km north of Port au Prince. It were to that specifi cation. Once again, as Milot Hospital (The Crudem Foundation see has a population of about 105,000 people www.crudem.org) There are important synergies among - Human Development Index: 146th of 177 refl ected by hundreds of bright-eyed smiling in October ‘09, I mixed Medical work with and was not aff ected by the January 2010 the MDGs — acceleration in one Goal countries children who kept asking that their ‘gofer duty‘ for one of the cement teams, earthquake. often speeds up progress in others. As a - Life Expectancy: 59 Years photo be taken so they could then pictured to the right. Bottom right are result of this initiative considerable gains - 40% of all households experience food see how well they looked! The more volunteer Cian Twomey and his father. It was however very badly aff ected by a series have been achieved in many countries insecurity haggard and drawn faces of their The middle picture gives an aerial view of the of hurricanes over the last fi ve years. In including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, - Unemployment: 54% parents and other older Haitians site with the houses under construction to September 2004, Hurricane Jean caused major Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, - 28% of people have access to basic provided a stark contrast. the right and the volunteers‘ tents to the left. fl ooding and mud slides in the city. Buildings Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, health care and homes were badly damaged by the storm Panama, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka - One in Twelve Haitian children die before Over 260 volunteers travelled of this As a Volunteer wrote in a Haven and approximately 2,000 people are believed and Tanzania. And yet much more their fi fth birthday inaugural trip; all were in great spirits Newsletter after coming home: to have died. Following that, in 2008, the city remains to be done. - Haiti is the poorest country in the and many new friendships were made. Q. ‘What do you get if you cross Western Hemisphere At the end of the week the people of Ouna- was again devastated by Hurricane Hanna. 5am starts, 20-hour days, 40-degree Against this background of global - Haiti is the hurricane belt and is prone to minthe had an additional 41 houses and a heat, dehydration, mosquito bites, Having lost their homes and loved ones, blisters and boot camp conditions with poverty, deprivation and need the extreme weather conditions playground. In the adjoining primary school thousands were forced to fi nd enthusiasm, energy, goodwill, commitment, particular plight of the people of an extra classroom was built and so allows refuge elsewhere. Many built makeshift courage, belief, hope and Irishness? Haiti did not come to my attention in a Haven Partnership the 400 local children complete their shelters and camps on higher ground, Answer: 63 homes, a community centre and telling way until April 2009 when I Haven is an international NGO that was primary education in the same school. unaff ected by fl ooding. The people of visited the Haven Partnership Promotion registered as a charity in Ireland in late A basketball court was also built for a playground in Gonaives.’ Gonaives are living in primitive conditions Stand at the annual general 2008. It was founded by Irish businessman, the school – coincidentally dedicated to this day. Prior to Haven‘s April 2010 visit meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation Leslie Buckley and his wife Carmel and is to the memory of the late Stuart After our visit to Crudem Foundation‘s NOTHING whatsoever had been done to in Killarney. Haven was hoping to recruit dedicated to building homes and hope Mangan whose own heroism Hôpital Sacré Coeur, Milot in October help the people of Gonaives or rebuild their some volunteers, Medical and otherwise, for the Haitian people. To quote Leslie, ‘We following an accidental rugby injury was 2009 Dr. Niall Macnamara and I speculated town in the intervening period. to sign up for a week‘s voluntary don‘t just build houses, we build homes. inspirational. Stuart died earlier in 2009. that when returning to Haiti in April work in Haiti in October 2009. We don’t just bring groups of people 2010, we might to ask each volunteer together, we build communities. We don’t During our visit a few of the The above pictures give you some idea of to carry a pre-packed supply of Medical the ‘houses’ that are home for the people of In truth, having lauded the Haven staff for just help people to survive, we build lives of Medical Team had the opportunity to items as part of their luggage. Gonaives. Once more basic services such as the good work they were about to undertake hope.’ So, Haven operates a dual approach visit Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, some Following discussion with the running water and electricity are virtually I more or less forgot all about it. At least that of building new houses as well as making two hours drive, across a very bumpy dirt hospital‘s Executive Director, Denise Kelly non-existent. And yet, just as in was so until some six weeks later I received a improvements to existing homes. By the end track, from Ouanaminthe. This 70-bedded the following items i) 36 ambu bags of Ouanaminthe, nobody in Gonaives call from the IMO HQ commending me for my of 2011 Haven plans to have built 1,000 new general hospital is run by the CRUDEM diff erent sizes, ii) a range of analgesics/ was complaining; the local people altruism in agreeing to join the Haven houses and upgraded 2,000 existing houses. Foundation, does remarkable work anti-infl ammatory agents, iii) bandages were friendly and welcoming. Volunteers for the inaugural October ‘09 visit In addition Haven has further ambitious plans with limited resources. It has a small team & tape, iv) gloves, v) syringes, vi) 100ml . to Haiti! The rest, fé mar a deirtear, is history. to expand its mission to ‘housing the of locally-based specialists whose work is homeless‘ in other parts of the world. augmented by regular 2-week visits from teams of specialists mainly from the US.
8 9 Professor Liam Kirwan I wish to acknowledge once more the sanitation in schools and showers in families for a minimum of 3 years generous support of the following campsites across the capital. In all of these as the reconstruction programme – all of whom donated their supplies free camps Haven holds hygiene promotion proceeds. There will also be access of charge: A Menarini Pharmaceuticals workshops. During these workshops our to water and sanitation facilities for the Ireland, Baxter Ireland, Bausch & Lomb, benefi ciaries are shown how to live cleanly targeted population and an associated Letter from an Asian Tiger to the Celtic Pussycat Fleming Medical Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline and safely especially in such close public health campaign to promote good Ireland (Limited) Hibernia Medical Supplies quarters in these new settlements. hygiene behaviour. Crucially these activities Limited, HSE (Population Health & HSE must also create livelihood opportunities Greetings from fi ve degrees north of Surprisingly one quickly accommodates prevention. The public system however is South Procurement); Leo Pharma and Ouanamthe Update – 2011 for the local inhabitants in areas such the equator. Being a lover of temperate to this and learns to avoid the worst grossly overcrowded and creaking. United Drug. Families are now living in their 200 new construction and carpentry that will climates I am very much surprised to of it. It is mandatory to consume large There is in addition a buckshot of private homes and all 250 promised housing facilitate economic recovery and support fi nd myself in such an unlikely place. amounts of water, a somewhat boring hospitals sporting the latest diagnostic Hôpital Sacré Coeur normally has 70 upgrades are complete. A key part the market systems within the area. Nevertheless when approached about beverage! When we returned after gadgets but the patients, who are not beds, but following the earthquake the of the Haven Programme is the the possibility of taking the Chair of Christmas there was a temperature gradient insured, are always (and the students required number increased to a maximum education, training and affi rmation The post earthquake response generally Surgery at Penang Medical College, and between Cork and Penang of forty degrees. give this matter of factly in the history) of 420 – the additional beds located in of the local Haitians so that they take has been relatively slow moving after a period of mature refl ection and transferring across when they run local schools and in big tents (40 more ownership in determining their own from the emergency to the recovery more than a little domestic consultation Penang Medical College, a partnership out of money. As well as the main Penang patients per tent). The additional destiny. In that context, solar panel phase, there are still approximately and after a ‘‘fi eld trip” to Malaysia, here between UCD, RCSI and local interests, General Hospital I teach in two smaller patients mainly had orthopaedic and limb installation is well underway and 25 1.3 million displaced people living we are. Great tribute is due to the graduates the same numbers as UCC. hospitals on the mainland – there is a amputation problems; a major prosthetic trainees are working on the roll in 1,300 ad hoc settlement sites. adventurous spirit of my wife Marie who, in The programme is very well structured bridge. These are mass produced buildings service has been developed in Milot. out of the project. Each family Maintenance of latrines will be the earlier part of our career, endured much and there is a lot of traditional bedside reminiscent of the county hospitals The hospital now plans to expand is asked to buy one battery pack. required for signifi cantly longer travel – and far from the front of the aircraft. teaching and it is given by senior constructed by Noel Browne in Ireland its core capacity to 120 beds. Furthermore construction training than what was initially planned. For myself, as to why I should continue in people. I am the only Irish professor sixty years ago. These institutions courses have nearly come to a close Haven wants to ensure we continue to harness, I remain persuaded that more at this time and there are excellent however are unconfused about their role Haven in Haiti post Earthquake with 35 students due to graduate. maintain the latrines until a process people are killed by idleness than by work. Australians, South Africans and some and have a big fl eet of vehicles for the Haitians mourned the one year anniversary However 30 of their colleagues enrolled in of camp decommissioning occurs as locals. The college is housed in purpose daily transport of patients to the main of a devastating 2010 earthquake that road work training are still hard at work, they people move from emergency to Our experiences here are entirely positive. built buildings three hundred yards from centre for diagnostic or major procedures. killed almost quarter of a million people are due to graduate in late September. transitional shelter. The island of Penang is a very vibrant place the main hospital and we walk to and Such places do middle level surgery and left hundreds of thousands homeless with three distinct ethnic groups, Malays, fro to teach the students in the wards in and are invaluable for teaching. in squalid, unsanitary camps in and around The Agri-Programme is also nearly complete. Cholera Chinese and Indians, very much in that the morning and conduct the didactic the capital. The political situation has The forty women and twelve men taking That the travails of the Haitian people order. Most of the public jobs are held by elements of the course in the college itself Refl ecting on all of this one has to conclude been more stable in January and it has part in the course have formed a committee were further compounded by the Cholera the Malays. The Chinese, as everywhere else, in the afternoons. The President (CEO) is a that Ireland, in spite of all our recent been confi rmed after much controversy charged with maintenance, nursery and outbreak was not unexpected; are beavers at business. Here everything former Irish Ambassador. The school is a tribulations, is still a very developed that candidate of the ruling party, gardens. 160 gardens are planted and indeed the only surprise was that it which breaks down gets fi xed much as we private enterprise and is consequently less country. Unfortunately it seems that as a Jude Celestin and former fi rst lady, thriving, with beans, peppers, tomatoes, had not emerged earlier. An extract used to do in Ireland before we got above prone to the “daftness” mentioned above. country develops, the measurable benefi ts Mirlande Manigat are the two front aubergine, and much more. The nursery from UNOCHA Cholera Sitrep No 31 in ourselves (do we still throw away a crutch We are, however, governed by the Irish of increased healthcare spending decline contenders for the run-off vote. is packed with the next crop once produce January this year says ‘As of 1 January, in Ireland after single use as ordained by Medical Council who are to visit shortly. exponentially. Malaysia is at that part of the Immediately post earthquake Haven is harvested from the gardens. All of the the Ministère de la Santé Publique et the “health and safety industry”?). Our The students are of good academic cycle where increased spending has visible set about fi nding out where it community workshops and sex education de la Population (MSPP) has reported epidemic daftness in such areas, particularly standard and are either on scholarship eff ect: in Ireland more money must be could be of most use. Up until Janu- continue both before the families move 3,651 deaths due to the cholera in the public service, is in sharp contrast to from the government or pay for spent to maintain the status quo. The ary 2010 Haven had been involved in into their new home and afterwards. epidemic and 171,304 infections Malaysia, a country with which we themselves. To do the latter takes serious reputation of Ireland here is high and I building homes in rural parts of Haiti, but The Community Centre is in use every nationwide. The epidemic continues compete for jobs! Wages here are low money but there are many rich people here am happy to report that Irish educational because of the earthquake a base and local night hosting meetings with topics as to threaten 2.2 million school-going although there is signifi cant price infl ation. and they have a reverence for education expertise is particularly esteemed. team was set up in Port au Prince. diverse as Bas Dilaire FC to the Ladies Club. children, owing to the lack of clean I have the greatest diffi culty in seeing as, perhaps, at least some still do in Ireland. water and sanitation facilities in how we can compete. Latrines Gonaives Update – 2011 schools throughout the country. The main hospital is rough and All of the NGOs gather together to identify Haven has acquired a new site for our A stronger mobilisation of WASH Penang Island is a great tourist destination tumble but clean, modern in ethos and a the specifi c issues that required immediate second project in Gonaives. The site is actors in rural areas, in particular in the for the rich people of Asia and many come wonderful place for students. The attention. Arising from this cooperation approximately 200 meters from our existing North-West, Grande Anse, Nippes, South from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Australia.The pathology is surprisingly similar to Ireland Working Groups or Clusters were formed; site in the city. We plan to build 100 and South-West departments is needed. island has a great many hotels and they are but developed to the point of caricature. each group was given a specifi c task, e.g. houses on the site. The house is similar still building. It is diffi cult to be sure that Diseases are fl orid to a degree at health, camp coordination and shelter. in design to what we have been building Rubble