Mental Health conference held under patronage of Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al ...

16 Pages·2016·6.59 MB·English

Connected, RCSI Bahrain Newsletter, April 2016
Mental Health conference held under patronage of
Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
The patron (middle) with university officials and guests Dr Fadhel Al Nasheet conducting one of the workshops
More than 200 healthcare providers, Health Chairman, His Excellency
students and members of the public Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh
descended on the RCSI Bahrain Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.
campus in February for its first mental RCSI Academic Department of
health conference. Psychiatry Chairman, Professor Kieran
Entitled; ‘No Health without Murphy opened with a keynote
Mental Health’, the conference address, followed by presentations
aimed to increase awareness of, from Association of Arab
erase stigma associated with and Universities Secretary General,
Professor Otoom with other attendees promote means and resources to Professor Sultan T Abu-Orabi and
overcome mental health issues in Professor Kamel.
University officials Bahrain. The afternoon session featured a
Organised by RCSI Bahrain’s series of interactive workshops
attend National Community Engagement focusing on topics such as
department, in conjunction with depression; misconceptions of
Charter Day Associate Professor Charlotte Kamel, mental health; art therapy; substance
Head of Department of Psychiatry, misuse; anxiety management and
celebrations the event was held under the schizophrenic disorders.
patronage of Supreme Council for
Members of the RCSI Bahrain’s Executive
RCSI Bahrain receives
Committee (EXCO) attended a special
event at the University of Bahrain in
institutional listing
February, on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of Bahrain’s National Charter.
The event was organised by the
RCSI Bahrain has received achievement for RCSI Bahrain, with
Ministry of Education and featured a
confirmation of its listing with the its programmes now to be
parade of floats designed specifically for
National Authority for Qualification included on the National Quality
the day, which followed the route from
and Quality Assurance of Framework (NQF).
the University of Bahrain campus to the
Education and Training (QQA). Speaking after the
National Charter monument.
According to the official announcement, RCSI Bahrain
RCSI Bahrain was among the
Institutional Listing Decision President, Professor Sameer
institutions from all over the country
published on the QQA website, Otoom praised all staff members
invited by the Higher Education Council
the university “Sufficiently meets all who had contributed towards the
(HEC) to participate in Sakhir.
University President, Professor Sameer of the Institutional Listing successful application, in particular
Otoom meanwhile, took part in a walk Standards, and thus the Overall highlighting the work carried out
alongside Education Minister, Majid bin Judgement is: ‘Listed’.” by the university’s Quality
Ali Al-Nuaimi and fellow presidents. The listing is seen as a significant Enhancement department.
Bahrain to form international nursing chapter
RCSI Bahrain has been instrumental in paving the way for STTI’s approval of a chapter in Bahrain earlier this year
the formation of the Gulf region’s first ever chapter of the comes on the back of the establishment of the Rufaida
internationally-renowned Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Honor Nursing Society (RHNS) through RCSI Bahrain’s
Theta Tau International (STTI), which will take place later this School of Nursing and Midwifery back in 2013.
year. The official chapter launch is expected to take place at
Founded out of the Indiana University Training School RCSI Bahrain in October of this year, to coincide with the
for Nurses in 1922, the not-for-profit STTI now has over tenth anniversary of the opening of the university’s School
135,000 members of more than 500 chapters across 85 of Nursing and Midwifery.
countries and serves as a global community of nursing The STTI chapter will give nurses in Bahrain and beyond
scholars. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and the opportunity to partake in nursing education and
graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence scholarly activities and should place the Kingdom in a
in scholarship and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional leading position in terms of the nursing sector in the region.
achievements in nursing.
New healthcare initiative launched for women
in the unique healthcare needs of women in terms of
providing services, information, counselling, referral and
education to all women.
Although a worldwide concept for some time, this is
the first such clinic to open its doors on the island. The
overall goals of the clinic are to promote health education
in a convenient and user-friendly environment; to increase
screening rates and to improve awareness and knowledge
of the importance of early detection and screening.
Among the services on offer will be general and
specialist referrals; advice on diet and nutrition,
gynaecological problems, postnatal symptoms,
menopause, sexual practice and family planning;
psychological counselling; urine, weight, cholesterol,
Dr Jassim
blood pressure and smear tests; postpartum and
osteoporosis assessments; mammogram screenings and
Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, Dr Ghufran Ahmed breast examinations.
