The United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Justin Siberell along with Public Affairs Officer, Karen Ehlert and Educational Specialist, Samar Hasan, visited the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) campus in Busaiteen to meet with senior officials, including RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom.

Fadi Ghosn, Recognition, Careers and Alumni Manager, provided an overview of the Universitys collaborations with institutions in the United States for student electives, specifically with Johns Hopkins University, and the importance of these opportunities.
RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

The delegation was shown a presentation on the University by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin, which also included information on relationships with Penn State University on Global Health Initiatives and the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) on training of nurses, as well as local and international opportunities available to students through the RCSI Bahrain Research Summer School.

Professor Sameer Otoom noted the universitys efforts to date in securing US Federal Loans for students at RCSI Bahrain, and asked the US Embassy in Bahrain to assist in the process from their side, for all the benefits it might bring to Bahrain and US nationals studying in the Kingdom.

The delegation received a tour of the campus facilities during their visit.

At the end of the visit, HE Ambassador Siberell thanked Professor Otoom for the extremely informative and pleasant meeting with RCSI Bahrain staff. He looks forward to working with them on some of the identified points of possible cooperation.

The RCSI Bahrain community came together recently to raise awareness and break down the barriers of stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Organised by the Student Health and Wellbeing Unit, in collaboration with the Mental Health Society, the Health Awareness Week featured a full programme of events and a series of themes around how to promote good mental health.

The schedule kicked off with a meditation class, a karaoke evening to help sing away the blues, a wellbeing walk around the University campus, a photobooth, as well as a week-long creative writing competition under the theme of positive vibes.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

More than 80 nursing students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) celebrated a seminal moment in their training and future careers, as they donned their white uniforms for the first time.

The annual White Uniform Ceremony, which was attended by students family members and staff, is a symbolic event based around the presentation of the uniforms and marks the entrance of first year nursing students into clinical training.

The event featured an address by RCSI Bahrains Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman, who highlighted the professional roles and responsibilities of nurses, while stressing the code of conduct for nursing in Bahrain.

Guest speakers on the occasion included Class of 2014 graduate and Registered Nurse Midwife at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), Nazia Al Amri and Year 3 nursing student, Mohammad Albadawi .

The ceremony concluded with the students recital of the professional declaration, through which they vowed to maintain professional attitudes and behaviours in work and relationships with classmates, teachers, patients and the community.

It followed on from the annual White Coat Ceremony, which took place at the Busaiteen campus back in February, to mark the transition of RCSI Bahrains medical students into clinical training.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) hosted its annual International Nurses Day (IND) celebrations at its Busaiteen campus.

The university community gathered for a series of creative videos on the life of nursing students at RCSI Bahrain, in addition to a variety of interactive presentations, as well as the celebratory cake-cutting exercise, all organised by RCSI Bahrains nursing students under this years theme: Nurses: A voice to lead - Health for All.

Officially launched by RCSI Bahrains Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman, the event included presentations by nursing students sharing their experiences with the International Community Engagement (ICE) programme in Tanzania and Chennai, as well as their involvement with the Universitys Research Summer School (RSS).

Marked annually around the world on 12th May - the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale - IND aims to celebrate the efforts and contributions of nurses to the healthcare community.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) has further strengthened its position and reputation as a regional leader in healthcare education with further endorsements by Bahrains Higher Education Council (HEC) and the Bahrain Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA)

A busy few months for RCSI Bahrains Quality Enhancement team was duly rewarded, firstly in the presentation of the Institutional Accreditation Certificate from the HEC.

The certificate was presented by the Minister of Education and Chairman of the HEC, His Excellency Dr Majed bin Ali Al-Noaimi, during a formal ceremony at the Ministry of Education in Isa Town recently.

The accreditation will last for an initial period of four years - the maximum period awarded - and supports the vision of the national development strategy, Economic Vision 2030, in developing Bahrain as a regional hub for quality higher education.

Speaking on the occasion of the HEC presentation, RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, acknowledged the immense support RCSI Bahrain has received from the HEC over a number of years.

He said this achievement was another important milestone in RCSI Bahrains pursuance of excellence in higher education, and extended his appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Education and all the members of the accreditation committee.

In addition, RCSI Bahrain has also received a positive Quality Review outcome from the Bahrain Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), part of the Supreme Council for Education and Training Development for the next five years.

The certificate was presented to Prof Otoom by BQA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jawaher Al-Mudhahki, in the presence of fellow BQA delegates and senior RCSI Bahrain officials, during a special meeting at the Universitys Busaiteen campus.

On this occasion, Professor Otoom thanked Dr Al-Mudhaki and all BQA representatives for their efforts in making the process a success, while also acknowledging the authoritys unwavering commitment to higher education standards in Bahrain.