Construction there is not an element of bubble in this presentation that even the most venerable Haven is a member of the WASH – Water in the area to date, although not identical. Haven has partnered IFRC in a very – like you know where! The food is very of Irish practitioners would not have seen & Sanitation, Health (WASH) Cluster. Haven As with all of Haven‘s shelter projects, this innovative project using earthquake interesting and is sold very cheaply by in their youth. I sometimes sit for a is also involved in distributing tarpaulins to programme will also address the water rubble for construction of a gabion house “hawkers” on the street (one of the main few minutes at the entrance and those still without shelter, and for building and sanitation needs of the community occupations recorded by the students in watch a biblical procession of pathology – hygienic latrines in the campsites. Haven and provide training and livelihood their “social history” is that of “hawker”). orthopaedic and neurologic in particular. is now the second biggest provider of opportunities to the benefi ciaries. Each house Such food however grows somewhat Noel Callaghan comes to mind, with latrines in Port au Prince. In total, Haven has is 25 square meters in size. It is a two monotonous and, while not wishing to aff ection, as I try to work out the gaits. constructed 1,360 latrines working in 57 roomed house, and will have a cooking lapse into a kind of boarding school A conspicuous feature for me is the camps across the city providing sanitation area, a latrine and a porch. The house letter, one does rather hanker after a love and attention which families facilities to over 80,191 benefi ciaries will be strong enough to survive a hurricane decent spud, a hickory smoked rasher or still lavish on patients here – always (aiming to provide at least one latrine for similar to those of 2004 and 2008. a Clonakilty sausage. The material which in attendance doing little things. every 20 people). Incidentally there are up we in Ireland call bacon is unknown here to 7,000 people living in just one of these Shelters but the word is used to describe a catas- The Government here is admirable in its campsites alone. Its Emergency Response Haven is currently implementing The above house is now complete trophe of dubious composition but prob- eff orts to look after the ordinary people and Team has been working within these three transitional shelter projects in and has attracted massive local interest. ably mainly beef. We drink tap water liberally it knows how to spend its money wisely. camps, with the camp residents, to build collaborations with Plan International, This proposal has been extended to include with no negative sequelae – a good sign of Diabetes and dyslipidaemias are particular adequate sanitation facilities for them. American Red Cross and Oxfam America. clusters of 4 houses (1x two storey and a country. One of the anxieties in coming challenges and they put a lot of money into Haven has also been commissioned Up to 700 shelters are being constructed 3 x single storey). here is the heat - most days it is 32⁰ Celsius. by UNICEF to provide water and to provide safe shelter for displaced Web: www.havenpartnership.com
10 11
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18 27 May 2010 | medical independent 12 13 Dr Fergus Moylan “OK, so she is a bit small” was his court. Whatever lingering sympathy I might He assured me that they would dismissive response. “And I regard this have felt for the Paediatrician ended there. back me in my recommendations. phone call as intimidation of a I wrote that my colleague was witness” and hung up on him. Later I was This case highlighted a number of becoming increasingly frail and Sleeping With The Enemy to learn that the paediatrician in question issues for me. First, Barry Reed had been uncomfortable dealing with sick patients. was part of the referral base to right about my esteemed chief. Second, I left blank the question: “Would you Tufts Medical Center and that the Medical no matter how egregious the doctor’s recommend this applicant to full time After reading the extracts of The Ryan successful outcome. It was a sobering was world renowned in Medical circles insurance lawyer had called my chief misconduct was, getting a professional privileges?” Later I was approached by Report in The Irish Times I went for a long introduction to the legal system. and had a well established reputation for so he could bring pressure on me witness to confi rm this posed considerable the chief of Paediatrics who wanted to walk to see if I could clear my head. Cover his Medical opinion in malpractice cases. not to give evidence. hurdles for the plaintiff ’s legal team. know if I had taken leave of my senses? ups, it seemed to me, were part of the In 1977 I was approached by Joe The take away message published in a Needless to say there was a showdown human condition whether one is Mulligan whom I knew socially as to whether Seemingly Barry, who had asked him The next day as Joe drove me to the commentary on this case was: don’t involving all four of us. The hospital examining the conduct of institutions as I would be interesed in reviewing to address an annual meeting of court house I related what had transpired alter the Medical record. The commentary had off ered him a courtesy diff erent as The State and The Church. malpractice cases that came his way. lawyers involved in medical malpractice, the night before. He was outraged and never mentioned the damning facts of the staff position which would permit him Questions have been raised concerning I agreed on condition that I would not presented him with a case during the determined to have my boss subpoenaed doctor’s failure to diagnose. The Medical a limited number of admissions. I told how it was possible for these abuses to go into court to give evidence. So Joe cocktail hour that he was thinking of and a mistrial called. I reminded him that Profession seemed more interested him exactly what I had written and that go on for so long undetected. introduced me to his associates at Reed, pursuing. When he was reassured that it was he was still my boss. When we got to the in protecting the Physician than I had left the recommendation blank. In the case of domestic abuse the McCarthy and Mulligan, all of whom a clear case of malpractice he took it to court court house the legal teams met with addressing the Medical misconduct. issue of collusion between the victim were well over six feet and cut from a a year later. Much to his surprise, however, the judge in his chambers and all hell The most senior member of the group, and the perpetrator is a common theme. mould that I had thought had been interred he discovered that the selfsame individual broke loose. But the case went forward. At this stage I had appeared in court representing the position of the Certainly, collusion was defi nitely in years before with the remains of James was now listed among the witnesses for twice and written a number of opinions credentials committee, appealed to evidence, where the abuse in question Michael Curly. the defense. When Barry pointed this During the hearing both sides on cases which were either dismissed him to accept the off er of courtesy staff was not reported and when reported not out in court he was forced to withdraw presented writing experts to establish or settled out of court. I did not and suggested that he should seriously acted upon. Certainly “The Last Hurrah” was alive and from the case. The message to me was that I and refute the evidence of Physician confi ne my activities to either protecting consider retiring in the next couple of years. well and still running the city. (There was should watch my back. tampering with the written record. the doctor or the patient. I called All this he rejected. However, fi nancial Bearing all this in mind I had to ask an autographed photograph to Joe in Well it turned out to be a love fest them as I saw them. However, a couple considerations resolved the impasse and myself how the Medical Profession his offi ce from Cardinal Cushing. Joe’s A year later Joe Mulligan and his partner between the experts, agreeing on of the cases involved doctors in an he and his wife, who had managed to get would fare under such scrutiny. mother had been his secretary). During the Jim McCarthy came to my offi ce to discuss sixteen of the alterations to the chart but adjoining state who complained bitterly someone else to write her a The answer to that question unfortunately introductions I met a tall young lawyer in shirt a case. It involved a 16 year old girl both fi nding as many as three more each to their state Medical society. recommendation, were forced to I already knew. sleeves by the name of Jan Schlichtmann. He whose frustrated parents took her to the which the other had not seen. Well, in Their complaints resulted in me having close their practice. They went into was one of Barry’s protégés and the only one emergency room at Boston Children’s basketball parlance, the guilty verdict to defend myself to two successive retirement bitter and never adjusted As Physicians we are occasionally who had no claim on the map of Ireland. Hospital where she was diagnosed as having was a slam dunk, fi nding for the chiefs of staff . The questions ended to the change. Their retirement was confronted by behaviour in one guise end-stage renal disease by a Medical plaintiff to the tune of $4.2million, the when I pointed out that their greeted with universal sympathy and or another which challenges us to take a stand. The fi rst case that Joe asked me to student. The family sued their Paediatrician largest malpractice award ever. predecessor had for many years done sadness. Except by me. More often than not we seek review was that of a young boy who for malpractice since they had been no more or less than what they were refuge in Shakespeare: “The fi rst had had an open aspiration of his trying for the previous six years to get Not long afterwards I ran into a accusing me of. They never had any My conscience was clear. The patients thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” hip and as a consequence suff ered him to address the issue of her recurrent member of the jury. When I asked questions as to the justifi cation of were being placed in jeopardy, while choosing to forget our duty to the permanent damage to the sciatic fevers. A review of the telephone records her how they had come to their the complaints or the validity of my I was in an untenable position, to use patient in our rush to protect the nerve. This child turned out to have confi rmed that the parents had made verdict she just replied: “Well, who did opinions. They were worried a sports analogy, playing the clean-up doctor, our colleague, the profession. leukemia and would subsequently die. seventy-six telephone calls to his offi ce. you think we were going to believe? about the loss of the referral base. position. Within months of their My fi rst serious involvement with the A review of her Medical record Him or you?” That seemed eminently fair to retirement he admitted to me that he legal profession occurred when I was As a consequence of Joe’s revealed a single page of notes to me. But when I asked her about the size of Once in private practice I was determined had forgotten all the dosages. And working in Neonatal Intensive Care at involvement in this case, the child’s mother which an estimated 18 alterations had the award she explained that there was not to be drawn back into the litigation she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. introduced him to a group of parents in been made. The case was indefensible a member of the jury very familiar with arena. I had joined a large group of Woburn, a town on the outskirts but they needed a professional Medical procedures that broke down Paediatricians and I was sharing an offi ce Despite my intentions to remain We had transferred to us from out of state of Boston. Seemingly there had been witness to attest to this in court. the case into its component parts space with an older couple. After 20 on the sidelines and avoid passing a baby whose delivery had been induced a large clustering of leukemia cases I reminded them of our original e.g. haemodialysis three time a week years working together they showed judgment on my colleagues the four weeks early by an Obstetrician who among the children in Woburn which the agreement and refused. for so many months, the loss of no signs of retiring. (She was 76 age old question had come back to was about to go on vacation. The baby parents suspected was due to industrial growth and chronic ill health for six and he 78 years old). Since we haunt me: Am I my brother’s keeper? developed serious RDS with disastrous pollution of the town’s water supply. Well, Jim McCarthy had little patience years, waiting for a kidney transplant, frequently saw patients in common I was Not only had the answer not consequences since we were unable to Joe asked me my opinion and I told him that for this. He pointed out that this child, life expectancy, etc. When they becoming increasingly concerned changed over the millennia but I had wean him off the ventilator. After geographic clustering of malignancies whose growth was seriously stunted, added it up it came to $4.2 million. about their judgment. Every fi ve years we discovered that it also includes the patient. about six months the family moved was a recognised phenomenon but there was now receiving dialysis three are required to reapply for accreditation to Philadelphia and we facilitated would be serious diffi culties establishing times a week while awaiting a kidney The next year I was asked to review a chart at the local hospital. This necessitates his transfer to an ICU there. After about cause and eff ect. Joe referred the case transplant. Had I no sense of moral duty involving the same Paediatrician who was writing recommendations in support 14 months he died. to Schlichtmann. (He latched on to to protect the public from a clearly being sued by the fi rst cousin of this child. of one’s colleagues’ applications, usually it with the tenacity of a bulldog, his incompetent physician and redress the The parents seeing some striking a formality. The husband chose me to The family sued and I was asked to give eff orts resulting in a highly acclaimed serious neglect that this child had similarities to their own child had taken her do the honors. I approached the most evidence which I willingly did, feeling book, Civil Action, which was subsequently suff ered at his hands? Well when you to Children’s Hospital in Boston where it was senior member of our group who was that they had been poorly served by their fi lmed starring John Travolta. The irony of put it like that…. discovered she had already lost 90% of one on the credentials committee and Obstetrician. Since the jury consisted of that great legal action was fi nancial ruin for of her kidneys. The case was settled out of discussed my serious reservations. citizens of one of the most conservative Schlichtmann and a fat referral fee to Joe.) The evening before I was to appear in court I states in the US the family lost received a telephone call from my chief who their case basically because it resented It was during one of these initial proceeded to ask me what I thought I was its professional classes being sued. meetings that Barry Reed asked me who doing. When I had explained And it was no more complicated than that. my chief of staff was at Tufts Medical some of the more blatant aspects As for the attorneys, who had worked long Center where I was now working. (Barry of the physician’s misconduct and and hard to bring this family a modicum had just written The Verdict, a medical discovered that I was not making an of justice, they received nothing for malpractice whodunit loosely based on impression I remarked out of desperation: their eff orts since they worked on a an actual case which was turned into a “She is now a sixteen year old renal contingency fee based upon a movie starring Paul Newman.) My boss dwarf awaiting a kidney transplant!”
