A message from the President of RCSI

June 2026

Dear Fellows and Members,

As I write to you today, I am honoured to have been elected as President of RCSI and privileged to lead the College in our continued mission to deliver the highest standards of education, training and research in surgery.

Having served as a Council member for several terms, I know first-hand the important role that Council plays in the governance and strategic direction of RCSI. Therefore, I am delighted to be joined in my role by Mr David Moore as Vice President alongside the other surgeons who were elected to Council last week. I want to thank all of you who voted in the election, and I look forward to working with your elected representatives to lead, support and advocate for our patients, clinicals and multi-disciplinary teams both in Ireland and internationally.

I want to take the opportunity to thank and acknowledge Professor Deborah McNamara, immediate Past President of RCSI. Professor McNamara has worked tirelessly over the past two years to foster connections among our community, to ensure that the College has kept abreast with the rapid pace of change in surgical technology and innovation as well as to provide leadership in the areas of surgical governance and infrastructure. Her enthusiasm, leadership and energy has left a great legacy for Irish surgery.

During my term as President, I hope to build upon the efforts of my predecessors, guiding our College forward through a rapidly changing surgical environment. In collaboration with colleagues from across RCSI, I am committed to supporting the College’s investment in surgical research.

Recognising the importance of an inclusive and networked community, I hope to connect with Fellows and Members – regionally, nationally and internationally. Furthermore, in a climate where public trust in knowledge is declining, I will work with Council and others to ensure that policymakers, patients and the public continue to place their confidence and trust in our College.

Education, training and research

The face of surgical education and training is rapidly changing as a result of new technologies, devices, and digital tools. A key focus of my presidency will be to ensure the College continues to future-proof our education and training in a manner that is evidence-based and supported by research.

Building on the work of the National Surgical Research Support Centre (NSRSC) to increase surgical research capacity, I am keen to further strengthen and enhance our relationships with academic surgeons and clinician scientists.

Furthermore, I am committed to assisting the newly established Irish Surgical Trials and Research (I-STAR) Network, an all-island surgical trial network that aims to support surgical research and innovation to generate high-quality evidence to inform policy and set professional standards to transform surgical practice and improve patient care. In this regard, I welcome the recent appointment of Professor Shirley Potter FRCSI as National Clinical Lead of the I-STAR Network who I know will provide great leadership in this area.

It is my fundamental belief that research is critical to improvement and innovation, and so, I encourage you all to attend the 2026 Millin Meeting, which will take place in RCSI on Friday, 13 November. The full programme is already in the advanced stages of planning and registration is now open online.

Engagement and support

In the coming weeks, we will complete the annual ‘census’ of our community, which provides us with clear insights into the career stages, specialties and location of our Fellows and Members worldwide. These insights will assist us in shaping our programme of engagement and support.

Great strides have been made in supporting our colleagues based outside of Ireland, in particular through the launch of the online Fellows and Members Portal, which provides a range of online resources such as surgical e-journals, recordings of webinars, access to online courses and more. I also hope to avail of all opportunities to connect with our global network at international conferences such as the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in September, followed by the Australasian International Breast Congress (AIBC) in October 2026.

Meanwhile, closer to home, it is my intention to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Surgical Affairs as well as the Fellows and Members Office to expand the College’s programme of activities outside of Dublin.

Recognising the good work that has been achieved through the Affiliate Membership Programme as well as by the activities of the Irish Surgical Trainee Group (ISTG) and the Early Career Surgeons Network (ESCN), I hope also to build on the supports that have been established to support surgical trainees and early-career consultants. Our younger colleagues are the future leaders of our profession, and I intend to champion their involvement in our College.

Whether you are in Sligo or Sydney, I believe that active membership of our community provides real benefits and value, and I encourage you all to remain up to date with our communications and events so that you may get involved whenever possible.

Advocacy and leadership

Our College has a long and proud tradition of advocacy and leadership – a tradition that I am fully committed to continuing.

To deliver patient care of the highest quality, I believe that surgeons must step forward and assume leadership roles in relation to surgical infrastructure, staffing and the composition of surgical teams. Along with Council members and other colleagues, I will work to empower and assist our Fellows and Members to confidently assume this mantle of leadership.

It is also vital that our College has a clear vision for the future of Irish surgery. In this regard, I have previously expressed the need to understand the opportunities and challenges arising from the new regionalised approach to surgery in Ireland. This is something that I will continue to progress in consultation with our community.

The current trend toward misinformation and the crisis of trust in expertise is a significant challenge for our community. I am committed to engaging with regulators, policymakers and patients to ensure that our College maintains its position as the credible voice of surgery into the future.

In my previous roles as Council member and Vice President, I was privileged to meet with many of you, to hear of the opportunities and challenges you face, and to appreciate your unwavering commitment to high-quality patient care and surgical practice. I look forward to gaining further insights and understanding as I connect with many more of you in the coming weeks and months.

Yours sincerely, 

Professor Michael Kerin
President, RCSI