Tallaght Hospital Formalises Pharmacy Education Links with Trinity College Dublin
New Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen training, education, research and professional development programmes between Hospital and University
Pictured at the signing are: Back row, L-R: Professor Anne Marie Healy, Head of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity; Tim Delaney, Head of Pharmacy in Tallaght and Adjunct Associate Professor in Trinity; Professor Mary McCarron, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity; Front Row, L-R: Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity and Sarah McMickan, Deputy CEO of Tallaght Hospital.
(September 1st 2015) An exciting new chapter in the long-standing relationship between Tallaght Hospital and Trinity College Dublin has being signalled today with the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding to further enhance the education and professional development links between both bodies.
The development will see a strengthening of current arrangements between Tallaght and Trinity in the areas of undergraduate and post-graduate training, education, research and professional development in Pharmacy. The move will underpin Tallaght Hospital’s standing as an established leader in the provision of training and professional development within pharmacy, particularly at a time when the sector is facing significant change.
Speaking at a special signing ceremony at Tallaght Hospital, Deputy CEO Sarah McMickan said
“Our primary mission at Tallaght Hospital is to provide excellent patient care and to deliver this we need top class staff, educated and trained to the highest standards. As one of the country’s main teaching hospitals, we have a long established link with Trinity College at both under graduate and post graduate level in both medicine and pharmacy. This is central to our commitment to deliver clinical excellence across all our services. Our pharmacy links with Trinity span almost 34 years and extend to training, education, research and professional development programmes. We are delighted to formalise this long standing and highly positive relationship through the establishment of an official Memorandum of Understanding and it is a source of great pride that we see 12 members of the pharmacy team at Tallaght Hospital today being awarded academic titles from Trinity as part of this process. In congratulating the team, can I say it is our strong desire to see the relationship between both organisations flourish and to continue producing innovators, scientists and practitioners who are driven by a common desire to serve patients better into the future.“
Welcoming the signing of a formal MOU and speaking also at today’s event, the Provost of Trinity College, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said the development would be of great mutual benefit to both institutions:
“This partnership will further build on long-standing links between Trinity’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Tallaght Hospital. It will forge its cooperation in teaching and research and provide an excellent environment for undergraduate and postgraduate education in Pharmacy. The Pharmacy Department in Tallaght is at the forefront of developments in education, research and clinical services. With our new five-year integrated pharmacy programme commencing this month, input from practitioners with both clinical and research expertise will be invaluable in ensuring our students are best prepared for current and future pharmacist roles. It will enable pharmacy students to get the very best of experience in one of the country’s busiest hospital pharmacies but it is also one that is recognised as being highly innovative.”
From left to right: Phil O’Byrne, Ciara McManamly, Tamasine Grimes, Evelyn Deasy, Joan McGillycuddy, Tim Delaney, Carol O’Brady, Niamh Kilcullen, Fiona Begley, Louise Byrne, Sarah McMickan, Dr. Prendergant, Jane Strong and John O’Byrne.
Teaching Highlights
1991 - Tim Delaney from the Adelaide Hospital Pharmacy Dept and Martin Henman of Trinity commence the new hospital elective with pharmacy students. Pharmacy staff members have been delivering undergraduate patient contact sessions and the hospital elective ever since.
1996 - TCD MSc in Hospital Pharmacy postgraduate programme for pharmacists established - 2-3 pharmacists on each intake of the two year programme; 19 graduates through the programme to date. Staff members give huge input to the MSc course as rotational tutors on in-hospital rotations plus lecturers on the programme.
2006 - Tallaght Hospital appoints Evelyn Deasy as Education and Research Manager for the Pharmacy Department in 2000 and as Adjunct Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy in 2006, cementing the Department’s strong commitment to teaching and research in pharmacy practice.
2013 - TCD Cardiology in Clinical Practice Module for practising pharmacists developed.
Research Highlights
2002 - Professor Stephen Byrne, now Head of School in Pharmacy in UCC, was first PhD graduate
2000 - Joint Pharmacokinetic research group established - set up by Professor Owen Corrigan, Dr. Maria Donnelly and the pharmacy department.
2009 - Appointment of Dr. Tamasine Grimes as Research pharmacist in 2009
2010 - Appointment of Dr. Tamasine Grimes as Associate Professor in Pharmacy Practice in TCD
Clinical Lecturer
New awards: Carol O’Brady, Ciara Mc Manamly, Fiona Begley, Joan McGillycuddy, Louise Byrne, Niamh Kilcullen, Philomena O’Byrne
Existing holder: Dawn Davin
Adjunct Associate Professor
New awards: Tim Delaney
Adjunct Assistant Professor
New awards: John O’Byrne
Existing holder: Evelyn Deasy
Associate Professor
Existing holder: Dr. Tamasine Grimes
Clinical Tutor
New awards: Jane Strong