Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, attended the 16th Conferring Ceremony of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain, held today at the Gulf Convention Centre.

The event was honoured by the attendance of distinguished guests including senior Bahraini and international officials, Professor Deborah McNamara, President of RCSI; Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain; Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor of RCSI; and Professor Michael B. Murphy, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland (NUI).

During the ceremony, His Excellency the Minister of Education delivered a speech, affirming that the higher education sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain is experiencing accelerated progress thanks to the support extended by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the keen attention from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

His Excellency extended his congratulations to the graduating students and their parents. He also highly commended the University's dedicated efforts in cultivating qualified professionals in medical specialisations, which are crucial for meeting the Kingdom's requirements across its hospitals and health centres. This is being achieved through the delivery of high-calibre academic programmes that significantly bolster professional competence. His Excellency further underscored the unwavering support of the Higher Education Council's Board of Trustees for the Kingdom's higher education institutions, aiming to foster continued advancement and prosperity.

In her address, Professor McNamara extended profound gratitude to His Royal Highness for the continued patronage, which reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing education and healthcare. Professor McNamara also acknowledged the Kingdom of Bahrain’s recent historic medical accomplishment with the successful treatment of a sickle cell disease patient, the first of its kind outside of the United States, praising this landmark advancement in patient care.

The Conferring Ceremony, which acknowledged the academic achievements of 142 medical graduates and 130 graduates from the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes, is a testament to the University's enduring commitment and contribution to developing the nation’s healthcare and higher education sectors.

As a defining moment in the ceremony, the graduates formally recited their professional oath as an enduring pledge to uphold the highest ethical standards, demonstrate compassion in patient care and commit to lifelong learning and service. This solemn declaration marked the graduates’ transition to becoming healthcare professionals, entrusted with the responsibility to serve society with integrity, knowledge and empathy, in line with the University’s teaching and values.

The School of Medicine Valedictorian, Dr Ola Gamil Mohammed, delivered an inspiring speech, reflecting on the collective achievements of the graduating class, acknowledging the dedication, perseverance and resilience that brought them to this milestone. The speech concluded with words of encouragement and best wishes to fellow graduates as they embark on their professional journey, ready to contribute meaningfully to healthcare communities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and worldwide.

The ceremony also honoured exceptional academic accomplishments from the School of Medicine:

Dr Ola Gamil Mohammed was awarded the Medicine Overall Gold Medal, the Senior Cycle Bronze Medal, the Professor James Finucane Prize in Medicine, and the Professor Niall O’Higgins Prize in Surgery.

Dr Zain Mohammed AlMuqbel was awarded the Degree Award Gold Medal, Senior Cycle Silver Medal, and the Professor Joe McMenamin Prize in Paediatrics.

Dr Khadija Sayed AlToblani was awarded the Professor Charlotte Kamel Prize in Psychiatry.

Dr Maher Ali AlQattan was awarded the Professor John Murphy Prize in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

Dr Khaled Hameed Husain was awarded the Professor David Whitford Prize in General Practice.

From the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Postgraduate Studies & Research:

The School of Nursing and Midwifery Valedictorian, Nurse Ali Jamal Ramadhan, was awarded the Nursing Overall Gold Medal and the BSc Nursing Bronze Medal.

Nurse Rahaf Adnan Itani received the BSc Nursing Silver Medal.

 

The Rufaida Al-Aslamia Award in Nursing was awarded to Nurse Rawya Alabbasi.

 

Nurse Jawad Jameel Saleh received the MSc in Nursing Overall Gold Medal.

 

Since its establishment, RCSI Medical University of Bahrain has conferred degrees on more than 3,300 graduates, who continue to share their knowledge and expertise in the Kingdom of Bahrain and across 39 countries worldwide, bringing to life the University’s mission to nurture global healthcare leaders equipped to make an impact on patient care and healthcare.