These awards follow extensive application processes and a series of reviews by local and international experts.

Already licensed by the HEC and quality assured by the BQA, RCSI Bahrains programmes are also approved by the National University of Ireland (NUI) and accredited by the Irish Medical Council (IMC).

The IMC accreditation was granted in 2014 and is based on the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) standards, which are the highest available in medical education.

The University is included in the World Directory of Medical Schools and the UNESCO List of Universities of the World, as well as being a member of the Association of Arab Universities.

It is envisaged that these latest accreditations, in addition to providing an additional quality indicator of RCSI Bahrain, will support the national economy through the recruitment of students from local, regional and international markets.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland, in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

With a medical curriculum aligned across three continents and degrees recognised around the world, RCSI Bahrain takes great pride in providing high quality transnational education to a student body of almost 40 nationalities.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), in partnership with private healthcare provider American Mission Hospital (AMH), hosted a Hypertension Public Health Awareness event in Seef Mall, Muharraq.

Over 20 staff and students from the University participated in the event along with 10 staff members from AMH.

Organised by the Universitys Community Engagement department and its School of Nursing and Midwifery, the programme provided nursing and medicine students the opportunity to work as part of an inter-professional team alongside AMH nurses and doctors, including a cardiologist and a nutritionist, to help educate the public on hypertension, taking participants history, providing them with their BMI and providing a free blood pressure and blood sugar check-up.

Coinciding with Hypertension International Awareness day on May 17th, the event aimed to educate the public on the risks and symptoms of hypertension, how and when to get blood pressure checked and the preventative methods to avoid high blood pressure. Over 320 individuals visited the event, with more than 50 being identified as having abnormal readings.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than one in five adults worldwide have high blood pressure - a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease (WHO, 2015).

With Community Engagement being one of three strategic pillars of RCSI Bahrain - along with Research and Teaching and Learning - the University is committed to establishing collaborative partnerships with communities both in Bahrain and further afield.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

Staff and students at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) contributed more than 40 units to the Central Blood Bank, in the second edition of the Universitys biannual blood donation drive.

The units of blood are expected to be used through public healthcare centres and government and private hospitals.

The team from Central Blood Bank once again took over the Busaiteen campus Ibn Al-Baitar Clinical Simulation Centre, as part of an ongoing collaboration dating back to 2006.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

RCSI Bahrain yesterday celebrated the biggest day in its calendar as it played host to the tenth annual Conferring Ceremony at its Busaiteen campus.
Their biggest-ever medicine cohort of 134, along with 85 graduates from the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing were honoured during the event, which took place under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Over 1000 guests attended the campus across the two ceremonies, including staff, stakeholders, dignitaries, students family members and senior representatives of RCSI in Dublin and RCSI Bahrain
The mornings ceremony was attended by His Highness Shaikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Advisor to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as representative of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister.
The afternoon ceremony was attended by Her Excellency, Faeqa bint Saeed AlSaleh, the Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain and representative of the His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, patron of the ceremony.
National University of Ireland (NUI) Registrar, Dr Attracta Halpin, and President of Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI), Professor Mary Horgan were also among the guests in addition to the Chancellor of National University of Ireland (NUI), Dr Maurice Manning, who addressed the guests and highlighted the ongoing collaboration and partnership between Bahrain and Ireland specifically in the higher education field.
RCSI President, Mr Kenneth Mealy was in attendance to present the degrees, alongside RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom.
Mr Mealy congratulated the graduates on their achievements to date and praised the ongoing relationship between RCSI and Bahrain.
Professor Otoom meanwhile, took the opportunity to congratulate the graduates and extended sincere gratitude to the friends and family members who had supported them in their achievements.
It was a particularly special day for multiple award-winning graduate and class valedictorian, Dr Maryam Jameel Naser, who won the Degree Award Gold Medal, the Medicine Overall Gold Medal, the James Finucane Prize in Medicine, the Niall OHiggins Prize in Surgery, in addition to the silver Senior Cycle Medal for Academic Years 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Dr Nabila Mann-Isah was presented with the John Murphy Prize in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
In the School of Nursing and Midwifery honours, the BSc Nursing Gold Medal was awarded to Dana Ahmed Alabbadi and the MSc Nursing Gold Medal was presented to Stephanie Joanne Mantley.
The Rufaida Alaslamia Prize in Nursing was awarded to Maha AbdulRaoof AlBalooshi.
The Clinical Tutor Award was presented to Arwa Mohammed from Bahrain Defence Force Hospital (BDF) while Dr Basma Almanai from Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) was presented with the Clinical Lecturer Award.
Since hosting its first Conferring Ceremony back in 2010, RCSI Bahrain has produced more than 2000 graduates in medicine, nursing and postgraduate studies who are now working in 26 countries across the world.

