Board of Governors
Professor Deborah McNamara is President of RCSI and Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. She qualified from Trinity College Dublin and completed surgical training in Ireland and France, specialising in surgical management of colorectal cancer.
She was Programme Director of the National Higher Surgical Training Programme in General Surgery (2010-2013) and Clinical Director for Surgery at Beaumont Hospital (2014-2017).
Her work as Chair of the Colorectal Cancer Guidelines and Clinical Leads groups of the Irish National Cancer Control Programme (2011-2024) lead to the publication of the first National Clinical Guidelines for colon and rectal cancer, endorsed by the Minister for Health as national policy.
In 2017, she chaired the group that published the RCSI PROGRESS report, setting out an ambitious strategy to improve gender equality in surgery in Ireland.
She served as Co-Lead of the National Clinical Programme for Surgery (2017-2024), leading large-scale healthcare improvement programmes in areas such as patient safety, operating theatre efficiency, surgical care pathways and models of care for surgical specialties.
She has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and has received a number of national and international distinctions including the Patey Prize of the Surgical Research Society, the AWS Olga Jonasson Award, the Millin Lecture and Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons.
Prof. Michael J Kerin (MB, MCH, FRCSI, DSc) is Vice President of RCSI and a Consultant General and Breast Endocrine Surgeon at Galway University Hospital. Prof. Kerin is also the Chair of Surgery and Clinical Director of the Managed Clinical and Academic Network for Cancer in the West North West region of Ireland.
As Consultant Surgeon he has a special interest in breast and endocrine disease. He is Research Director of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, Principal Investigator with the SFI funded Precision Oncology Ireland, the All Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) and co-investigator of numerous other collaborative cancer research initiatives. Prof. Kerin's research interests include molecular profiling in cancer, cancer risk prediction and innovative methods for breast cancer diagnosis and management.
Professor Cathal J. Kelly, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., L.R.C.S.I.&P.I., B.Sc., M.Ch., F.R.C.S.I. (Gen.) EMBA. C.D. F.R.C.P.S(Glasgow Hon.).
Professor Cathal Kelly is Vice Chancellor & CEO / Registrar of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine & Health Sciences, since December 2009, providing strategic leadership to RCSI and management of the senior executive team.
A Graduate and Fellow of RCSI, Professor Kelly previously held the post of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences from 2006 to 2009.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive/Registrar, Cathal was a Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon, with a special interest in endovascular surgery, in Beaumont Hospital.
He combined this role with the chairmanship of the surgical division and an academic position in RCSI as Vice Dean for curriculum change. In addition to completing his basic and higher surgical training in Dublin, Professor Kelly pursued a Research Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA.
In 2005, Professor Kelly was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education at Queen’s University Belfast. In 2009 he was conferred with a Master of Business Administration Degree by Institutio de Empressa of Madrid. In 2015, he undertook the Senior Leadership Programme at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
In 2016, Professor Kelly was awarded Chartered Director status, having completed the IoD Chartered Director course, in Dublin, and passed the Certificate and Diploma examinations with distinctions.
Professor Kelly was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow in September 2023.
Professor Tracy Robson was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at RCSI in 2024. She leads RCSI's academic community in delivering a world-class education which ensures our students emerge as healthcare professionals and scientists with the skills and attributes to thrive in complex clinical and research settings around the world.
A cancer biologist, Professor Robson joined RCSI in 2016 as Head of Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics. She became the foundation Head of the School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences following its establishment in 2019. She has previously held academic appointments at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast where she was appointed Professor in Experimental Therapeutics in 2010.
Professor Robson is a highly successful researcher, with over €15 million in competitive research grant awards and a sustained track record of high-quality publications in leading journals. Her research is focused on the development of biotherapeutics, based on a novel protein, which have been patented and licensed.
Under her leadership, the School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences secured €11.3 million in educational funding, including a €7.8 million award from the Higher Education Authority under the Human Capital Initiative, Pillar 3.
Mr. David Moore, Chair of the RCSI Academic Council, is a highly respected Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience in adult and paediatric orthopaedics. A graduate of University College Dublin, he holds an FRCSI and MCh Orth, with advanced training through prestigious fellowships in Paediatric Orthopaedics and Spinal Surgery in the U.S. and U.K. He specializes in limb lengthening, spinal deformity surgery, and joint replacement, practising at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Tallaght Hospital, and the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin. Mr. Moore has also contributed significantly to medical education, directing instructional courses in limb reconstruction, spinal surgery, and trauma care.
In addition to his clinical practice, Mr. Moore has held influential leadership roles, including President of the Irish Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and membership on the RCSI Council. He served as Joint Clinical Lead in the Trauma and Orthopaedic Clinical Programme and has been a key figure in initiatives such as the Irish National Orthopaedic Register and the Irish Hip Fracture Database. Through his governance roles, particularly as Chair of the RCSI Academic Council, Mr. Moore has been instrumental in advancing orthopaedic surgery standards, training, and healthcare policy in Ireland. Additionally, he is currently the Clinical Lead in the Spinal Surgery Management Unit in Children’s Health Ireland.
