Pictures: Kilkenny TY students take part in ‘Mini Med’ events with Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

Kilkenny students were to the fore recently in the University Hospital Waterford / Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Mini-Med Programme, which took place Recently at RCSI Education Facility, UHW and SETU.

The annual RCSI Transition Year MiniMed Programme takes place each year with hundreds of school students hearing from the country’s top medical experts and get hands-on experience at RCSI’s world-class education facilities. Now in its 16th year, the event continues to grow in popularity. During the week, students participated in interactive lectures and workshops and witness real-life procedures.

Dessie O’Connor, Scoil Aireagail Ballyhale, with Rory Dullard, National Ambulance Service. Picture: John Power

MiniMed sessions include lectures with leading clinicians, and students receive clinical skills training as well as practical experience in a wide range of specialties, including infectious diseases, sports medicine, surgery, paediatrics, transplants and forensic pathology.

During simulations, the Transition Year students perform basic life support on dummy patients, learn to interpret vital signs, experience a mock operating room scenario and take part in a neurology workshop. Participants even watch a Caesarean section, lung transplant and a laparoscopic surgery.

In addition to the medical lectures and workshops, transition year students also receive broader advice on mental health and completing the HPAT exam. For more, email transitionyear@rcsi.ie.