Jassim has launched a new healthcare initiative specifically The clinic will be operated initially on Thursdays only by
aimed at women in Bahrain. Dr Jassim and a team of staff with specialist experience in
Based out of King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), women’s health issues but the hope is that these service
the Well Woman Clinic is a medical practice specialising times will increase in due time.
President meets with Civil Service Bureau on
promotion of nursing
Ahmed bin Zayed Al Zayed , last month to discuss the
development of Bahrain’s nursing sector and plans to
strengthen cooperation between the two parties.
During the meeting, Mr Al Zayed stressed the need
for the health sector to give priority to Bahraini nurses to
support national talents and skills.
The two parties also explored ways to provide the best
medical possible care to citizens and promote Bahrain’s
healthcare industry overall.
Mr Al Zayed
Mr Al Zayed praised RCSI Bahrain’s efforts to develop
the nursing sector and provide for Bahraini citizens, while
RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom,
Professor Otoom thanked the CSB president for his
accompanied by Chief Operating Officer, Stephen
cooperation in the promotion of the nursing sector and
Harrison-Mirfield and Head of School of Nursing and
the improvement of the university’s outputs.
Midwifery, Professor Seamus Cowman, met with The
president of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) His Excellency
RCSI Bahrain launches stroke awareness video under
patronage of Dr Aysha Buaneq
RCSI Bahrain in February launched the country’s first ever
stroke awareness video during a special event held under
the patronage of Ministry of Health Undersecretary, Dr
Aysha Buaneq.
Initiated by the university’s Community Engagement and
Psychology departments, the video was produced in
collaboration with Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and
Gulf Broadcast.
Speaking to the assembled crowd, Head of Community
Dr Aysha Buaneq with RCSI Bahrain officials and guests Engagement, Julie Sprakel said the new video would play
an important part in RCSI Bahrain’s aim of leading
healthcare education to local communities.
The launch of the video – which supplements the Ministry
of Health’s opening of a dedicated stroke unit at SMC later
this year – follows on from the success of a similar public
awareness film on CPR, produced by RCSI Bahrain in 2014
and picked up and screened by Gulf Air on its in-flight
entertainment system.
The latest video was published on RCSI Bahrain’s social
media pages and has since had over 3,000 views on
YouTube. To support the campaign, check out and share the
A screen shot from the video
following link https://www.youtube.com/user/rcsibahrain.
RCSI Bahrain officials attend Qatar conference
RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, Head
of School of Postgraduate Studies and Research,
Professor Davinder Sandhu and Head of Quality
Enhancement, Dr Kathryn Strachan visited Qatar
University recently, to attend a forum on the accreditation
of medical colleges in the World Health Organisation’s
(WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO).
Delegates discussed the need for regional
accreditation and the impact of the changes to the
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
(ECFMG) requirements that all doctors seeking
certification should be from an appropriately-accredited
medical school as of 2023.
EXCO members with fellow attendees
Medical student receives
ministerial recognition
Foundation Year (FY) medical student Rula Jamal Naqi
received a special acknowledgement by the Minister
of Education, His Excellency Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi
during the annual National Action Charter celebrations
for her achievement in winning the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Award for Distinguished Student in 2015.
Launched by His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of
Finance and Industry in 1998, the Distinguished
Performance awards aim to upgrade educational
performance in all sectors and were extended to GCC
counties in 2003.
Rula received the Distinguished Student award based
on her academic distinction, leadership qualities, talents
Rula receives the award from Dr Majid
and hobbies, contributions, activities and contests.
RCSI Bahrain graduate named ‘intern of the year’
2014 medicine graduate, Dr Zaid Marhoon, Marhoon scored well for his outstanding academic
has been named as ‘Intern of the Year 2016’ performance and five publications during the internship
at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). year.
The award is granted based on Dr Marhoon, who is currently working at Ibn Al Nafees
assessment in the domains of academic Private Hospital and hopes to focus on Orthopaedic
performance; research; workshops; Surgery, attributed the award to his training at RCSI
recommendations and patient care and Dr Bahrain.
Dr Marhoon
Eman Fateel to present at UK conference
Nursing Lecturer Eman Fateel has been invited to present
at the 6th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference in
London in August.
Ms Fateel will present the findings of her research
project, entitled: ‘Learning approaches and experiences of
student nurses following the introduction of eBooks into
an undergraduate nursing programme in Bahrain.’
The study was carried out in collaboration with the Head
of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Seamus
Cowman, and focused on the impact and reaction to the
introduction of eBooks as an alternative to textbooks for
RCSI Bahrain’s undergraduate nursing programme.
