Transition Year students interested in a medical career have this week been getting invaluable experience into the ‘real life’ work of a medical doctor.

Some 150 students from 90 schools across Ireland have been seeing how medicine really works thanks to an initiative by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

The highlight of the week-long programme, which finishes today, 17th January, was the opportunity to see a live operation performed.

The operation they witnessed took place at Beaumont Hospital. Aside from surgery, other areas of medicine covered included psychiatry, anatomy, epilepsy and genetics.

Leading medical professionals from RCSI and Beaumont Hospital were involved.

These include Professor Marie Cassidy, State Pathologist and Professor Arnold Hill, Consultant breast, endocrine and general surgeon at Beaumont hospital.

‘The TY MiniMed programme is a great opportunity for students to experience what it is like to train as a medical professional,” said Professor Hill.

“This is the 7th year of the programme and demand for the programme outweighs the number of places available,” Prof Hill added.

“Students will have an opportunity to use innovative technology and learn from some of Ireland’s top healthcare professionals from RCSI and Beaumont Hospital, giving them an excellent insight into careers in medicine, science and research,” Prof Hill concluded.