Lecture series
Access to accurate health information is an important resource to empower people with the tools to maintain their health and well-being.
The RCSI MyHealth Lecture Series aims to demystify common health concerns by drawing expertise and insight from our team of researchers and international health experts at the cutting-edge of medical and healthcare developments.
Open to those who want to learn more about common illnesses and health-related topics directly from leading healthcare experts, the series explores a wide range of areas in health and well-being, including child health, women’s health and positive psychology.
As well as a video, the RCSI MyHealth Lecture Series is now available as a podcast – you can listen by searching ‘RCSI MyHealth’ on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Alternatively, as each episode in the series is released, you can listen to the podcast episode or watch the video directly on this page.
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RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has ranked number five in the world for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being – in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024.Read more
RCSI MyHealth Series
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The final episode of the RCSI MyHealth series 2024/25 explores the crucial role of sleep in our overall health, well-being and performance.
Despite its importance, many people struggle to achieve sufficient and restorative sleep. In this episode, we will delve into what happens to the brain and body during sleep, the key factors that influence sleep quality, and evidence-based tools to improve it. We examine the impact of sleep on memory, learning, and cognitive function, as well as its deep connections to mental health.
This episode is chaired by Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head, School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Dr Jolanta Burke, Associate Professor, RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences.
Panellists include:
- Professor Richard Costello, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine RCSI and Consultant in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Beaumont Hospital.
- Dr Maria Pertl, Lecturer, Department of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, RCSI; Chartered Health Psychologist; Certified Lifestyle Medicine practitioner, British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, and member of the Irish Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
- Mr Motty Varghese, Sleep Physiologist, The Sleep Therapy Clinic.
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Sleeping with the frenemy – Hughes and Burke
- Lifestyle medicine from the inside out – Liana S. Lianov, Jolanta Burke (one chapter explores positive psychology techniques that can be used to improve sleep)
This episode explores the evolving landscape of diabetes, examining the latest trends in prevalence, causes and impacts.
The panel members highlight the advances in treatment and technology for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, while also offering personal insights and future directions for prevention, management, and support.
This episode is chaired by Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head, School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Panellists included:
- Dr Kate Gajewska, Clinical Manager for Advocacy and Research, Diabetes Ireland
- Professor Edward Gregg, Head, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Professor Diarmuid Smith, Consultant Endocrinologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
- Professor Seamus Sreenan, Director, Graduate Entry Medicine Programme, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
This event focused on the topic of cannabis and young minds and explored the latest research on how cannabis affects brain development and mental health in young people.
The episode is chaired by Miriam O’Callaghan, Irish television presenter and current affairs presenter with RTÉ.
Speakers included:
- Ms Laura Stack, Founder and CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors.
- Professor Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI and Consultant Psychiatrist, Beaumont Hospital.
- Professor Norman Delanty, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, Clinical Investigator with FutureNeuro Research Centre, and RCSI Honorary Clinical Professor.
- Professor Colin O’Gara, Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Addiction Services, St John of God Hospital.
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Johnny’s Ambassadors
- Johnny's Ambassadors - CHS flyer
- Johnny's Ambassadors - How Do You Know flyer
- Johnny's Ambassadors - How Strong Are Today's THC Products flyer
- Johnny's Ambassadors - Negative Health Effects flyer
- Johnny's Ambassadors - Talk to your Teen flyer
- Johnny's Ambassadors - What is Cannabis-Induced Psychosis flyer
- The Dangerous Truth About Today's Marijuana: Johnny Stack's Life and Death Story
- HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline – Freephone 1800 459 459, email: helpline@hse.ie
- Al-Anon Ireland
- Narcotics Anonymous Ireland
- Life Ring
- Risk Factors for Cannabis use in Young People
- Cannabis Use in Young People - Effects of Physical and Mental Health
- Cannabis and Youth Mental Health
- RCSI Mental Health Educate
- Cannabis - Keep off the Grass flyer
- St John of God Hospital
- St John of God - Cannabis and Teens: What You Need To Know
- Youth Mental Health Ireland First Aid booklet
- Youth Mental Health Ireland First Aid flyer
The third episode in the RCSI MyHealth series 2024/25, focusing on emotional well-being following a cancer diagnosis, took place as an in-person event at RCSI’s St Stephen’s Green campus in Dublin city centre on Wednesday, 13 November 2024. The event featured healthcare providers and patient advocates who shared personal insights and coping strategies for life with cancer.
