ICO annual conference May 15-17Winners of Bayer/ICO Clinical Fellowship 2016/17 announced at ICO Winter Meeting
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) is delighted to announce that senior trainees, Dr Elizabeth McElnea and Dr Andrea Ryan, have been awarded as joint winners of the inaugural Bayer/ICO Clinical Fellowship in Ophthalmology 2016/2017.
The announcement was made at the ICO Annual Winter Meeting which took place on Thursday, December 1st in The Gresham Hotel, Dublin.
Dr Elizabeth McElnea will commence a fellowship at Macclesfield District General Hospital in Cheshire in 2017 to complete comprehensive training in ophthalmic plastic, lacrimal, orbital and reconstructive surgery in order to prepare for a future career in this subspecialty.
Dr Andrea Ryan is currently carrying out a fellowship in medical retina at Moorfields Hospital in London.
Speaking at the announcement, Miss Yvonne Delaney, ICO Dean of Postgraduate Education said,
“The ICO would like to thank Bayer for their support in facilitating the winning ICO trainees to undertake an exceptional training opportunity in their chosen overseas centres of excellence in the field of ophthalmology. We acknowledge the tremendous benefit this will have to their training experience and in turn the Irish health service.”
Currently undergoing her fellowship programme in Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Dr Andrea Ryan said,
“I am extremely grateful to the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and Bayer for the funding provided which allows me to access this invaluable training opportunity in one of the world’s leading eye hospitals. I hope to bring the expertise gained to the Irish healthcare system to benefit the large and growing population of Irish patients affected by retinal disorders. “
Dr Ryan added, “The key objective of the fellowship is to move towards becoming competent to specialist level in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with medical retina disease including retinal vascular, genetic and uveitic disorders. The fellowship offers exposure to novel retinal imaging techniques, electrodiagnostics, research opportunities and extensive teaching sessions under the supervision of experts in the field.”
Dr Elizabeth McElnea’s, whose chosen fellowship at Macclesfield District General Hospital in Cheshire will commence in July 2017 said,
“I am very grateful to both Bayer and the Irish College of Ophthalmologists for the generous funding provided and indeed am very excited about the invaluable training opportunity. This Fellowship will also present the opportunity to attend multi-disciplinary meetings and teaching sessions in three further centres in the United Kingdom - the Royal Liverpool Hospitals NHS Trust, The Central Manchester Foundation NHS Trust and The Christie Hospital as well as the chance to produce a body of research work that is of high quality and adds to the evidence based practice of this ophthalmic surgery subspecialty. I am very much looking forward to taking up my fellowship post and using the skills and experience gained to the benefit of the Irish healthcare service thereafter.”
“Bayer is delighted to be able to support the ICO with the funding for the Bayer Clinical Fellowship in Ophthalmology. We congratulate both of the winners and are pleased to see our support furthering the education of future leaders in ophthalmology in Ireland. As this is the 1st year of the award, we look forward to hearing the winners describe how this has helped to develop their careers when they return to Ireland so they can inspire future applicants.”
ENDS
For media enquiries contact:
Ciara Keenan, Communications Manager, Irish College of Ophthalmologists
6th December 2016