Brigadier (Prof) Fahad Khalifa Al-Khalifa is the Commander and Chief of Medical Staff of the Royal Medical Services - Bahrain Defence Force. Professor Fahad Al Khalifa is also the Head of the COVID Intensive Care units under the National Taskforce, the Chairman of Bahrain’s overseas treatment committee, the Chairman of the AO Foundation for Bahrain, and an Professor at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain.
Professor Fahad Al Khalifa (MB.BCh.BAO, LRCP&SI, FRCS Ortho (Canada), MSc Health Care) is a highly experienced surgeon specialised in sports and complex trauma, upper and lower extremity surgery, joint arthroplasty, degenerative joint disease and deformity correction.
Dr Shaikha May is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Bahrain Bayan School. Dr May has been holding several leading positions across various sectors, including Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development for three consecutive terms, Chairperson of a Business Incubator for Bahraini Artisanat and the Chief Executive Officer of Mayasem Communications W.L.L.
She has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts, including the Efficiency Award in 2011 from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and recently the Arab Women of the Year Award 2023 for her contributions to the advancement of education.
Shaikha Mariam bint Hamad Al Khalifa holds a master's degree in Interior Architecture from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Business Administration from University College Bahrain and a Diploma in Art & Design from the Royal University for Women.
Shaikha Mariam is an active member of several prestigious organisations, including the Wives and Husbands of Head of Missions (WHHOM) Association, where she served as the former Vice President of the Arab Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She is also a member of the Bahraini Arts Society and the Saudi Society for Fine Arts (SAA).
With seven years of experience as an Interior Architect and entrepreneur, Shaikha Mariam founded the "WhiteMansionDesigns" studio, specializing in custom-made furniture solutions for high-end hotels and hospitality.
Shaikha Mariam has vast experience as a lecturer, teaching project management, interior finishes, painting, and other interior design at the College of Engineering, University of Bahrain. Her diverse skills include marketing, public relations, administration, and design.
Professor Otoom is a Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist.
He then undertook an MS and a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Houston-USA, and a Certificate in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the University of Glasgow in UK.
He has a Certificate in Leadership from the Irish Management Institute-Ireland. He has held various senior academic roles, currently he is President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain.
Prof Otoom had several Fixed Term Consultancies with WHO projects in Syria, Jordan, Oman, UAE, Kenya, Iran and Sudan. He is an advisor to several Education and Health Councils in the region and has wide experience in managing higher education and internationalization.
He serves on different strategic boards locally and internationally. His main research interest lies in clinical and experimental epilepsy, the rational use of drugs and medical education.
Prof Otoom received the award of Outstanding Education Leaders in the GCC from the Asian Confederation of Businesses and CMO Asia and is a recipient of the Prince Salman bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in London, where his name is inscribed on its Wall of Honour, marking his contribution in transnational medical education.
Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield serves as the Managing Director of RCSI Bahrain, a role he stepped into in 2022 after contributing as the Chief Operating Officer since 2013. In these positions, Stephen has quietly but effectively guided the University's evolution, merging innovative educational approaches with solid business strategies.
Before joining RCSI Bahrain, Stephen honed his operational efficiency and strategy implementation skills at KPMG Global consultancy. His time there was marked by a deep commitment to organisational improvement and team collaboration, delivering fit-for-purpose business improvement projects in both the private and government sectors.
Stephen's career started in the Human Resources field, becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) in 2011. Around the same time, he diversified his career into a broader commercial management role. He continued his professional development with a post-graduate diploma in organisational leadership from the University of Oxford in 2018 and is currently studying for a doctorate in management focusing on international leadership and transnational education.
At RCSI Bahrain, Stephen's approach has always been team-oriented and inclusive. His leadership style fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement, which has led to significant advancements in the University's operations and educational offerings. While he plays a key role in strategy development and execution, he credits the collective effort of his team for the University's successes.
Dedicated to the growth of the institution and its community, Stephen's influence extends beyond operational management. He is known for his thoughtful approach to leadership and his dedication to the betterment of the University and its stakeholders. Stephen's journey reflects a blend of quiet determination, collaborative spirit, and a consistent focus on sustainable growth and excellence.
Stephen was honoured to receive the prestigious Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Medal for Medical Merit in 2023 in recognition of his work throughout the pandemic in ensuring that the university continued its operations and contributed to the national effort in Bahrain in combatting the disease. An award that Stephen dedicates and attiributes to all the fantastic staff at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain that worked tirelessly throughout.
In addition to his role at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, he was a Governor for St Christophers School (Bahrain for two years) and is currently a Non-Executive Trustee and Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees for Birmingham City University Students Union.