14 15 Dr Bridget Maher deteriorate and even writing an essay in Final wealth of Medical research taking place the help of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Med may be diffi cult. Besides the creative writ- in UCC both by staff and fellow students. Centre, the Medical students gave ing SSM, I also teach workshops on scientifi c This year’s MedSoc Committee are part presentations to school-children on key writing to fourth year students as part of their of Student Team MRN and write the nutritional topics. Besides delivering point Writing Skills and the Art of Medicine research project module and this year sees the monthly principal investigator interviews. of practice nutrition, this Outreach introduction of a new writing workshop The newsletter also publishes Medical programme also helped the students specifi cally for fi nal year students. student research projects, which helps develop communication and presentation I’ve always loved books, the touch, feel and Get the story right and you’re half Writing Skills and Research let the Medical students know the type skills. smell of a new book, the sacred silence of way there. Get it wrong and mistakes UCC is the country’s leading research The Art of Medicine of research their fellow students are bookstores, the power and the passion of occur. It therefore makes sense that institution and the School of Medicine Through literature, and through creative doing. The newsletter also publishes A joy and a privilege carefully worded prose. I’m one of those formal instruction in writing skills benefi ts actively fosters and promotes a culture writing, students and doctors can develop articles from medical alumni in its ‘Frontiers’ Do I enjoy teaching Medical students? Most people who wouldn’t dare bend the cover Medical students. Even the process of of research among its Medical students. empathy and an appreciation and section and it is inspirational to read about the defi nitely. To teach clinical skills and writing of a book or allow it to be marked with writing everything down is helpful. Every Medical student completes a research understanding of the human condition wonderful research being carried out by skills to Medical students is a joy and a coff ee cup rings and raspberry jam. The Medical indemnity organisations project in their fi nal year. Scientifi c writing they can learn the The Art of Medicine. UCC Medical graduates all over the world. privilege. When you teach, you are constantly I don’t understand why people discard constantly remind us that failure to has its own special skills and constraints, Writing helps us refl ect and make sense learning. And it gives you a chance to catch up books after reading them or tear out document is a common source of but good writing style is transferable from of things. It also helps us gain self-knowledge. Nutrition module for Medical students on stuff that you missed the fi rst time round! pages for shopping lists. And I don’t like litigation. Recent surveys reveal that creative writing to scientfi c writing, Many years in General Practice working when borrowed books aren’t returned… Irish students have slipped down and honing one’s creative writing Writing as Therapy with dietary-related illnesses made me The skills and the craft of creative writing Far from becoming worthless after the international literacy rankings. skills will make one a better writer. Writing isn’t easy, one doesn’t wait for eager to learn more about Medical are relevant to every doctor who practises being read, books should be cherished The amount of time spent reading A well-written article can be the inspiration, one just sits down and gets nutrition. I am now studying for a Medicine. If writing skills workshops help and appreciated, passed on only to those books has decreased. And reading, diff erence between acceptance or on with it. Having to do this regularly Masters Degree in Medical Nutrition and I re-kindle a love of the written word, or help who will take could good care of them, after all, is at the core of writing. rejection of a research paper and promotes self-discipline and is good co-ordinate the special study module make students pay more attention caressed lovingly as fi ngers skim the However, the attractions and rewards of good writing skills will undoubtedly practice. In addition, writing can have on Medical nutrition in the School of to their writing, then this module will book-shelves, greeting old favourites, new media are very high. enhance a Medical career. considerable therapeutic benefi ts both Medicine. UCC is one of the few Medical have been worthwhile. remembering good times shared together. Communication via text, e-mails, for patient and doctor, and problems schools to off er a study module on and social networking is a wonderful Observation skills, communication skills, often fi nd solutions through writing. nutrition. I believe that nutrition should be However, I believe that it will have much Soon after starting General Practice, societal advance and something that has empathy, understanding, appreciation of part of core curriculum, and that doctors greater and longer-lasting eff ects. I believe I began writing occasional pieces for catapulted the easy acquisition of the human condition School of Medicine Research Newsletter should be as familiar with doing that it will make for better doctors. And the Medical press. This was followed by knowledge in a way I never thought Apart from the obvious advantag- Interest in writing and publishing has also a nutritional assessment as they that, after all, is what it’s all about. That, and three years as editor of Irish Doctor, a possible as a student. However, es of improving writing skills, creative led to my involvement in other initiatives are with taking a blood pressure. not allowing coff ee stains on your books. regular column in the Irish Medical Times, Medical students must be able to write, writing workshops have many advantages in the Medical School such as a new Nutritional Medicine is also a rich and seven years as editor of Modern and ideally, must be able to write well. that may not be immediately apparent. monthly research e-newsletter from the research area and hopefully we will see more ‘The trouble with many doctors is not that Medicine Ireland. Somewhere along the By having formal instruction in There are a number of benefi ts that may School of Medicine. The newsletter is a student projects in this area. This year, as they do not know enough, but that they line I helped develop a start-up Medical writing skills, students become more not be readily quantifi ed and appreci- great way of making students aware of the part of the nutrition module, and with do not see enough.’ - Sir Dominic Corrigan website ‘doctor to doctor’. Two years ago, aware of their writing and can learn ated and may never be measured like other I published a novel ‘Fallen Angels’ and the basic tenets of good writing style ‘learning outcomes.’ These benefi ts may there are a few manuscripts on memory that will help them in the years ahead. relate to the actual process, rather than sticks on the incredible mess that is my the end learning outcome, and may be work-table. The play ‘Gentlemen prefer Blands’ The Humanities subtle and ill-defi ned, with a long latent UCC Affinity Card! awaits production! Writing and Medicine Medical schools such as Mount Sinai, period. Many of these attitudes and skills A UCC Affinity Credit Card from Bank of Ireland is hard to beat. Not only can you support your college, at no cost to you, but you can also enjoy a competitive rate AND get 1 year’s comprehensive multi trip travel insurance for free! dove-tail nicely together and while for Chekov, The Mayo Clinic and Yale have are integral to the practise of Medicine. Support UCC Sports Fund ‘Medicine is my wife, writing my mistress’, well-developed Medical Humanities Observation skills, communication skills, Get approved for a Bank of Ireland UCC Affinity Credit Card and BOI will give UCC a one-off contribution. Continue to use your card, and BOI will also donate a percentage of the annual spend on your card to the UCC Sports Fund. Your college benefits and your donations won’t cost you a cent. More than 5,000 graduates currently hold a Bank of for me, it’s more ‘no wife, two mistresses’. programmes. UCC College of Medicine understanding, empathy and appreciation Ireland UCC Affinity Credit Card. and Health has championed the Visual of the human condition, are all skills Support UCC Sports Fund Special Study Module on Creative Writing Arts in its wonderful Jenning’s Gallery essential to the Art of Medicine. Get approved for a Bank of Ireland UCC Affinity Credit Card and BOI will give UCC a one-off contribution. Continue to use your card, When I fi rst approached Professor David and the School of Medicine actively By studying creative writing, students and BOI will also donate a percentage of the annual spend on your card to the UCC Sports Fund.Your college benefits and your donations won’t cost you a cent. More than 5,000 graduates currently hold a Bank of Ireland UCC Affinity Credit Card. Kerins, then Dean of the Medical School promotes the Humanities (Art and can greatly enhance these qualities. at UCC, about designing and delivering Medicine and Creative Writing special Learning to observe is something we FREE travel insurance Get approved for a standard Bank of Ireland Affinity Credit card up to the end of April 2011 and we’ll provide comprehensive a Special Study Module on Writing Skills study modules) off ering hands-on, practical don’t formally teach in Medical school. multi-trip travel insurance for you and your spouse/partner and your children under 23 for a whole year. Cover applies once the Insured Person has paid for at least 50% of their total fare for the Insured Journey using their Affinity Credit Card. for Medical students, he was instantly workshops. This year’s writing skills Yet, observation lies at the very The travel insurance even covers winter sports! supportive and enthusiastic. Last September, module focused mainly on creative core of clinical examination. Apply today Simply pick up an application form for a standard Bank of Ireland Affinity Credit I began teaching this module. It is a writing but the module also included ‘Sapere Vedere’ – Learn to See Card from your local BOI branch or call Vicki or Catherine in Bank of Ireland UCC @ 021 4277321. privilege to talk writing skills to a group of a special workshop on scientifi c (Leonardo Da Vinci). Writers, by nature, learn A great credit card Your standard Affinity Credit Card has a competitive rate of 17.4% APR variable for purchase, has no annual fee and you can add up to 3 additional bright and enthusiastic Medical students. writing and on writing Medical to observe, they learn not to just look, but to cardholders absolutely free. And if you want to transfer the balance from a credit card from another financial institution, you will get a 2.9% APR balance transfer rate, I hope to pass on to them the writing tips articles for the lay and Medical press. see. fixed for a full 12 months Representative Example of credit card purchase at standard interest rate of 14.01% variable. Typical APR of 17.4% variable including annual Government Stamp Duty of €30. Assuming purchase of €1,500 repaid in equal that it’s taken me a lifetime to acquire. Key topics included ‘show, don’t tell’, instalments over a 12 month period. The total amount repayable by customer is €1,663.65 which includes initial purchase of €1,500 and a total cost of credit of €163.65. * Balance transfer offers apply to new credit card customers only. Balance transfers may not be made from existing Bank of Ireland credit cards or from credit cards outside the Republic of Ireland or United Kingdom. The balance transfer rate is available for a maximum eff ective characterisation, dialogue, ‘Seeing is an Art that must be learned’. period of twelve months from the date of account opening after which time theopening balance transfer reverts to the standard variable rates applicable to your card and thestandard variable rate will apply to the balance outstanding at that time. Lending criteria terms and conditions apply to all credit card applications. Credit cannot be offered to anyone under the age of 18. Rates correct as of February 2011. Writing skills are integral to the practice interior monologue, structure and plot, Sir William Hershell. (1738-1822). Seeing Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. of Medicine. Every day, doctors write self-editing, re-writing, submitting your is active, not passive, and by developing a myriad of letters, notes, reports, work and getting published. Students the focused ‘seeing’ of a writer, certifi cates and prescriptions. Doctors completed writing assignments and observational skills can be greatly UCC/AIB Affinity Visa Card write a number of journal articles, Every AIB Affinity Cardholder plays a significant part in enabling the University to generate additional funding for Heritage participated actively in the workshop. enhanced. Writing skills are part and parcel at UCC. On average, each Card yields €33 per annum in year one and over €20 per annum thereafter to UCC. Income from the book chapters, guidelines and books Feedback from the students was very of good communication skills, and good scheme has helped to finance a range of conservation initiatives, including the restoration of the Aula Maxima. AIB donates almost €13 to the UCC Heritage Fund for every credit card account opened as well as a percentage every time the card is used, all at no additional in their careers. Side by side with a positive and the module will be off ered communication skills are essential to the cost to cardholders. A special introductory rate on balance transfers and purchases will be applied to the accounts of new AIB credit card stethoscope, a pen is the tool of the trade to third year students again next year. practise of Medicine. Being able to write holders for the first 12 months from account opening, after which the balance transfer and purchase APR will revert to the standard APR applicable at the time. In carrying a UCC/AIB Affinity Visa Credit Card you are supporting the University’s rich architectural heritage in a very for any doctor. Serious mistakes can The students have now submitted their well is a necessity for a doctor, not a luxury. tangible way. The Cards feature an attractive image of the UCC Quadrangle. There is no charge for applying for, or switching from your current be caused by sloppy writing or failure individual assignments, which included It is disrespectful to write letters to our card to a UCC Affinity Credit Card. Application Forms for a UCC/AIB Affinity card are available from the UCC Alumni Office or from AIB on Tel: 01 668 5500. to document a fi nding or a result. poetry, short stories and chapters of novels. colleagues and patients that are diffi cult to Lending criteria, Terms and Conditions apply. Credit Facilities are subject to repayment capacity and financial status and are not available to persons under 18 From fi rst year in Medical school, students These were all excellent and many of read and to understand. Students need to years of age. Government stamp duty of €30 is charged annually per credit card account. Allied Irish Banks, plc, is regulated by the Financial Regulator learn the importance of taking a case history, the students hope to continue writing. be allowed practise and hone their writing which is, simply, the patient’s story. skills early on, or otherwise, these skills 16 17 Dr Bill McEvoy Dr Rory O’Brien