Ahead of its 10^th Conferring Ceremony later this week, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) recently celebrated the graduating classes of 2019 during the annual School of Medicine and School of Nursing and Midwifery dinners.

University faculty, staff and alumni joined senior students, as they took a look back at their journey through University, following the culmination of their final exams.

During the event, the respective Heads of Schools, Professor Joe McMenamin and Professor Seamus Cowman, spoke warmly of the departing students, congratulated them on their achievements and wished them the very best of luck in their future careers.

A number of academic and extracurricular awards were presented during the events, including silver and gold medals for academic performances over the course of their studies, as well as other prizes for distinguished interns and clinical tutors.

RCSI Bahrains tenth Conferring Ceremony will take place at its Busaiteen campus on June 26^th, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, with more than 200 students set to graduate in medicine and nursing.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

RCSI Bahrain recently launched Green Week, a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging a greener and more environmentally friendly campus, all part of a wider and long-term campus sustainability project.

The week-long event kicked off with the launch of new waste collection areas all around the campus and followed with a Top Bins football challenge as well as a Beach Clean, organised by the Universitys Community Engagement department.

Staff and students were also encouraged to wear green in support of the event and to bring their own coffee mugs and water bottles for a chance to win a free cup of coffee.

Local cleaning and waste disposal service provider, Gulf City Cleaning, was also available on campus providing information and tips on how to improve recycling habits at work and at home.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

RCSI Bahrain recently launched Green Week, a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging a greener and more environmentally friendly campus, all part of a wider and long-term campus sustainability project.

The week-long event kicked off with the launch of new waste collection areas all around the campus and followed with a Top Bins football challenge as well as a Beach Clean, organised by the University’s Community Engagement department.

Staff and students were also encouraged to wear green in support of the event and to bring their own coffee mugs and water bottles for a chance to win a free cup of coffee.

Local cleaning and waste disposal service provider, Gulf City Cleaning, was also available on campus providing information and tips on how to improve recycling habits at work and at home.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RCSI, which was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1784. Licensed as an independent private university, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

Under the patronage of His Excellency, Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, RCSI Bahrain recently launched a nationwide campaign on the Positive Promotion of Nursing (PPON).
Key nursing stakeholders in Bahrain attended an event at RCSI Bahrain to officially inaugurate the campaign, including nurses, doctors and officials from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.
The event commenced with a welcome note by the University’s Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman, who introduced the PPON campaign and later discussed the implementation of the programme with the stakeholders and addressed their questions and concerns.
The campaign was initiated as part of the PhD findings of the Director of the BSc in Nursing Programme at RCSI Bahrain, Dr Eman Tawash, entitled ‘Promoting Nursing as a Career Choice in Bahrain: Implementation and Evaluation of a Stakeholder Model for Best Practice’, which was presented to the guests.
Health Workforce Development and Nursing Consultant, Dr Fariba AlDarazi, provided the guests with information in relation to nursing shortages from a World Health Organisation perspective.
With the aim of building a positive perception of nursing as a viable career choice to encourage Bahraini high school seniors to choose nursing as a career, RCSI Bahrain will recruit ambassadors including current nursing students, alumni, career counsellors, teachers and nursing and medical professionals.
The ambassadors will be a part of the University’s Mobile Engagement team, who will visit local schools and communities to educate them on the role of a nurse, the value of the occupation and the career opportunities available. 

A delegation from the RCSI Bahrain travelled to Dublin in Ireland for the eighth annual RCSI International Education Forum (IEF).
Among the attendees were colleagues from RCSI campuses in Bahrain, Dublin and Malaysia, who came together to discuss innovations and challenges within shared programmes.

This years event, which included a half-day Ed-i-Med symposium, was held at RCSIs headquarters in Dublin City Centre and focused on the theme of Transforming Healthcare Education Project (THEP).
Since its inception in 2012, the IEF has become an integral component of RCSIs curriculum and assessment development, as it seeks to enhance initiatives across its international campuses.
The week-long event featured presentations, keynote speeches and interactive workshops, along with a demonstration of the latest virtual reality technology.

The conference included open sessions focused on faculty-wide strategies; curriculum; assessments and planning, with international experts and guests invited to engage with faculty to share their experiences and perspectives and facilitate discussion.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) played host to the annual Health Awareness Awards ceremony, under the patronage of His Excellency, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC), Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi.

Organised by RCSI Bahrains Community Engagement department, in partnership with the ministry of Education, the Health Awareness Awards are based around an art competition for local secondary schools.

The entrants were tasked with creating a piece of art reflecting a health theme affecting local communities, with chosen subjects including obesity, diabetes, smoking, road safety and genetic illnesses. The main aim of the event is to generate awareness among high school students of such prevalent health issues.

