The 10th Emergency Abdominal Surgery Course run by Donegal Clinical Research Academy was held in Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in Dublin on April 1st 2016. The 100 doctors who attended were treated to 9 international world leaders in Emergency Surgery from 3 continents. These included Professors Marja Boermeester-Amsterdam Holland, Rangjith Ellawala-Colombo Sri Lanka, Paula Ferrada-Richmond USA, Tina Gaader-Oslo Norway, Yoram Klein-Tel Aviv Israel, Hayato Kurihara-Milan Italy,Carlos Mesquita-Coimbra Portugal, Selman Uranus-Gratz Austria and Pantelis Vassiliu-Athens Greece.
The international key note speakers were complemented by 8 Irish Surgeons, Radiologists and Gastroenterologists including Professor Calvin Coffey-University Hospital Limerick, Professor Simon Cross-Waterford University Hospital, Professor Ronan O’Connell-St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dr Barry Kelleher-Gastroenterologist-Mater Dublin, Dr Leo Lawler-Radiologist-Mater Dublin, Mr Ken Mealy-Surgeon Co-Lead Acute Hospital Program, Dr Siobhan McGrane- Radiologist Limerick, Dr Chris Steele-Gastroenterologist Letterkenny University Hospital.
The participants, mostly from Ireland but some from Italy, raved about the course and the manner in which it was delivered. As one surgical trainee stated “Never been at such an excellent meeting, perfect organisation! Thank you”. The course was attended by a small number of nurses which Mr Sugrue feels is so important in selecting the team approach to care.
Mr Michael Sugrue from Letterkenny University Hospital, who developed and chaired the course, was proud that such an initiative (now in its 4th year) was leading emergency surgery care training around the world. The course was first run in Letterkenny in 2012; it will run this year in Asia, South America and next year in North America. Mr Sugrue said he would love to be able to run the course in the Donegal Clinical Research Academy’s newly designed auditorium, which has planning permission but needs further capital funding before it can proceed.
The Chair of Donegal Clinical Research Academy Trust Henry McGarvey said it will improve outcomes for those attending with acute abdominal conditions, such as appendicitis, gall bladder disease and bowel cancer.
The next course will be held in Donegal on July 25th where remarkably 40 of the world leaders in surgery will come to the North West.