Frontiers A Conversation with Dr Don Coleman
As a UCC graduate working abroad, painful! I would also strongly recommend RO’B: What were your fi rst memories of Modern educationalists and the Medical Professor McIntosh advised me I maintain a keen interest in all things related doing as many electives at home and UCC? Council might have something to say about to go to Liverpool. I was appointed to Cork and the College. It is comforting to abroad as possible, if nothing more than DC: I started in Pre Med, 15 girls and a fourth year Medical Student circumcis- to a Registrar’s post in Liverpool and see that the strong tradition of excellence just to see which environment suits you quite a number of clerical students. ing patients in the outpatients in the North passed my diploma in Anaesthetics We also have an interest in new technologies in UCC Medical School continues apace. best and also to broaden one’s horizons. The clerical students appeared to change Infi rmary as I was expected to do! and returned home to take up my post in the such as CT angiography. One of our studies In particular, I am impressed with the their minds during the fi rst two years. Communication and team working were Mercy Hospital. looked at the downstream implications abundant research activities within the As far as research goes, it is what you make My best memories of the pre-clinical just as important then as now. My fi rst of CT angiography in a large cohort of College. It appears that there have never of it. I am typical in that I fi nd the process years were in the Philosophical solo surgical eff ort began by my going to RO’B: How did you become involved in 2000 patients. We followed referrals for been better opportunities for students intellectually rewarding and reciprocating. and Literary society. Following second Sister Mullins, a wonderful, patient and Medical Politics? stress tests, invasive angiography and interested in participating in research. The increased research opportunities in med we signed on for clinical teaching kind nurse, saying “Sister, there’s a woman DC: I initially became involved with the events. In addition, we analysed medicine My own recollection of UCC is more of Ireland are appreciated by many, but the in either the North Infi rmary, the South outside there with a baby talking about Faculty of Anaesthesia which was founded compliance rates. There is a strong push excellent bedside teaching with a strong current economic climate must create Infi rmary (men only) and the Mercy, also twig and berries what does she mean?’’ in 1961 and initially was composed amongst regulatory bodies to perform intellectual environment stimulating anxiety for young researchers. As we had the County Home which later Sister Mullins kindly explained that solely of people from Dublin and Bel- adequate quality control and outcomes healthy competitiveness at exam time. an alternative, the US has boundless became St. Finbarr’s Hospital. In St. Finbarr’s the baby needed to be circumcised. fast. It was suggested to me that put my studies of these new imaging modalities. Genuine research opportunities seemed opportunities for an eager beaver. US you had Dr Michael Gould who was the name down at the next election and I This is a very productive fi eld to get sparse. It is nice to see a better balance research is a form of ‘economy of scale’; there Medical Director. He was rarely called In those days Consultants not only was elected to the Faculty of Anaesthesia involved in, with exciting new technologies! being struck. is just so much going on that is easier to break Dr Gould being more aff ectionately called had their hospital practice but they RCSI. Very early on after taking up the into your scene of choice in a meaningful way. Dr Michael. also engaged in general practice. position my dear colleague Prof. John In summary, when it comes to research, I graduated in 2004 and did my Intern year Additionally only qualifi ed doctors Dundee who was Head of the Education the mantra “Do what you enjoy” holds in CUH. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect My own research has concentrated on Cardiac When I qualifi ed in 1945, there were permitted to operate. Sub-committee read out the names of exam- true. You just need to remember that you of that year, but decided to travel further imaging and risk assessment. I have been was a glut of doctors. Doctors were being At that time General Practitioners iners all from Belfast and Dublin. There was can ‘do’ it anywhere. As long as you enjoy afi eld for SHO training. I had done an elective working with the Ciccarone Centre for the released from the armed forces and were paid £300 or £400 a year for a never an examiner outside Dublin and Belfast. it, you can make it meaningful, either in in the Mayo clinic as a UCC student and was Prevention of Heart Disease in Johns Hopkins they had fi rst preference on jobs. comprehensive 24/7 service. General I pointed out that there was no Ireland or elsewhere. I would advise that if interested in getting some more US headed up by Professor Blumenthal. We My fi rst job was in the Mercy for which Practitioners were at the mercy of the examiner from Cork, Galway or Limerick. you are interested in doing an US elective, exposure. To that end, I applied for a have an interest in the measurement of I was paid £75 a year rising to £100 per County Managers. In 1961 I recall a Dr Ray Davies from Dublin explained it is a good idea to check if UCC has an job in the Mater Hospital which, at the time, coronary calcifi cation with cardiac CT to annum after two and a half years. There were meeting in Athlone and Dr Joe Galvin a that they had great diffi culty getting offi cial relationship with the US Medical had a six month rotation in the Mayo clinic aid in the assessment of cardiac risk. Prior only two of us to run the Mercy Hospital. Radiologist in Cork along with examiners from outside Dublin and Belfast. school you are interested in visiting (and as part of SHO training. Then, having had a studies of ours have looked at risk factors In the 1950s almost all of the class other Cork doctors discussing the matter I proposed Professor Denis O’ Sullivan if not, lobbying early on to have UCC Med lot of subsequent exposure to US trained contributing to the progression of coronary that qualifi ed decided to go to of doctors being suspended and as an examiner, I hadn’t asked him and school establish one…). It can be diffi cult physicians as a Cardiology Registrar in calcifi cation, and also at treatments America. Most of them went to California. being investigated by a committee set I was terrifi ed. They agreed to appoint to navigate the system independently the Mater, I decided to prolong my aimed at retarding the process. In addi- I remember Luke Kelly from Cobh, up by the County Managers. Joe Galvin Professor O’ Sullivan. That night when and more and more commonly, US Medical US training further. In 2008, I was lucky to tion, we have an interest in “reclassifi cation” and Des McHenry but there were proposed that we start a Medical Union. I got back, I immediately rang Denis. schools are only accepting students match to Residency at Johns Hopkins. Doing of those at intermediate cardiac risk (by several others whose names I can’t To his credit Denis without demur from foreign universities with whom a US Internal Medicine residency makes clinical risk factors) into either high or low remember. Doctors in America were paid The Medical Union was set up and a trained went up and examined. they have an established affi liation. it possible for a foreign medical graduate risk categories by using calcium scores. the equivalent of £500-600 a year so the negotiator was employed. Following a (FMG) to realistically match to a clinical This may facilitate better treatment hospitals here were left with few or no work to rule they achieved 6 weeks’ offi cial Subsequently I proposed Dr. Anne Wilson Fellowship in Cardiology. Thankfully, I am decisions in this ambiguous group. applicants. The Bons had to have a doctor holidays in addition to other who was a colleague of mine in Cork. due to start Fellowship training in Hopkins in I have also looked at the ability of coronary in residence and they paid £500 a year I concessions. This was the beginning of Anne has an English Fellowship and an July. It may seem like a long road but I believe calcifi cation to stratify risk in smokers think the late Robin O’ Donoghue got the doctors getting organised. In the 60’s MSC, fi rst class honours in Pharmacology. it was worth it professionally, despite (who are known to have high baseline job. However the real change in the and the 70’s the Anaesthetists pursued I then explained to the Faculty that it was the signifi cant personal sacrifi ces. cardiac risk), and have shown that even 1950s was the visit of the American their claims. Ultimately after much a little bit awkward because Ann Wilson While emmigrating may not be for everybody, a zero calcium score in a smoker should inspection group. Following the negotiation there was agreement and this was the demonstrator in Pharmacology I would humbly recommend that UCC not provide reassurance that the patient inspection the only department that got a was very much due to Mr Charles Haughey. and Professor Dr. Dan O’Mahony was the students keep an open mind and do will be event-free over follow-up (prior fi rst class recommendation was the head of the department and, as a matter their USMLE exams during college while studies had suggested that zero calcium department of Public Health. RO’B: How did you decide to specialise in of courtesy, I recommended that he the information is still fresh. I can vouch from equated to universally good outcomes). Professor Jack Saunders was the head Anaesthesia? should also be invited. They agreed experience that doing the exams later on is of department and the Chief Medical DC: In 1946 the Anaesthetist in the and hence both Dan and Anne Offi cer in the region. He published Mercy was Dr. Walter Rahilly. He had became involved in the examinations. a record of the Public Health Services won £30,000 in the sweep which was a Then after a while the Faculty decided that in Cork County annually. His organisation considerable sum of money. Resident house people with an English Fellowship could of the delivery of the public health service offi cers had to give all the emergency be awarded an ad eundum Irish Fellowship. was regarded as exemplary. anaesthetics. In addition to ether Ann Wilson obtained her Irish Fellowship anaesthesia we also gave local and and subsequently Anne became a permanent The inspection group advocated major spinal anaesthesia. As we had to Lecturer in UCC. Standing orders of the organisational changes for continued become profi cient quickly I devoured Faculty dictate that to give an Honorary recognition of the Medical School in Cork the few books on Anaesthetics in Fellowship it must be unanimous. including the organisation of and the library. Sadly Dr. Walter Rahilly My late colleague Billy Wren who had just attendance at outpatient sessions. This suff ered a heart attack and died. I was come on the faculty board came up to me was a radical change and there was much invited to apply for the Anaesthesia and he said “look, since I came on the Faculty diffi culty within the hospitals getting post and I was appointed as we are talking about nothing except this some of the senior staff to change their Anaesthetist to the Mercy Hospital Honorary Fellowship. I named 5 or 6 other practice. However some surgical practises provided I obtained a qualifi cation Consultant Anaesthetists who should that are currently being promoted such in Anaesthetics. I went to Oxford be awarded Honorary Fellowships. as outpatient surgery were practised.4 and after about 7 months in Oxford, 18 19 Dr Bill Collins I explained that the Faculty would benefi t Haughey