The conference is part of the Omics International
Conference Series and takes place at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Heathrow Airport from August 15th to 17th.
Ms Fateel will be joined by Learning Systems and
Technologies Coordinator, Sami Abid.
Ms Fateel with Prof Cowman
Dr Wendy Maddison Dr Azra Mahmud
receives UK PhD awarded the Fellowship
Head of Student Development and Wellbeing, Dr Wendy
of the British
Maddison has been awarded a Doctorate in Higher
Education from the University of Liverpool in the UK for
Hypertension Society
her study on the impact of transnational medical and
nursing education on Bahraini females.
Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Dr
The doctoral thesis focused on students’ experiences
Azra Mahmud has been awarded a Fellowship of the
of transnational medical and nursing education, using
British Hypertension Society, in recognition of her
interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) as a
long-standing work on the condition.
research methodology and postmodern feminism as a
In receiving the award, Dr Mahmud became the first
theoretical framework and took almost five years to
Irish female academic ever to do so.
complete.
Already a certified American Hypertension Specialist
Dr Maddison’s research findings indicate that
and a Fellow of the European Society of Hypertension,
transnational education is a transformative experience for
Dr Mahmud is also a member of the International and
RCSI Bahrain students and one that impacts on personal,
American Societies of Hypertension, The Artery Society,
professional, private, public and political domains and
British Pharmacological Society and serves on the Blood
she is hoping to use these results to enhance her role
Pressure Council of the Irish Heart Foundation.
within the university.
Dr Maddison Dr Mahmud receives the award
RCSI Bahrain celebrates St Patrick’s Day
The saying ‘Everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day’ certainly coffee morning took place in the university’s main atrium,
rang true at RCSI Bahrain last month as students and staff where an impressive array of Irish foods and treats was on
turned out in force for the university’s annual St Patrick’s offer.
Day festivities. The feast of St Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is
While students took part in a treasure hunt around the celebrated by millions of people around the world each
campus in search of the famous pot of gold, a special staff year on March 17th.
Bursary recipients attend Milan conference
Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, Dr Ghufran Jassim and Dr Jassim and Ms Hashim were able to attend the event
Professional Development Unit (PDU) Coordinator, Sumaya with thanks to a bursary awarded by the PDU earlier this year
Hashim were among 120 delegates to attend the QS in in line with Bahrain’s National Strategy on Advancement of
Conversation seminar on Advancing Female Leadership Women.
through Higher Education in Milan, Italy in early February.
The conference, which was co-hosted by Jeddah’s Effat
University, attracted a diverse range of participants, from
university leaders to representatives of diplomatic corps
and international business from over 60 institutions and
organisations from all around the world.
During the seminar, attendees exchanged experiences of
promoting empowerment of women in an effort to define
a conceptual framework for female leadership in higher
education and proposed educational programmes and
policies to make women’s participation in society more
effective.
Among those in attendance was HRH Princess Loulwa
Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who is Vice-Chair of the Board of
Trustees and General Supervisor at Effat University. Dr Jassim and Ms Hashim pictured with Princes Loulwa, second left
Students return after biggest ever International
Community Engagement programme
The annual International Community Engagement (ACLS) session at the Roma College of Nursing, using
programme came to an end in March, as the last of inflatable resuscitation dummies supplied by RCSI Bahrain.
16 senior nursing and medical students returned from In addition, the group attended a local home for
Vietnam. disabled children, had dinner with the Archbishop of
Among the highlights of this year’s programme was a Lesotho and attended an Irish-Lesotho-Bahraini cultural
trip to Lesotho in Southern Africa by final year medical event in the company of their Majesties the King and
students, Mohamed Alreefi and Noora Althawadi, final Queen of Lesotho, the Prime Minister and other cabinet
year nursing students, Aysha Snan and Maryam Jasim and members.
Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, Dr David Misselbrook.
Having missed out last year, the ICE programme made a
welcome return to the mountainous enclave state – which
is surrounded by South Africa – that saw the team join a
larger group of almost 100 builders, teachers, parents and
secondary school student volunteers from Action Ireland
Trust (AIT).
The RCSI Bahrain contingent with AIT volunteers
Speaking upon the group’s return to Bahrain, Dr
Misselbrook described the trip as ‘an amazing and eye-
The RCSI Bahrain team at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lesotho opening experience’. “We realised how fortunate we are
to learn and to practice in healthcare professions within a
wealthy and well-developed nation such as Bahrain,” he
The RCSI Bahrain contingent worked principally in added.
partnership with St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma, a small The Lesotho trip was one of four to take place as part of
town some 35 kilometers from the capital, Maseru, where what was the biggest ICE programme to date in terms of
five doctors and a larger team of nurses aim to provide the numbers of locations visited and students to take part.
all inpatient and outpatient care to a rural population of
around 200,000 people.