This event was chaired by Dr Pádraic Dunne, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Panellists included:
- Dr Maria Pertl, Lecturer, Department of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr Vicky Cooper Lunt, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Psycho-Oncology Service, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre
- Ms Corrinne Hasson, Director of Services, Irish Cancer Society
Two guest speakers also join the panel to share their personal experience of a cancer diagnosis and a cancer diagnosis of a family member:
- Dr Elysha Brennan, RCSI Alumna, Paediatrics SpR and 2015 Rose of Tralee
- Mr Alan McGovern, Patient and Family Advocate
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Soul Snacks
- Irish Cancer Society (if you or someone in your life is concerned about cancer you can speak confidentially to an Irish Cancer Society Cancer Nurse through the Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700)
- ARC Cancer Support Centres (ARC Support Line: 01 215 0250)
- Irish Hospice Foundation
– Dying Well at Home (free resources and information)
– Bereavement and Loss hub: free information and resources
– Freephone Bereavement Support Line: 1800 807077 (Mon-Fri, 10am to 1pm)
– Supporting Bereavement Children - CanTeen Ireland – Young Peoples Cancer Support
- Breast Cancer Ireland
- Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres and Services
- Cancer Thriving and Surviving
The second episode in the RCSI MyHealth series 2024/25 focused on the topic of understanding and managing chronic pain.
This episode explored the complex presentation of chronic pain. The panel will discussed the various management options, including the importance of therapeutic alliance and self-management to empower people living with chronic pain.
This episode is chaired by Professor Helen French, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Panellists include:
- Professor Suzanne McDonough, Professor and Head of School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr Padraic Dunne, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr David Moore, Consultant in Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Beaumont Hospital Dublin, and RCSI Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
- Ms Catherine Flanagan, patient advocate for people living with pain
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Chronic Pain Ireland
- Gut microbiome and chronic pain – Clare Watson for Nature
- Inoue, K., & Tsuda, M. (2018). Microglia in neuropathic pain: cellular and molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(3), 138-152
- Hassett, A. L., & Clauw, D. J. (2010). The role of stress in rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12(3), 123
- Silverman, M. N., & Sternberg, E. M. (2012). Glucocorticoid regulation of inflammation and its functional correlates: From HPA axis to glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1261(1), 55-63
- Ellis, A. & Bennett, D. L. H. (2013). Neuroinflammation and the generation of neuropathic pain. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 111(1), 26-37
- Milligan, E. D. & Watkins, L. R. (2009). Pathological and protective roles of glia in chronic pain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(1), 23-36.
- Grace, P. M., Hutchinson, M. R., Maier, S. F., & Watkins, L. R. (2014). Pathological pain and the neuroimmune interface. Nature Reviews Immunology, 14(4), 217-231
- Haight ES, Forman TE, Cordonnier SA, James ML, Tawfik VL. Microglial Modulation as a Target for Chronic Pain: From the Bench to the Bedside and Back. Anesth Analg. 2019 Apr;128(4):737-746
- Sommer, C., Leinders, M., & Üçeyler, N. (2018). Inflammation in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Pain, 159(3), 595-602
The first episode in the RCSI MyHealth series 2024/25 focused on the topic of dementia and maintaining a healthy brain for life. As part of this discussion, the panel discussed the emotional impact of a diagnosis from a patient advocate living with Lewy body dementia and raised awareness and shared practical tools for maintaining brain health, as well as discussing developments in disease modifying treatments in this area.
This episode is chaired by Professor Annie Curtis, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences.
Panellists include:
- Professor Alan Moore, Consultant Geriatrician, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and Honorary Clinical Lecturer, RCSI
- Professor Norman Delanty, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, Clinical Investigator with SFI FutureNeuro Research Centre, and RCSI Honorary Clinical Professor
- Ms Kathleen Farrell, patient advocate for people living with dementia
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
As part of the discussion, the panel raised awareness around the key risk factors for heart health, in particular, how menopause affects women’s risk of heart disease and stroke, the role of lifestyle medicine in prevention and specific supports available around maintaining cardiac health and preventing cardiovascular disease.
This episode is chaired by Dr Sarah Barry, Director of Academic Programmes, Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Panellists include:
- Professor Robert Byrne, Director of Cardiology at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin and Chair of Cardiovascular Research, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr Robert Kelly, Senior Lecturer, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Consultant Cardiology and Lifestyle Medicine, Beacon Hospital Dublin
- Dr Una O’Neill, General Practitioner, Mercer’s Medical Centre, and GP trainer on the RCSI GP Training Programme
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Irish Heart Foundation
- Mayo Clinic
- Cleveland Clinic
- European Society of Cardiology
- The Menopause by Dr Deirdre Lundy
The panel address the key concerns and worries that parents have around the topic of child nutrition and provide information and practical advice to support healthy growth and development.
This episode is chaired by Professor Oran D. Kennedy, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI
Panellists include:
- Dr Michael Riordan, Clinical Senior Lecture, RCSI and Consultant in Nephrology, CHI at Temple Street and Crumlin
- Dr Claire Timon, Lecturer in the School of Population Health, RCSI
Podcast
Listen to the podcast here (or wherever you listen to your podcasts).
Useful resources
- Salt and Health: Review of the Scientific Evidence and Recommendations for Public Policy in Ireland
- Safe Food - Research Reports
- Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute
- Expert advice from the HSE on child and toddler health
- Irish Heart - Stop Targeting Kids
- HSE - Healthy Food Made Easy: A Community Cooking Programme
- CHI - Healthy Living Advice for Families
- Healthy Eating - Children's portion sizes
- What is the Food Pyramid?