This years competition attracted more than 70 entries from some 25 government schools around the country, with the top three selected by a judging panel made up of representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and RCSI Bahrain.

Hawraa Ali Hasan Salman from Ghazi Al Qussaibi Secondary Girls School was awarded first prize; Abdul Aziz Ahmed Al Shaikh from Alhidaya Alkalifia Secondary Boys School placed second and Mazen Najeeb Gharabi from Ahmed Al Omran Secondary Boys School won third.

The prizes were presented by to his Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi.

Speaking on the occasion, RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom paid tribute to the Ministry of Education and the HEC for supporting the initiative.

He acknowledged the policy of the Ministry of Education and the HEC in building a significant partnership between all higher education institutions in Bahrain and extended his gratitude and thanks to his Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi for acting as a patron and giving up his time.

This is a true example of the support his Excellency is providing for private universities and to RCSI Bahrain on this initiative of building the links between government schools and universities, he added.

RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RSCI, which was established in Ireland in 1784. Like its counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

Community Engagement is one of the three strategic pillars of RCSI Bahrain - along with Research and Teaching and Learning - and the university has a specific team dedicated to organising such events both in Bahrain and overseas.

68 nursing students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) celebrated a seminal moment in their training and future careers, as they donned their white uniforms for the first time.

The annual White Uniform Ceremony, which was attended by students family members and staff, is a symbolic event based around the presentation of the uniforms and marks the entrance of first year nursing students into clinical training.

The event featured an address by RCSI Bahrains Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman, who highlighted the professional roles and responsibilities of nurses, while stressing the code of conduct for nursing in Bahrain.

This is the 11th batch of nursing students to have entered the undergraduate nursing programme at RCSI Bahrain since its launch in 2006, with more than 450 nurses having graduated to date. It followed on from the annual White Coat Ceremony, which took place at the Busaiteen campus back in February, to mark the transition of RCSI Bahrains medical students into clinical training. RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RSCI, which was established in Ireland in 1784. Like its counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.

Dr Edwina Brennan and Ms May Maher have been named as the winners of the Deans Awards for 2014.  

The announcement was made during the Universitys 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner in the Ritz Carlton Hotel on November 27.

Science lecturer, Dr Edwina Brennan received the Academic Award.  Senior Communications and Events Manager, Ms Maher won the administration award.

The Deans Award scheme was created as a way of acknowledging the diverse and essential contributions of all staff members.  Both winners were presented with a commemorative award and a prize of BD500, by Professor Joe McMenamin and Professor Hannah McGee.

Professor McMenamin said "I am honoured and privileged to acknowledge the contribution of all staff members to support the Universitys commitment to excellence in education, research and service.  The ethos behind the Deans Award scheme is to recognise and celebrate these exceptional achievements.  I would like to congratulate Dr Brennan and Ms Maher for their outstanding service to the University and I am delighted to announce them as the deserving winners of the Deans Awards 2014."

The following is what staff who nominated Dr Edwina Brennan said about her:

• Always has a smile
• Has a way of teaching and explaining things that students love
• Consistently goes above and beyond what is reasonably expected
• Is very flexible in the workplace and often volunteers
• Is highly motivated
• Is active and productive in research

The following is what staff who nominated Ms May Maher said about her:

• Has excellent organizing skills
• Works quietly without complaining
• Is an excellent communicator
• Exhibits commitment and great attention to detail
• Does not look for rewards
• Is a truly dedicated employee of RCSI Bahrain

RCSI Bahrain and Arabian Gulf University have announced a joint research fund of BD20,000 for scientific research in medical studies and the study of diseases prevailing in the Arabian Gulf region.

The joint investment fund and the agreement signed by the heads of the universities is the beginning of a new relationship of cooperation in the field of medical research and joint clinical research, addressing urgent health issues facing the Gulf states, such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease and blood diseases.

RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom and President of AGU, Dr Khalid bin Abdulrahman Ohali said the initiative marks the beginning of real research cooperation in the medical field and the beginning of joint clinical research.

RCSI Bahrain graduate, Dr Saif Bourgan won 1st Prize for his research titled "The wellbeing and lifestyle habits of primary health care physicians in Bahrain" at the 5th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress held in Dubai in November, 2014.

Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Bahrain, congratulated Dr Bourgan on his win and reemphasised the importance of student research as it is one of the universitys long-term strategies for promoting health research.

Professor Otoom said "research experience can help improve students skills in searching and critically appraising the medical literature, independent learning, and writing research papers."

Dr Saif Bourgan was joined in his research by RCSI Bahrain students, Zaid Marhoon, Mohamed Almuqamam, Mohamed Ebrahim and Peter Soliman The research was supervised by Dr Ghufran Jassim, a senior lecturer at RCSI Bahrain.