As part of their two-week visit, the team conducted an
outreach primary care clinic at a remote school in Hlalele,
where they saw approximately 150 patients, while the
students also led an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
The RCSI Bahrain team at Global Health City in Chennai
In late January, SCT students Hari Hullur, Khalifa Aldoseri,
Saumitra Tiwary and Myat Han travelled to Chennai in
India, where they linked up with Global Health City.
Mohamed Alreefi pictured with local children after football Students with Global Health City staff
game
After meeting the hospital director and receiving their Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), at Children’s Hospital 2
week’s schedule, the team attended the Master Class in in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Liver Disease (MCLD) 2016 conference and then got to
witness live liver transplant surgeries and follow up with the
patients post-operation.
They worked with the infectious diseases team and saw
cases of turberculosis and other exotic diseases and spent
time with the neurosurgery team for their rounds and
clinics.
The students also had the opportunity to visit the
ancient architectural site on the ocean in a town called
Mahabalipuram and took in plenty of other cultural sites
and experiences along the way.
The RCSI Bahrain team in Vietnam
The Bahrain contingent in Vietnam worked with the
Operation Childlife team, which brought them face-to-face
with a number of new and interesting cases they would
never have seen the likes of to date.
While Professor Corbally and Dr Zaidan took full part in
procedures alongside the Vietnamese surgical team, the
students also got the opportunity to scrub up and witness
some of the operations at first hand.
The RCSI Bahrain team at Vikas Hospital in New Delhi
A second trip to India in February saw N4 students
Ghadeer Ashoor, Narjes Ashkanani and Ahmed Almass
team up with SC2’s Bibi Laulloo and nursing lecturer, Ali
Ebrahim in New Delhi at Vikas Hospital in New Delhi.
Among the learning outcomes of this trip, the group
set out to identify differences and similarities between
India and Bahrain in terms of epidemiological and cultural
aspects; the most common reasons for hospital visits and
the various tests and diagnostic procedures offered to
patients.
Amna and Zainab in theatre
The group also spent time with in the neonate, ICU and
cardiac departments but noted a serious lack of nursing
staff across the board.
The RCSI Bahrain contingent visit the Taj Mahal The International Community Engagement placements
were launched in 2013 as a means of offering
undergraduate students an opportunity to collaborate
The team selected one particular patient case and and work with healthcare institutions and professionals in
followed it from the time of admission to the treatment different international settings around the world.
plan, conducting patient care and services as instructed The programme is also seen as an opportunity for
and directed and documenting the experience along the these future healthcare professionals to observe diseases
way. and procedures that are not common within their own
They particularly enjoyed the experience of working in a cultures, as well as a chance to grow both personally and
field outside their comfort zone and interacting with a new professionally.
culture. The competition for places on the programme is
The final trip brought Fatema Sultan, N4 classmates extremely high and students are selected on the basis of
Amna Almuhandes and Zainab Heraiz and SC2 student an extensive process which includes interviews, academic
Ali Ayaz together with Professor of Surgery, Professor performance and a participation in the university’s
Martin Corbally and team leader, Dr Hind Zaidan from King Community Engagement activities.
Students celebrate White Coat Ceremony
150 IC1 students celebrated the transition to clinical the responsibility associated with it.
training last month during the annual White Coat Guest speakers were Bahrain Medical Society General
Ceremony. Secretary, Dr Manaf Al Qahtani and RCSI Bahrain Senior
Regarded as a seminal moment in the course of Cycle student, Maryam Fareed Ashoor.
medical training and future careers, the ceremony is a The ceremony concluded with the students’ recital of
symbolic event based around the presentation of the the professional declaration, through which they vowed
students’ white coats. to maintain professional attitudes and behaviours in work
The event featured an address by RCSI Bahrain’s Head and relationships with classmates, teachers, patients and
of School of Medicine, Professor Joe McMenamin, who the community.
highlighted the significance of wearing the white coat and
RCSI Bahrain student receives Harold Browne Medal
The White Coat Ceremony provided the backdrop for
a particularly special occasion for Intermediate Cycle
student, Abdel Rahman Raed Mustafa Halawa, who
became the first RCSI Bahrain representative to win a prize
from RCSI in Dublin.
