New Strategic Partnership Between Trinity College Dublin and Naas General Hospital

Posted on: 13 November 2007

The School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin has agreed a new strategic collaborative partnership in medical undergraduate education with Naas General Hospital. The TCD Provost, Dr John Hegarty, and Mr Michael Knowles, General Manager of Naas General Hospital, together signed a Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions which recognises Naas General Hospital as an affiliated clinical teaching centre for students of the TCD School of Medicine.

Commenting on the significance of the bilateral agreement, the Vice Provost of Medical Affairs and Head of the TCD School of Medicine, Professor Dermot Kelleher said: “We are delighted to work closely with our colleagues in Naas  General Hospital. This agreement recognises the important contribution that the hospital has made to the education of TCD students and we look forward to expanding this relationship in both teaching and research”.

“The teaching experience and potential for research gained by our medical undergraduates will be markedly enhanced by this cooperation. It will greatly facilitate the increase in numbers of students to the School of Medicine. We look forward to continuing evaluation from our students about this very important addition to the undergraduate curriculum.”

In recent times, the TCD School of Medicine has introduced a number of significant changes. It reduced its curriculum from 6 to 5 years for medical undergraduates. Also, in keeping with recommendations made by the Fottrell Report and the Higher Education Authority, the number of medical students in Trinity will be increased to 175 by the year 2010.  The ratio of EU to non-EU students will be approximately 80:20.