Photo Exhibition Illustrating Role of GPs Ends School of Medicine Tercentenary Events

May 18, 2012

A photographic exhibition about general medical practice in Ireland today opened this week, marking the conclusion of Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine tercentenary celebrations.

Throughout 2011 the School of Medicine celebrated the tercentenary of its establishment with a series of lectures and events highlighting the College’s contribution to medicine and society. 

Around 100,000 patients consult Ireland’s 2,800 general practitioners each day and to date GPs one-to-one interaction with patients has not been illustrated. The aim of the exhibition, titled General Practice, is to depict the day to day work of general practitioners from a variety of communities in a manner and place that is accessible to the public.

Professor of General Practice, School of Medicine, Tom O'Dowd views one of the 'General Practice' images

The exhibition, opened by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD who studies medicine in Trinity, highlights the vital role of GPs in contemporary Irish society, providing a glimpse into the usually private interactions between GP and patient.

It is the inspiration of the Professor of General Practice in the School of Medicine, Tom O’Dowd who commissioned Fionn McCann as photographer. The images were made between 2009 and 2011, and document a series of patients’ visits to six GPs to reflect the spectrum of traditional to modern landscapes within general practice throughout Ireland today.  In colour and black-and-white photographs, the photographer captures the trials, tribulations and sometimes humour of these encounters.

The GPs and the featured patients gave permission to have the photographer present during these normally private encounters and the project was ethically approved by the Irish College of General Practitioners.

The exhibition runs until May 27th in the Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.