Abdel Rahman was awarded the Harold Browne
Anatomy Medal, after participating in and winning the
Anatomy Quiz, while studying in Dublin for the first
semester of the year as part of the Mobility Exchange
Programme.
A graduate of University College Dublin (UCD) in 1940,
Dr Harold Browne is a former President of the Irish Medical
Council, who spent more than 60 years teaching at RCSI
before his death in January of last year.
Abdel Rahman received the award from RCSI Bahrain
Professor of Anatomy, Professor Robin O Sullivan during
Abdel Rahman receives the award from Professor O’Sullivan the White Coat Ceremony.
RCSI Bahrain delegation attends MUN conference in
Germany
A delegation of students from RCSI Bahrain travelled to
Germany in January to attend the fifth Erfurt Model United
Nations (EfMUN) Conference.
Medicine students Faris Ghannam, Huda Alzeera,
Ghaydah Al-Shami, Malvika Bhatia and Maryam Alzeera
were among 100 participants at the conference, which
featured discussions on practical solutions and resolution
papers.
One of the highlights of the event from the RCSI Bahrain
contingent’s perspective, saw Maryam Alzeera (IC1) named
‘Outstanding Delegate’ and presented with a certificate.
The MUN delegation in Germany
A participant during the mini-competition
Nursing student to
Football Club President Fadi Babus-Haq presents the cheque
represent Bahrain in Gulf
to Mr Mukhtar
competition
Footballers donate to
N3 student, Maryam Abdulla will represent Bahrain at prostate cancer
a special GCC skills competition in Saudi Arabia later
this month, as part of an initiative by the Ministry of RCSI Bahrain Football Club has donated a cheque for
Education.
BD500 to the American Mission Hospital (AMH) for the
Maryam was selected from a group of five students
production of prostate cancer awareness leaflets.
taking part in a mini-competition, conducted by Nursing
Lecturer Dr Maryam Al Aradi in March. The money was raised during the successful
Assisting Dr Aradi on the day were fellow lecturers Movember campaign, which saw students and staff
Catherine Abouzaid and Orla Merrigan, while Fadhel grow the most ridiculous facial hair they could manage
Sahlan from the Ministry of Education simulated the role
in the good name of charity.
of the patient.
AMH Community and Marketing Officer, Sadiq
RCSI Bahrain has been chosen to participate in
Mukhtar gratefully received the cheque from
the initiative – aimed at improving Bahraini human
resources’ capacity – based on its high quality facilities Movember participants and football club officials
and teaching staff. during a special visit to the campus.
RCSI Bahrain supports HEC symposium on UK links
RCSI Bahrain officials attended a two-day symposium London South Bank University, Brunel University,
organised by the British Council and the Higher Education Birmingham City University and Regents University,
Council (HEC) at the Gulf Hotel last month to coincide London, who traveled from the UK.
with the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between The aim of the symposium, which featured discussions
Bahrain and the UK. and workshops on research, innovation and the creation of
University President, Professor Sameer Otoom, joined high-quality teaching and entrepreneurial universities, was
counterparts from Ahlia University, BIBF, Applied Science to develop joint opportunities for new programmes and
University, Kingdom University, Arab Open University, research collaborations, which will help the higher
Royal Women’s University and AMA International education sector and improve economy.
University as well as representatives of Salford University,
400 masquerade for annual
Winter Ball
400 students and staff descended on the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain
for this year’s Venetian Masquerade-themed Winter Ball at the
end of January.
Traditionally one of the most popular events on the
university’s social calendar, the annual Winter Ball offered a
chance for students to take a break from their studies, dust
off their glad rags and put them to good use. This year’s gala
event featured a live band and DJ as well as prize draws and a
photo-booth.
treatment and prevention, while providing participants
Student societies host first
with hands-on experience of and surgical oncology and
Oncology Symposium an understanding of the current status of oncology care in
Bahrain.
The event featured a series of talks and interactive
The Medical Research and Medics in Leadership Societies workshops covering a host of topics including oncologic
joined forces in late January to host the university’s first emergencies; Paediatric Oncology Imaging; lab
Oncology Symposium, which aimed to highlight the investigations and palliative care.
importance of research in the field of oncology. RCSI Bahrain medical, nursing, post-graduate and
Among the other objectives were to target new research students and staff attended the event, with all
oncological interventions in terms of screening; diagnosis; profits being donated to the Bahrain Cancer Society.
Participants at the event