TWO virtual conferring ceremonies were held for the Class of 2020 of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) yesterday.
In the first such ceremony of the university, 152 graduates from the School of Medicine, 44 Bachelor graduates from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and 13 Nursing Master graduates from the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research took a bow.
Supreme Council of Health chairman Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh sent congratulatory and supportive messages to the graduates.
“I want to thank RCSI Bahrain for its clinical research in the fight against Covid-19 and for its continuous support of the government’s monumental efforts in containing the pandemic and to protect public health,” said Dr Shaikh Mohammed.
“I would like to thank the medicine and nursing students for volunteering with the Health Ministry and supporting the efforts led by the government,” said Ms Al Saleh.
“You have set the bar high for the following classes and you’ve demonstrated your ability to go above and beyond your duties to help in the betterment of your country.”
In his address, RCSI Bahrain president Professor Sameer Otoom commended the graduates for obtaining their Bachelor degrees in their fields and for overcoming the challenges that they have faced due to the pandemic.
Success
“Those who graduate today have succeeded in overcoming many difficulties and in the most challenging of times,” he said.
“The years ahead are sure to bring many more challenges, but if recent events tell us anything, it is that the RCSI Bahrain Class of 2020 is equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude to meet the challenges and become successful and caring professional doctors and nurses.”
RCSI president Prof Patrick Ronan O’Connell and National University of Ireland Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning praised the graduates for their resilience during these challenging times and expressed their eagerness for the graduates to join the lines of healthcare leaders around the world.
RCSI Bahrain professor of surgery and surgery department head Prof Martin Corbally, who was the master of ceremonies, virtually presented the graduates with their degrees and recited with them their Graduates Declaration – a proclamation of their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice in their careers.
Associate professor in family medicine Prof Ghufran Jassim read out the names of the School of Medicine graduates, while Bachelor of Science nursing programme director Dr Eman Tawash recited the names for the School of Nursing and Midwifery Bachelor graduates and Masters in Nursing Programme director Prof Maura Pidgeon for the Nursing Master graduates from the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research.
The virtual ceremonies concluded with vice-president for academic affairs and Head of School of Medicine Prof Alfred Nicholson presenting awards to the high achieving students from both the schools.
The School of Medicine class valedictorian, Dr Bassam Alhamer, won the Professor James Finucane Prize in Medicine, Degree Award Marks Gold Medal and Senior Cycle Silver Medal.
Dr Mohamed Almajed was awarded with the Highest Aggregate Marks Gold Medal and the Senior Cycle Bronze Medal, and Dr Reem Althawadi was awarded with the Professor Niall O’Higgins Prize in Surgery.
As for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the class valedictorian, Hawra Saeed, was awarded both the BSc Nursing Gold and Silver Medals.
The MSc Nursing Gold Medal was presented to Bisma Singh.
The BSc Nursing Bronze Medal was awarded to Abier Anfos and the Rufaida Alaslamia Prize in Nursing was awarded to Marwah Sayer.
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