was made Minister for Health and turned out to be great supporters of enormously from this move both fi nancially everything changed. The Medical Union met the Faculty. I am very pleased with. and from the involvement of a with Charlie Haughey over in the Busáras. greater number of Anaesthetists. This We had a magnifi cent lunch with good RO’B: How did you persuade Monique to Pharmaceutical Medicine: Experiences of a UCC graduate proposal was agreed. Denis Moriarty, wine. Mr Haughey proposed reopening come and live in Cork? When I decided to study Medicine at UCC, As a consequence, my experience with potentially high reward but a very risky Professor in UCD proposed that we negotiations on a fresh set of DC: Well I’ll tell you, having met quite a I’m sure I never thought that I would end Gilenya has been one of the most business. Most of the projects on which one set up our own College here in Ireland, criteria. It took 3 ½ years to get that deal as we number of Cork people when she was up spending most of my professional life demanding, but exciting, periods of my works in this industry fail, sometimes after I seconded the proposal. Subsequently were bankrupt at the time, not as bad as now here she was completely seduced by working in the pharmaceutical industry. career. This has involved intensive we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars. the College of Anaesthetists Ireland was but you know there was a pay freeze in ‘82 or them. She thought that they were a If I thought about the industry at all at interactions with international regulatory Anyone who follows the stock prices established. ‘83. The late Mr. Brendan Hensey and Dermot gifted race and I don’t think she regretted that time, it was probably with a critical authorities, in particular the FDA but also of pharmaceutical companies will also realise Condon formerly from Blarney were the it, I mean it is going back now you know perspective. One book which I read during with all of the other major authorities that their prices have not much changed, RO’B: How did you become involved in senior offi cials we dealt with and Peter 53 odd years and that’s a fair old stretch. my time as a Medical student still sticks in including the European EMA and the or have even declined, over the last decade National Medical Politics, as I recall you McQuillan the County Manager from the my mind because of its title: “There’s Gold Japanese PMDA. As the US approval refl ecting the high risk nature of the business were President? South East in Waterford came up with in Them Thar Pills”. Googling it in 2011 leads process is the most transparent, my and the increasing pressures on health care DC: There was a meeting of the Medical what was eventually agreed on. Anytime me to a book review on www.marxists.org! involvement included presenting at a public costs in the developed countries. Union branch in Cork. I was working we reached an impasse, which we did Later this year I will be celebrating 25 years and televised FDA Advisory Committee I have been lucky to work for Novartis in the Eye & Ear Hospital at the time. frequently we could ring up Mr Haughey’s in the pharmaceutical industry. I have spent meeting. The EMA also held an advisory which was formed as a merger of two Mr Ernest Cantillon without every asking secretary and he would meet us in a room all of this time working with Swiss-based committee meeting. However, the presentation Basel-based companies (Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy) me proposed my name. I was duly elected. in Leinster House, he was a great listener. companies, most of it with Novartis (including there is made without the presence of the in 1996 and which has been quite I became President at the time when the one of its predecessor companies, Sandoz). public and without cameras. successful since then, although our share new inter-party government was formed RO’B: What gave you most satisfactory Overall, I think I can honestly say that price has also not moved much over and Health and Social Security were after your successful career? Dr Rory O’Brien I do not regret my career choice. Although a for-profi t company, I think one the past decade. Though it may not be split. Mr Brendan Corish became DC: Well I’ll tell you one of the things that Working at the headquarters of a large can also view pharmaceutical fi rms such apparent from the outside, companies such Minister for Health and Frank McClusky gives me most satisfaction is the fact that I pharmaceutical company can be a fascinating as Novartis as very large research institutes. as Novartis are also continuously involved in became Minister of Social Security. am still alive number one and if I can struggle experience. Although for most of my career According to the Novartis Annual Report, a process of change and renewal. Given the At our fi rst meeting they proposed a National on for nine months I will have made the 90 I have been based in Basel, Switzerland, Research and Development cost 9 billion limited patent life of drugs, pharmaceutical Health Service for Ireland. We were mark. The awarding of Fellowships to my I professionally have little to do with US dollars in 2010. Novartis has major companies have to eff ectively completely not in favour of the proposals as colleagues in the County Hospitals who Switzerland. I have always worked in Clinical R&D centres in Europe (Basel) and the US re-invent themselves every 10-15 years. outlined. Discussions continued. In 1974–75 were working on their own under diffi cult Research and Development which, although (Boston and New Jersey) and also sites of they set up a three man committee and circumstances and the least they could truly global, is heavily infl uenced by US growing importance in China and India. The Outside of work, I have really enjoyed living we had meetings but none of them get is recognition. They subsequently medical practice and by FDA regulations. Like need to interact with all of these gives my in the Basel region. Basel is a city which is
ever came to anything. In 1977 Charlie Dr Don Coleman all of the major European pharmaceutical work a truly global perspective which I fi nd not much bigger than Cork although it has companies, Novartis has a very large very interesting. However, working in clinical quite a large hinterland. It is on the border US-based staff which is fully integrated research means that one also has a lot of to both Germany and France and Italy is Patients and Peace at the Jenning’s - Mr Michael Hanna with the Basel-based associates. This also interactions with physicians from academic only about a three hour car journey away has a signifi cant impact on my workdays centres, both those who are investigators (making the big assumption that there is with many teleconferences and video- in our studies and those who serve on not a huge traffi c jam trying to get through On 16th September 2010, coinciding with technical understanding of drafting and conferences in the European afternoon Data Monitoring Committees and provide the Gotthard tunnel under the Alps!). the Medical Alumni Scientifi c Conference painting with fl amboyant use of /evening. The mornings bring more interactions independent oversight on our studies. My wife is a German from this area which in Brookfi eld, the Jenning’s Gallery opened colour and form. He worked mainly in with countries such as Japan and Australia Results of our studies are published has certainly helped me to adapt. I have a retrospective exhibition of the works acrylics which lend themselves perfectly to participate in its development. and, in recent years, with India. in the major journals and presented two children and, although we lived of Mr Joe O’Donnell, MoCh, FRCSI to this kind of expression. One is charmed We are particularly keen to connect at scientifi c congresses. Novartis does, in New Jersey in 1999-2000 and my daughter (1943-2009). On the same evening, by the visual accuracy and sensitivity of with our Medical A lumni and will be Over the last 25 years, I have worked on the of course, also have a large Marketing went to school there, the fi rst language of Mr Ger McGreal delivered the the foreground colours in “Cork County” and providing full details of this programme in development of several diff erent compounds. department with which I also interact a lot. my children is German. As this is diff erent inaugural Mr Joe O’Donnell Memorial then surprised by the shimmering “Harvest due course. If you are interested to learn However, I think the two most interesting I don’t see any contradiction between from mine, I regret it a little though I suppose lecture, paying warm tribute to Joe’s Field” set against a cobalt sky. The world of more, contact Ruth McGrath Barker at and successful have been Sandostatin having both R&D and Marketing departments. they also profi t from having exposure to persistence, care and meticulous attention visual art is poorer for the untimely death of [email protected] or keep in touch LAR (octreotide) and Gilenya (fi ngolimod). R&D cannot survive in the long run unless both the German and English speaking to detail and the manner by which he Joe O’Donnell. with our website: communicated his vocation using analogies www.ucc.ie/en/jennings-gallery Sandostatin LAR is a somatostatin analogue we develop compounds which are of benefi t worlds. I still try to maintain my and is used for conditions such as acromegaly to patients and bring profi ts which can contacts with Ireland. I am a member of a from his vast experience. UCC and the Learn to See, See to Learn and carcinoid tumours. Gilenya belongs to be invested in further research. small, but quite active, Basel Irish Club. Jenning’s Gallery were privileged to be The Jenning’s has been working a completely new class of compounds In addition to the drug development projects, In 2008 we organised an exhibition able to pay tribute to Joe O’Donnell on initiatives to catalyse greater (sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators) one of the most enriching things for me has in Basel to commemorate the 400th for his artistic talent, for his 23 year expression in the curricula of the College and is the fi rst oral medication to be approved been the very international environment in anniversary of the “Flight of the Earls”. service as a Vascular Surgeon and for the of Medicine and Health. There is for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The which I work. My work colleagues come from In March 1608, the Gaelic lords of Ulster, great personal qualities for which he is a growing body of evidence supporting development of any new drug takes several countries all over the world. Although I am their families and friends crossed the Swiss remembered by his colleagues, family the benefi cial use of arts in the education years and I have worked on the clinical based in Switzerland, this is a small country frontier at Basle on their way to Rome. and friends. He was one of those of doctors and other health professionals. development of Gilenya for the past 5 years. and, as a result, very few of my colleagues are From Basel they travelled to Lucerne, across teachers whose words and wisdom We have begun to bring this evidence The development of Gilenya was particularly Swiss. A major advantage is that the working the lake, and from there they crossed over will live on in the lives of his students. base together and to establish contacts challenging given its novel mechanism of language is English (American-English to be the high, ice-bound reaches of the Alps at the with international medical and nursing ‘Cork County’ action which involves actions on a receptor precise!). I can speak German but this is St. Gotthard Pass before descending Joe was a student of art for a number schools where imaginative and creative Acrylic paint on canvas system about which information was previously really not necessary for my work. I have also towards Italy. I was pleasantly surprised of years before he retired. He was courses have been devised. Benefi ts to limited. A further hurdle was that the regulatory travelled extensively on business which, at the local interest in our exhibition, tutored in drawing and painting by students include enhanced observational environment for drug development has although very diff erent from the experiences which included an Irish music evening. Susan and Josef Keys from the year 2000. skill and greater emotional perception. changed a lot over the past decade, which one has with vacation travel, It also included a play by Brian Friel More recently, he studied under the UCC is taking a lead in this area using the in particular since the withdrawal of Vioxx has given me some insight into conditions (“Making History”), which was French artist Dorothee Roberts at Jennings Gallery as a resource for staff and from the market for safety reasons. In addition, in many countries around the world. produced by the Ouroboros Theatre Carrigaline Art Studio. Up to the students. Learn to See, See to Learn is a the multiple sclerosis fi eld was heavily aff ected So you may ask, getting back to that book Group from Ireland, and for which we time of his death, Joe was exploring patrons programme refl ecting Leonardo’s by the temporary withdrawal of Tysabri because which I read as a student, now that I have received support from the Irish Embassy his own personal visual language. motto “Sapere Vedere” (Learn to of the occurrence of a rare, but potentially written quite a bit about the pills, what can in Switzerland (luckily this was at the time He was developing into an exciting Look) that will support this initiative life-threatening, condition called PML I tell you about the gold?! Well the reality, before the major impact of the fi