Galway University Hospitals mark Research and Awards Day

Staff from Galway University Hospitals gathered together to showcase their academic achievements in research and innovation during the hospitals research and awards day.

The event included over 120 submissions from staff across all disciplines, including doctors, HSCPs, nursing, midwifery and QI.

The event, which is in its seventh year, is inter-professional and coincides with the end of the doctors training year. It allows GUH and the Saolta University Health Care Group to highlight, celebrate, and reward the work of our trainee colleagues.

The day comprised of a mix of research and clinic case presentations, both oral and poster. As well as high numbers of submissions a large number of the clinical staff from across the hospital will attend the sessions.

Among the submissions for this year’s event were telehealth rehabilitation for the management of long Covid symptoms, a structured eating programme for the management of patients with swallowing difficulties, a well baby breastfeeding clinic and a bespoke 3D printed attachment to deliver CPAP to a patient with a laryngectomy.

Winners included Dr Catriona Reddan who was awarded the consultants medal for the best overall research performed by a registrar in GUH 2022.  She is a geriatric higher specialty trainee and undertook work with her mentor Professor Martin O’Donnell, Dean of CMNMHS, NUI Galway.

Dr Ellen Walsh was presented with the Professor Ciaran McCarthy Award. This is the 19th time the Ciaran McCarthy Medal has been awarded.  It is named after a former Professor and Dean of Medicine who was formative in developing educational structures at GUH. It recognises an outstanding trainee in the Galway RCPI basic internal medicine training scheme.

Ms Ciara Dolan, Physiotherapist Clinical Specialist GUH was presented with the Wil Van Der Putten Award. Named for Prof Van Der Putten who was a pioneer in supporting academia,  this medal recognises research work undertaken by the health and social care professionals. Ms Ciara Dolan, respiratory clinical specialist physiotherapist, accepted the award on behalf of a team that demonstrated amazing innovation in developing bespoke equipment for a patient with a laryngectomy requiring CPAP.

Ms Aine Binchey, ANP in Neonatology, was awarded the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Medal. Aine and her colleagues have an outstanding record of research that has led to significant quality improvements in neonatal care.

The QI Award went to Mr  Padraig McGettrick  SpR ID and his team for Improving the Post Exposure Pathway in GUH: A Quality Improvement Project.

Dr Sean Donohue, an Infectious Disease trainee working in respiratory and general medicine for this year, was awarded the Prof Patrick Finnegan Medal. Prof Finnegan, a retired respiratory consultant and Dean of Medicine was a renowned clinician and educator and this medal is awarded by vote to the most outstanding medical registrar in GUH. It reflects humanistic and leadership skills as much as clinical skills and Sean is a worthy recipient. He joins a long line of outstanding young doctor who have been awarded this medal.

The Certificate of Merit for Research was awarded to Dr Marcus Jee for establishing a Multi-disciplinary In-situ Simulation Education Programme for Paediatric Emergency Scenarios.

 A commendation was given to Dr Lee who is an Emergency Department registrar who has undertaken excellent work in inter-professional training in Paediatric emergencies.  Note was made of his engaging and novel presentation skills.  

The best poster presentation went to Dr Cameron Forward, a respiratory registrar, for work undertaken with Dr Bob Rutherford.

 The event was organised, facilitated, and coordinated by the Saolta University Health Care Group Academic Office.

Prof Anthony O’Regan, Chief Academic Officer for the Saolta University Health Care Group said; “The Research and Awards Day gives our incredible staff the opportunity to showcase and present their academic work. It also allows Saolta to recognise the research, innovation and quality improvement that is being carried out daily across our hospital site. 

“This provides a wonderful platform for engagement and collaboration across the professions. “

The event will also allow all staff to see the remarkable work being done by their colleagues throughout the hospital.

The event also facilitates mentoring and feedback for all participants.

“In past years as well as more traditional research projects, our staff have showcased innovative approaches from using Artificial Intelligence in diagnostics, to the development of significant service improvements based on our novel Quality Improvement programme. In Covid we saw innovations in treatments and adaptions of equipment for ventilation and this year we see the use of 3D printers to allow for treatment of patients and telehealth providing remote support for patients,” added Prof O’Regan.