CPsychI Summer Schools 2015
Over sixty students from every University in Ireland recently attended the 5th Annual Psychiatry Summer School events, organised by the Trainee Committee and the Postgraduate Training Department of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland.
The Summer Schools have successfully expanded over the last number of years to include dates in Dublin, Galway and Cork. The overall aim of these events is to highlight the diversity in Psychiatry and explain the many roles that Psychiatrists play as Clinicians, Researchers, Multi-Disciplinary Team members and leaders in the mental health field. The very first Summer School held in 2011 won the European Federation for Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) Award for Excellence 2012.
The events held this year were incredibly well received by all those in attendance, with a variety of presentations by Consultants, Trainees and Service Users, as well as visits to various clinical sites, on each day. Some of the plenary speakers over the three days included Dr Karen O’Connor, Dr Michele Hill, Dr Elaine Dunne, Dr Siobhan MacHale, Dr Larkin Feeney and Dr Aileen Murtagh who all spoke on the topic of being a Consultant Psychiatrist, their own training experiences’ as well as the Irish training pathway.
A member of the College’s REFOCUS (Recovery and Experience Forum of Carers and Service Users) group also spoke of their own personal experiences of caring for a family member, an aspect of the day that was a highlight for many of those in attendance.
Attendees were also lucky enough to pay a visit to a clinical site within their city, all of which encompassed many specialties from within the field of Psychiatry, including Child and Adolescent, Forensic and Addictions Psychiatry. The clinical site visits in Dublin included St James’s Hospital, the National Forensic Mental Health Service, and the Lucena Clinic, and in Cork, the students enjoyed visiting the Carraig Mór unit at Our Lady’s Hospital, Eist Linn Child and Adolescent Metal Health Services and the newly opened mental health unit in Cork University Hospital. Each site’s unique clinical and scientific aspects were explained and students were met by Consultant Psychiatrists, Psychiatry Trainees, Multidisciplinary Team members and, at some sites, patients and their carers/family members. Experiencing a busy clinical environment was found to be particularly enjoyable for all students in attendance and served to showcase those interesting and stimulating aspects of Psychiatry that are not necessarily covered in a standard undergraduate Psychiatry placement.
To close the day students attended a social event where they had further opportunity to speak with Trainees and Consultants.
The College of Psychiatrists is delighted to provide an opportunity for Medical Students and Interns to gain insight into training and working in the field of Psychiatry in Ireland today. The Summer School has gone from strength to strength over the last number of years and it is hoped that it will continue as an annual event and continue to inspire Medical Students and Interns to take up a career in the field of Psychiatry.
For information on the Summer Schools running in August 2016, please click here.