nancial abstract artist combining a sound and provide an ongoing link for patrons ‘Harvest Field’ (progressive, multifocal leucoencephalopathy). as I see it, is that drug development is a crisis was felt!). Acrylic paint on canvas 20 21 Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. and her summer home in West up her practise in Mayfi eld. Her practise Cork, where she enjoyed gardening. fl ourished and was very successful Sincere sympathy to his wife Freda with patients loving her kindness, high (née Rice) and children Fiona, Conal, There was no ambiguity about her: standard of care, attention to detail Appreciations Jason, Tracey, Rickard, Freddy and Donna. what she said she meant. She treated and professionalism. Her achievements SOD all people with the same endearing not only included her successful directness and was treated with great dental practice but a very active Dr Michael Brosnan Dr Con D Creedon Anedotes abound about him. One day a respect and aff ection by staff and sporting life. She became a most Dr Michael Brosnan, who has The death took place on January chronic patient reappeared after an colleagues. She was well-known for her profi cient golfer at Muskerry Golf Club, died aged 79, was an outstanding 5th last of Dr Con Don Creedon, unusually long absence of a month, and Dr Bridget Foley wit and her way of addressing people as sailing the seas at Schull, menacing the standing sportsman, captaining the The Demesne, Dunmanway, Co. Cork at on seeing her in the distance he shouts Bridget Foley, who has died aged 85, was “child” whether surgeon or sister, seven or ski slopes of the Alps in Winter and owner Kerry Minor Team to All-Ireland James Connolly Memorial Hospital, “Mary I haven’t seen you for weeks, you a microbiologist and a founder member 70 – “now, child, go and wash your hands of some very successful racehorses, success in 1950, winning a Sigerson Cup Blanchestown, after a long illness. He was must have been sick”. Or the Sunday of the faculty of pathology at University and don’t spread infection”; and this was the most notable being Fissure Seal. in 1952, All-Ireland Senior medal son of the late John and Gretta Creedon morning as he was getting ready for College Cork. She was a woman of long before MRSA became a problem. Sheila was a formidable bridge player in 1953 and being president of Ballybunion of Creedon’s Hotel Inchigeelagh, and Mass when a drunk called to the house, phenomenal ability and personality who Hospital infection was anathema to her. and avid follower of Rugby; be it Munster Golf Club in 1996. Dr Mick or Bros as one of three in a family of fourteen, blood pouring down his face he cites, contributed enormously to the development Her physical wellbeing slowly deteriorated matches or Internationals both home he was aff ectionately known, was born who qualifi ed in Medicine. Of historical “Oh Johnny did you cut yourself and practice of microbiology in Cork and because of rheumatoid arthritis that and away. But her greatest achievement in Moyvane, a son of the legendary interest, during the Civil War opposing shaving again this morning”. nationally. plagued her for many years. The side-eff ects was in the love and pride she showed Con Brosnan who won six All- Ireland leaders Michael Collins and Eamonn However he also had a serious side. of her medication seriously aff ected her for her family from her beloved husband medals between 1923 and 1932, including deValera stayed in the hotel on one night in Away from the public persona was a She was a Consultant Microbiologist at skeletal system. But this did not deter “Kenneally” to her six children who 1931 when he was captain. 1922 each unaware of the others presence. prolifi c reader and profound thinker, who St Finbarr’s Hospital and later at the Cork her from getting on with life or aff ect inherited her talents in spades. Mick played football with Moyvane liked nothing better than to escape to his Regional Hospital, now Cork University her mental alertness, her wit or her with his brothers Jerry and Dr Jim. The young Con Don attended the local holiday home in Goleen, on the Mizen Hospital. She was Lecturer in Microbiology remarkable determination and resilience to Margaret her business acumen , Veronica National School, and was a native peninsula and enjoy the landscape and a at University College Cork, where the overcome the frequent setbacks she suff ered her love of life and style, Michelle (BDS) Attending Rockwell College he gaelic speaker. He subsequently attended good book. faculty of pathology was established in 1981. in her later years. She was an example her sporting prowess, Julie (MB) her captained the Junior Munster Cup St. Finbarrs College, Farranferris, where and inspiration to all who knew academia and her two boys John and team to victory in 1947. The following he excelled at his studies, and was a He was a great family man, and Bridget Foley was born in Manchester in 1925 her, whether colleagues or friends. Edmund. Sheila embraced her role year he won the fi rst of three Munster formidable sportsman, playing both gaelic he was very lucky to have such a where her father, Michael, was a journalist. She spent her last years in the comforting as grandmother with great joy and minor football medals with Kerry going football and hurling. After completing wonderful supportive wife in Freda When she was fi ve, the family moved to care of the staff of St Joseph’s Community wonderment. With each new arrival there was on to captain the team that won the 1950 his Leaving Cert. he entered St. Patrick’s who cared unselfi shly for their seven Belfast when Michael was appointed Nursing Unit, St Finbarr’s Hospital, a special place reserved for them in her big All-Ireland. Mick was unique in his genera- College Maynooth as a seminarian. However children, all of whom adored their parents. editor of the Irish News. In Belfast, Biddy where she died peacefully. generous heart and time always made tion for captaining both a rugby team and a he decided the priesthood was not attended a Montessori school and later St. CD available for them in her busy life. Fellow gaelic football team to victories his vocation, and subsequently left Life was to change radically in March 2008, Dominic’s Convent School on the Falls Road. grandmothers were kept on their toes. while avoiding the infamous “Ban” and to complete his BA studies in UCC. when he was struck by a freak wave while Following the outbreak of the Second World it was something he often spoke about on holiday in Australia fracturing his War, the family moved from Belfast to Cork, Dr Sheila Kenneally née O Regan Her brother Prof. Paddy O’ Regan and and was very proud of. After Rockwell He then entered the Medical Faculty, where atlas and axis. His cord was spared, and from where both her parents came originally. sister Vera and their families played a he studied Medicine in UCC playing he led a very active college life. He was after spending several months in recovery, She applied to study Medicine at UCC but loving and supportive part throughout rugby, Sigerson Cup football and golf outgoing, gregarious and very popular he was airlifted home. By sheer stoicism the then president, Patrick J Merriman, her life and especially in her fi nal illness. at Muskerry. In 1951 he sustained a with his peers. He qualifi ed in 1970 and intensive physiotherapy, he returned decided that she was too young. We all miss her greatly, especially her serious knee injury while playing for the completing his internship in the South to work in the new local Primary Care Centre. She eventually gained entry in 1942 anectodes and stories told with such Combined Universities against the pick Infi rmary, followed by his obstetrical and His catch phrase always was “any morning and following an illustrious undergraduate passion and humour, her weighty opinions of Ireland which had a limiting eff ect on paediatric training at the Erinville and you can put your right leg on the career, graduated with fi rst-class honours in and sound advice on the important facets his career. Mercy hospitals. In 1973 he was successful fl oor is a good one”. 1948. Following post-graduate training in Shiela died on 20th May 2010 all too soon of life, the well renowned hospitality in his application as medical offi cer to the Clinical Medicine and Bacteriology in Belfast, for a life well lived . She battled bravely with and lively gatherings in Hilton, but He won a Sigerson Cup medal in 1952 and Dunmanway/Coolmountain dispensary area, But unfortunately, one day his progress was she returned to Cork where she became a cancer in the last few months but never most of all her chuckle and hearty in 1953 was on the Kerry panel that won the where he worked all his life. halted when he commented that he had Consultantat St Finbarr’s Hospital and lost her courage and sense of humour. laugh that got us all back on track. All-Ireland against Armagh alongside diffi culty in swallowing. His fears were acting lecturer in Bacteriology at UCC. Her deep faith in prayer helped her his brother Jim. After qualifi cation He proved very popular with patients by realized, and he underwent radical surgery In 1969, she was appointed statutory and those who loved her get through “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from he moved to London to work as a his outgoing and pleasant personality, preceded by adjuvant radiotherapy and lecturer in Bacteriology by the senate of the the bad days. She truly hoped that she both sides”. General Practitioner in Greenwich with and built up a very large practice. He was chemotherapy, which alas only bided time. National University of Ireland. During would one day recover and be back to his uncle Dr Michael Brosnan. He was extremely kind to the poor and the 1970s, she planned, equipped full health but sadly it was not to be. doctor to Millwall FC for a period. While marginalised, and had a large cohort of But in true Con Don spirit, he remained and staff ed the new Microbiology Sheila loved life to the full and pursued Dr Niamh Long in London he spent more time playing patients from the hippy community. His non positive throughout his treatment, always Department for the Cork Regional all her activities be it academic, family golf joining Sundridge Park Golf Club in -judgmental personality and extraordinary hoping that he would win this battle also. Hospital that opened its doors to or sporting with great enthusiasm, vigour Kent where he would go on to attain a insight made it easy for him to empathise He never complained, always managed a patients from St Finbarr’s Hospital and above all a sense of fun. handicap of Scratch and represent the club with their problems. It has been said that he joke and a smile, and showed unyielding on November 30th, 1978. From the Sheila was born in Liscarroll, youngest at the highest level in the Perman Shield was the fi rst GP to attend surgery in denims. forbearance and dignity. But on January time she was appointed, Bridget Foley child of Michael & Margaret O’Regan. (the equivalent of the Barton Shield here) He was one of a group of West Cork GPs 5th in the presence of his family at his was dedicated to providing the best as well as becoming club captain in 1981. under the direction of Dr Michael Boland, bedside, and after receiving a blessing from possible service to patients and teaching Soon after the untimely death of her From London he travelled annually to who were involved in the preparatory his brother Fr. Gerard, he passed away to students. She developed a fi rst-class father the family moved to Cork. The recent death of Dr Niamh Long, holiday in Ballybunion eventually building work for the formation of the fl edgling Irish peacefully. department and was appreciated by She attended St. Aloysius Secondary School Medical Consultant for the MPS, former a home there. Mick and his wife Caroline College of General Practitioners, and became generations of Medical and Dental followed by Dentistry in UCC graduating lecturer in Paediatrics University College were great hosts who liked nothing better a founding member in 1984. He subsequently Friends and colleagues came from all over students for her erudite delivery and clarity in 1967. Sheila had already been attending Cork and General Practitioner, was a great that to entertain and chat for hours about successfully sat for membership of the the country to pay their respects by as a lecturer. Equally, patients greatly UCC for many years prior to her formal shock to all who knew her. The huge turnout golf, horses, soccer, rugby and the GAA. English College. His special interest was attending his funeral. He enriched all our benefi ted from her up-to-date knowledge studies, as she was devoted to attending for both the removal and funeral refl ected Forty years after joining Ballybunion Dermatology in which he had a diploma, lives, and his passing makes the world a of her speciality and the professional the dances in the Main Rest throughout the high esteem in which she was held. Golf Club he was honoured to be as well as diplomas in Child Health, lesser place. He was a loyal and trusted dedication with which she applied herself her teenage years. Sheila commenced Those who remember Niamh from Medical Club President in 1996 and this was and Obstetrics. friend, who will be sadly missed by all to their needs. She also had other interests, her Dental career in London where School remember a bright, bubbly, probably the highlight of his golfi ng career. whohad the privilege to know him, but by such as collecting antique furniture, the romance with Eddie blossomed no nonsense girl who always retained CB Con was truly at his happiest in the surgery, none more so than Freda and his family. reading history and poetry, nature because he enjoyed people so much. and they returned a few years later to set perspective, especially when others around
