Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of RCSI, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), one of the most prestigious distinctions in international surgery.

The award was conferred during the Convocation Ceremony at the ACS Clinical Congress in Chicago on 4 October 2025.

In conferring this honour, the ACS acknowledges Professor Kelly’s contribution as an international leader who has transformed surgical education and care quality in Ireland and beyond.

A graduate and Fellow of RCSI, Professor Kelly served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (2006-2009) before his appointment as Chief Executive and Registrar in 2009. Prior to taking up these leadership roles, he was a consultant general and vascular surgeon with a special interest in endovascular surgery in Beaumont Hospital. He combined his career in surgical practice with chairmanship of the surgical division and an academic position in RCSI as Vice-Dean for curriculum change.

He completed his basic and higher surgical training in Dublin and went on to undertake a research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. Professor Kelly completed an MBA at the Institut de Empresa (IE), the Stanford Executive programme and is a Chartered Director.

Professor Kelly has published 75 research papers and given 102 invited lectures and presentations, largely focused on development of surgical practice, advancement of education and research in healthcare, and healthcare quality improvement and assurance. He also is a recipient of the Moynihan Intercollegiate Medal and an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Influencing healthcare

Under Professor Kelly’s leadership, RCSI has experienced a period of remarkable growth and transformation, with the achievement of full university status in 2019 marking a major milestone in its evolution.

During this time, the institution has broadened its academic offering through the establishment of new schools and programmes, including Schools of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Population Health and Dentistry. It has also introduced innovative undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aimed at meeting the evolving needs of modern healthcare systems, alongside a significant transformation of RCSI’s medical curriculum.

RCSI’s research activity has also expanded significantly, with a strong focus on translational science aimed at improving patient outcomes and influencing healthcare policy in Ireland and internationally. In parallel, RCSI has strengthened its role as the national body for surgical training by modernising curricula, expanding simulation-based training and enhancing support for trainees throughout their careers.

Significant growth

Professor Kelly has also overseen major campus development projects in support of this growth, most notably the opening of the award-winning 26 York Street building in 2017 and the €95 million development at 118 St Stephen’s Green.

Professor Deborah Namara, RCSI President, offered her congratulations to Professor Kelly: “Over the course of his career, Professor Cathal Kelly has been a visionary leader in surgical education, curriculum development, and institutional governance. He is a worthy Honorary Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and I am delighted to extend my congratulations to him on this very special occasion.”