22 23 her were losing theirs. Her sense of humour Molloy – the former Irish rugby team doctor. Gallery and it was a source of ethos, Dr O’Callaghan also administered complained. The patient was always his Aonghus took up his senior post in Cork never seemed to fail her and her quick They married in 1968 and moved pride to all involved in this development. the very best Medicine in spades — laughter. priority.“ Thursday was his half-day and, as . University Hospital in 1996. The department wit meant that she was well liked by all. to London where they lived for 10 Perhaps her outstanding skill was in we had the Post Offi ce, we took his calls. of Cardiothoracic Surgery there had been Niamh initially pursued a career in years with their two daughters. connecting and communicating with For many of his patients, a visit to But despite his half-day, he was always established and single handedly maintained Paediatrics which she enjoyed despite Her postgraduate training included people, whether just catching up with their Dr Cormac meant a visit to a true on duty. Of course, there was also a great by his colleague Tom Aherne for the previous the long hours and onerous on-call rotations in several London hospitals news, or infl uencing them in a quiet, professional and it could also mean leaving fun element in him and great roguery. He ten years. Aonghus’ arrival marked a rotas. She conveyed a huge enthusiasm before starting and running her own family persuasive way to achieve her goals, which the surgery with a pain from laughing. was a happy soul and his light-heartedness point of much needed expansion of all for the discipline and managed students, practice in Banstead near Epsom. It was were always focused on improvements and caring attitude were a rare combination. aspects of Cardiac Surgical and Medical patients and children alike with during this time she became a member for others. Born in Carrignavar, Cormac was services in the region. With his energy, candour, confi dence and charm. of Mensa. On return to Ireland, when one of four children born to Mary “Dr Cormac made people feel good; enthusiasm, strong administrative skills, and Mick took up a position in Cork University In the last years of her life she Kate and Charles O’Callaghan. he nourished them and looked after great generosity with his time, Aonghus In 2006, Niamh took up a post as a Medical Hospital as Consultant Rheumatologist, suff ered many medical problems and His father was the local schoolmaster. them. He was the caring heart in the was a natural choice for Head of Division, Consultant with the MPS where she took she developed her General Practise in she bore these with extraordinary Cormac attended the Christian middle of the community,” said Alice. a role he agreed to on a time limited basis a very balanced view of risk assessment Douglas. She acquired an excellent reputation courage and dignity and without complaint. Brothers Secondary School, to which soon after his arrival in the department. and analysis of the systematic issues which as a family doctor, her attention to detail She remained interested in others always. he cycled every day. During his Dr O’Callaghan’s surgery was based His colleagues encouraged him to continue can lead to adverse events. Her advice to and her kind and gentle manner were evident formative years, the young Cormac was at his home in Shipool, just outside in this capacity; this he did up to his untimely the health professionals who consulted in both her professional and private life. A talented woman, she adored her family hugely infl uenced by his older brother the village, and it wasn’t unusual death. In this position he played a pivotal her was considered and invaluable. Following a kidney transplant in the early and was a huge strength and support to her for patients to be seen up to 11pm. role in the development of the Cardiac Many who didn’t know Niamh personally 1990s she continued to work in general husband Mick and daughters, Eleanor Dr Dan Joe O’Callaghan, who was a Renal Centre in Cork, a state of the art knew her from her contributions practice but eventually retired on and Catherine. Her joy in spending time prominent doctor in Cork at the time. His door was always open and he six storey 150 bed unit consolidating to the Medical press. The content of her medical advice. with them and her grandchildren in her Having fi nished school, Cormac held a special place in his heart for Cardiac and Renal services for the Southern articles refl ected not just her gift for beautiful home and garden in West followed in his brother’s footsteps and children. Toys included a ventriloquist’s Region, a unique development in national communication but also her ethical, Far from stopping her professional Cork was obvious. went on to study Medicine at University dummy, a parrot, the swing on the trees terms. In the month before his death, at humane and philosophical approach to development, her health problems College Cork, where he also continued outside and the peacocks in the the offi cial opening of the Unit he spoke in the practise of Medicine. Examples of these enabled her to view the hospital service She and her husband travelled widely his love of rugby, having played garden entertained youngsters for hours. characteristically humble terms of the long articles are available on the MPS website fi rst hand as a patient and gave her an during the early days of his rugby the game at school. “He loved children and children loved him,” process of planning, development and and many of them are now mandatory insight which stimulated a global interest career. She was very involved with the said his daughter Máire. commissioning which had begun more than reading for Medical Students in UCC. in healthcare planning and delivery. London Irish Rugby Club and acted When he fi nished at UCC, he worked in the ten years before. He was a man of strongly While recuperating from the transplant, as a match doctor over many years. Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, the North “He worked very hard and we had to force held convictions which he expressed with Niamh was always dedicated to her family. she studied art history and English. She was fully committed in her Infi rmary and the Erinville, before him to take a holiday. Being a doctor an eff ective combination of force and She married Eoin Cliff ord in 2001, one of This led to her combining her Art and support of Mick during his leaving his native county to was his life’’. tact and eschewed political correctness. the happiest days of her life. A handsome Medical interests by chairing the Arts involvement as Irish team doctor work in hospitals in Dublin and Whilst his administrative skills were widely couple they complimented each other Committee at Cork University Hospital. and she enjoyed rugby. She was Westmeath. “He also loved poetry and music and appreciated and put to great use, it was perfectly. The subsequent arrival of their She encouraged, quietly and persistently, well liked in the rugby community making things, but he was always the delivery of a clinical service that he beautiful daughters Laoise, Orla and donations from artist contacts, applied and more than able to enjoy Famous for his practical jokes, where committed to work.” especially enjoyed and where he excelled. Emer took their happiness to a new level. gentle but fi rm pressure to ensure and contribute to the banter. Her Cormac went, laughter was always near by. In a specialty marked by its arduous The girls were a delight to her and appointment of an arts co-ordinator, own sporting achievements included His jokes included plugging the earpieces Despite his health fading over the past nature, he was committed to hard work this loss at such a young age is resulting in an enhanced physical hockey at interprovincial level, of the stethoscopes of fellow doctors, and year, Dr Cormac’s sense of humour was and thrived particularly in undertaking particularly poignant. environment for patients and staff . and playing golf with a handicap pretending to be a woman in labour at the still strong and up to his fi nal day in the challenging cases with a paramount focus She was for many years a member of six. She did The Irish Times and door of the Erinville Hospital in the middle wonderful care of the staff at Mount on patient care: possibly the most notable Niamh’s death is untimely and is devastating of the Southern Health Board Daily Telegraph crosswords daily. of the night! Once, having accidentally Desert care home, he still managed to crack attribute instilled in him by his mother to her family and many friends but the and was chairman for four years. killed the Dean of Medicine’s male cat, he a joke and put a smile on people’s faces. Eithne who was a strong advocate of memories she has left behind are her legacy She was a signifi cant contributor Her connections with Cork University replaced it without the Dean knowing, only bedside manner and patient well-being and will ensure that she is not forgotten. to the development of Dingle Hospital were multiple – as a General to discover that the new cat had kittens. “Many people will have many in her own fi eld of nursing. His gregarious Our thoughts and prayers are with her Community Hospital and strongly Practitioner referring patients, as the wife fond memories and will be forever nature and innate conviction of the husband, children, parents, brothers and supported the Cork Rape Crisis Centre. of a staff member, as chairman of the “He was a terror,” smiled his daughter grateful to him. He loved Innishannon and importance of a multidisciplinary team sisters. She spearheaded the battle for Arts Committee, as the mother of two Dr Máire O’Callaghan, who took over Innishannon loved him,” said Alice Taylor. approach to clinical problems made for a SOF/OH retention of a quality blood banking doctors who worked there, and as a patient. the family practice some years ago. particularly close and harmonious service for Munster. In spite of being She died there peacefully on May 25th 2010. Dr Cormac O’Callaghan is survived by his relationship with Medical and Surgical ill at that time and faced with constant She will be remembered fondly “Today he would be arrested for half the wife Bernadette, his children Máire and colleagues. He took a lead in systematically Dr Catherine Molloy opposition, she followed her belief as a gentle and respected woman pranks he played on people,” she said. Nóirín, sons-in-law Daithí and Feargal, ensuring the highest achievable quality of that it was the right thing to do. with a great interest in others. and cherished grandchildren Eoin, care within the Unit, and for many years spent Catherine Molloy is survived by her Married to Bernadette, née Carroll, Sorcha, Cormac, Hannah, Connor and Sarah. much time developing and maintaining In 2005, acknowledging her many husband Mick who cared for her when Cormac moved to Innishannon DOR an electronic register for regular internal services to Medicine, the Royal during her illness, their children he immersed himself into the practice and external audit. His colleagues who College of Physicians of Ireland awarded Eleanor and Catherine, and her and endeared himself to many. Mr Aonghus O’Donnell make up the extended cardiac team and her the Stearne Medal, a rare honour grandchildren. the hospital staff more widely regarded given from time to time to persons CK Among his patients and friends was him with the greatest of repect, but equally Catherine Molloy (née Conroy) was of distinction who contributed to internationally acclaimed writer and enjoyed his jokes and sharing moments born in Galway in 1943. She was the medicine in Ireland. In University Innishannon resident Alice Taylor. of banter with him. Many patients recall second of a family of three children. College Cork as a member of the governing Dr Cormac O’Callaghan “Cormac was a very sound doctor. He didn’t how his humour was artfully deployed Unusually, she was tutored at home until body from 1998-2008, she was known It was with fond, laughter-fi lled memories just treat the complaint, he treated the to put them at ease in times of particular secondary school. She spent fi ve happy years for her independence and served on and a sense of sadness that people learned of whole person and that kind of thinking stress around the time of their Surgery. as a boarder in the Dominican College, many committees. the recent death of Dr Cormac O’Callaghan. was ahead of its time. He had great kindness Taylor’s Hill, Galway. She excelled Cormac, aged 83, served as a local GP in his in him and he was comforting. Born in Dublin in 1961, Aonghus was the academically and at sport. She was also chairman of the Visual adopted home of Innishannon from 1960 eldest of fi ve boys born to Kevin and the Arts Committee at the University and to just over 10 years ago when he retired. “As well as healing the body he healed the Aonghus O’Donnell, Consultant late Eithne. His upbringing was imbued She studied Medicine in University a member of the steering committee In addition to administering professional spirit, and he was very wise. Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Cork with a strong sense of family, impartiality College Galway, graduating in 1967. for the art history programme. advice, diagnosis, a shoulder to cry on, University Hospital, died unexpectedly and fair play, traits he unquestionably It was there she met her husband Mick She strongly supported the Glucksmann not to mention his 24-hour on-call “He was always on duty and never on the 17th of November 2010 upheld in his life, professional and social.
24 25 He began his education at Kilmacud National was a second home for Aonghus and his regeneration and expansion, and was a Professor O’Sullivan was Dean of the School before a family move to London in family; there he had planned to spend persistent advocate for the building of Faculty of Medicine (1967-1975), a College 1968, where he attended Donhead Lodge much more time with them and the Cork Regional Hospital, now Cork Governor (1968-1980), and an NUI Preparatory School in Wimbledon extended family including Kevin and University Hospital. Senator (1972-1977). He was a co-author until the family returned to Dublin brothers Ciaran, Maghnus, Fiachra, of the far-seeing Fitzgerald Report on in 1974. His second level education Caoimhghín their families and in-laws. Born in Carrigadrohid, County Cork, General Hospital Services. A member was completed at Gonzaga College, The frequent gatherings of the he was educated at Canovee of Comhairle na nOspidéal and the sitting his Leaving Certifi cate in 1978. extended O’Donnell clan, often convened national school, De la Salle Macroom, Medical Research Council of Ireland by Aonghus, were a testament to their Presentation College, Cork and UCC. for many years, he also sat on a He trained in Medicine in the Royal College great friendship and common bond. He graduated in 1948 with fi rst class numerous Local Appointment Boards. of Surgeons in Ireland and qualifi ed in honours. He acquired most of his post- 1985. He interned in Beaumount Hospital, As much as he loved his work as a Cardiac graduate experience in Wolverhampton To relax, he enjoyed watching hurling his Surgical orientation was evident at Surgeon, he gave a similar level of passionate and Birmingham and wrote an MD thesis and football matches with friends. an early stage when he undertook a BSc attention to his other pursuits, including while working with the distinguished The family took holidays in Baltimore, degree in Anatomy in UCD, received with fi shing, shooting, cooking (the latter diabetes specialist, John Malins. He retained West Cork, where in time they put Honours in 1987. He entered formal dominated by the fare provided by the a special interest in the care of diabetes down deep roots. They particularly Surgical training in Dublin in 1988 and former) and support for Munster rugby. throughout his professional life. enjoyed the fi ne sailing there. Denis had obtained his Fellowship of the Royal College He greatly enjoyed entertaining (and being a special gift for friendship. He and his wife of Surgeons in Ireland in 1990. He developed entertained) and meals at the O’Donnell’s When he returned to Cork as Professor Joan loved to socialise, and to entertain an interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery during are memorable for the careful dissection of Medicine, he was also Consultant colleagues and their many other friends. basic training following a period spent in of minute fowl with a favorite set of Physician at St Finbarr’s Hospital the Mater Hospital and indeed in recent knives on the central island in the kitchen and later at Cork Regional Hospital. His retirement in 1990 was marked by months mentioned the crucial role his former before his latest bag of birds (or purchase He was a gifted doctor, highly skilled and establishing the Denis O’Sullivan Research trainer, mentor and friend, the recently from O’Flynn’s) was dispersed to waiting with an innate ability to listen and to Fellowships and the Denis O’Sullivan deceased Maurice Nelligan, played in guests. He recently took to growing his own empathise. Always busy, he rarely appeared medal. Later the NUI awarded him a encouraging him to embark on his chosen vegetables. His surgical training was also so. He inspired the total trust of patients. DSc Degree, honoris causa. On retiring, career. His training in Cardiothoracic evident in the way he carefully prepared The young doctors and nurses with whom he went to the Ibn al Bitar hospital Surgery began in 1990 in the Mater and St. for an afternoon on lake or riverbank with he worked held him in the highest esteem. in Baghdad. When the fi rst Gulf War James’s hospitals. In the spring of 1992 he the latest technology including a pair of Family doctors and fellow consultants saw started, he and Joan were among those became the fi rst non-US Senior Surgical polaroid goggles strikingly similar to the in him a friend who would do all in his held hostage for some months. After their Fellow in Cardiothoracic Surgery at surgical microscope he wore in theatre. power to help them and their patients. eventual safe return they settled in Baltimore. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston He amassed a large group of great friends His book, “The Cork School of Medicine; where he trained for a year with some of whom he travelled around the An accomplished teacher, his kindness a History” was published in 2007. Thoughtful Dr. Mortimer Buckley and colleagues. world to fi sh the most isolated of rivers and courtesy were combined with a and beautifully written, it is an invaluable and others with whom he would shoot in deep knowledge of scientifi c medicine record for the School. Denis O’Sullivan He returned to a Senior Registrar post winter, all counting him a special companion. and an insistence on the highest will be remembered for his extraordinary at St. James’s Hospital in 1993. He then standards. Students admired his careful warmth and kindness, his great capacity undertook training in Paediatric Cardiac Aonghus was a loving son, brother, and caring approach, as well as for friendship and for always being Surgery in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick husband and father, he was an exceptional the respect he showed to all. available to those who needed his help. Children, Crumlin from July 1994 until Cardiac Surgeon and colleague who He took great interest in students, and his In 1953 he married his beloved Joan, he took up his senior post in 1996. loved doing what he did and practised his ability to remember names was legendary. and they had six children. In his late vocation with boundless energy, skill years he derived immense joy from his He maintained a particular interest in training and care. He touched the lives of family, Denis O’Sullivan was clear-sighted and grandchildren, listening and sharing and was especially highly regarded by the friends, countless patients and colleagues determined. His great energy enabled their achievements. Even during a trainees he mentored, who along with in an inimitable manner. In a quietly him to manage a huge clinical load, heavy diffi cult last illness, he retained his many newly appointed younger consultant remarkable way, he achieved much in a teaching duties and major administrative great interest in family and in life. colleagues make specifi c mention of the care life that was far too short. responsibilities, local and national. he took to help them in their careers or to PK He is survived by his wife Joan, their children settle into their new roles. Until the time of From his early days at St Finbarr’s, he Donal, Sheila, Seán, Fergus, Siobhán and his death he was the National Programme worked to expand the number of Denis, and thirteen grandchildren. We Director for Cardiothoracic Surgical Training Professor Denis J O’Sullivan sub-specialties there He argued with off er our heartfelt sympathy to all of them. and always took time from a much tenacity for the building of Cork BF oversubscribed schedule to remain active in Regional Hospital, and was closely the aff airs of the University, the Royal College involved with its planning. Through Some of the above Appreciations are of Surgeons, and the Society of Comhairle na nOspidéal, he secured reproduced with the kind permission of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain the appointment of a range of new the Irish Times and the Irish Examiner. and Ireland. consultants, to join those transferring from St Finbarr’s. When Cork More than anything Aonghus was a family Denis J O’Sullivan, who has died aged Regional Hospital opened in 1978, man. In 1991 he married Miriam, daughter 85 years, was Professor of Medicine the Medical School had a fi rst-rate of Sean and Terry McGeer. Her support and at UCC from 1961 until 1990. fl agship hospital. He was an active devotion were of great benefi t to Aonghus An outstanding clinician and teacher, promoter of post-graduate education, on the many moves associated with his he was a role model for more than a and gave practical help to many young professional progression. During their stay generation of Medical students. He was also doctors in building their careers. in Boston, Aonghus and Miriam celebrated a man of exceptional charm and kindness. He and Michael Hyland formed the UCC the birth of their fi rst child, Aoife. To his Medical Graduates Association. It was delight and endless pride she was followed His was the fi rst full-time clinical always a pleasure for him to meet by the subsequent arrival of Cian, academic appointment in the Republic. former students and hear about their lives Niamh, Neassa and Roisín. His father, Kevin’s At that time the Medical School was and work. home town of Castlegregory in Co. Kerry at a low ebb. He played a key role in its
26 27 2011 UCC Graduate Diary of UCC Annual Scientifi c Conference 2011 Events and Reunions September 15, 2011
Contributors include:
Prof Davis Coakley History of the SIVUH Role in providing Medical Education in Cork
Dr Mary Favier MPS Experience
Prof Barry Ferriss / Dr Niamh Lynch Prof Denis O’Sullivan Fellowship 30 May 1961 Golden Jubilee Reunion Prof Peter Kearney Aula Maxima Sociology of Childhood May (tbc) New York Annual Dinner Dr Deirdre Mahkorn New York Anxiety, Social Phobia and Stage Fright 10 June @ 7pm UCC Concert on the Quad featuring Peter Corry, Dr Eamon McCoy Cara O’Sullivan and the Garda Band Twenty Years of War and Disaster UCC 16 Sept Dr Dan Penny 1971 MB Class Forty Year Reunion Teach a Man to Fish Dr Jutta O’Meara Email: [email protected] Trident Hotel, Kinsale, Cork Dr Barry Plant Exercise Induced Asthma – the Elite Athlete Experience 23-25 September 1976 MB Class Thirty Five Year Reunion Dr Laurence Martin – Email: [email protected] Prof Eamonn Quigley Hotel Dunloe Castle, Co Kerry Ten Years in a Functional Bowel Clinic: Making some sense of the 23-25 September complaints that just will not go away 1986 MB Class Twenty Five Year Reunion Dr Nuala O’Connor – Email: [email protected] Dr Milicent Stone Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry From Clinical Scientist to Executive Board Member, A Journey in Clinical 24 Sept @ 2-3.30pm Leadership UCC Grads v Staff Annual Golf Challenge Cork Golf Club 9 Nov @ 1.05pm Registration for the Conference is Free of Charge. Memorial Service for Deceased Graduates, Buff et on September 14 at 7.30 is Free of Charge (Venue TBC) Students and Staff Honan Chapel, UCC Gala Dinner at the Aula Maxima on September 15 at 7.30 is €70 per person. Please register for the Conference and/or Buff et and/or Gala Dinner at: 25 Nov http://conferencing.ucc.ie/conference or contact 2011 Alumni Achievement Awards Aula Maxima, UCC Rachel Hyland – 021 4901587 / [email protected] for details 22 Dec Christmas Homecoming Reception Aula Maxima, UCC Contact Details: If you are a member of any of the reunion classes, Ms. Rachel Hyland, please contact the reunion organiser with your updated email address and also include any email address(es) of Medical Alumni Association, classmates to help ensure everybody is circulated with Brookf ield Health Sciences Complex, College Rd, Cork. full details on their class reunion.
Tel: +353 (0)21 4901 587 Email: [email protected]
For further information on the above http://www.ucc.ie/medschool events and/or to book tickets please Please send us your email address to update our f iles. contact the UCC Alumni Of f ice on Tel: +353 21 490 2040 or by Email: graduates@ucc. UCC Medical Alumni News is intended for circulation among UCC Medical Alumni. ie. The opinions and views in the publication are those of the contributors and are not Additional alumni events will be announced on the necessarily shared by the UCC Medical Alumni Association. UCC Alumni website at: www.ucc.ie/alumni