W100 Representative
Abi KellyDirector of International Engagement and External Relations
Abi Kelly joined RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2020 as Director of International Engagement and External Relations with responsibility for the Office for Institutional Research and Planning.
Her role is to support the University’s reputation raising strategy and build its brand among key stakeholders. A key ambition for RCSI is to be recognised in the Top 200 of universities in the world.
Prior to her role with RCSI, Abi spent 8 years at Newcastle University (UK) where she was Executive Director of Corporate Affairs managing the external profile of this Russell Group university. She also led communications for the N8 Research Partnership, a collaborative mission group of the eight research-intensive universities in the North of England.
She has spent 28 years working in the Public Relations industry in the UK, including roles in local and regional government, and as a PR Consultant for private-sector clients including Whitbread and Nissan.
Founded as the national training body for surgery in Ireland, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has been at the forefront of healthcare education since its establishment in 1784. As an independent, not-for-profit institution, we chart our own course in the pursuit of excellence in human healthcare.
Today we are an innovative, world-leading international health sciences education and research institution with undergraduate and postgraduate schools and faculties across the health sciences spectrum. We are home to numerous healthcare institutes as well as leading research centres driving pioneering breakthroughs in human health.
A deep professional responsibility to enhance human health through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service inform all that we do. We welcome students and researchers into programmes of academic excellence and a lifelong community of colleagues that is clinically led, nurturing and supportive to enable them to realise their potential to serve our global patient community.
The Latest from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
We were pleased to be joined by Minister Jack Chambers at our new Dental Education Centre at Connolly Hospital.
He joined us to mark the 'topping out' of the 4,000m² building where the next generation of dentists in Ireland will train.
#RCSIeducate
We were delighted to welcome over 350 future healthcare and health sciences leaders to our 2026 Open Day!
Prospective students explored life at RCSI with interactive workshops, campus tours and talks from educators and current students.
Learn more 🔗 https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2026/01/rcsi-welcomes-students-to-explore-careers-in-health-sciences-at-open-day
Experience the future of surgery at the 2026 Charter Meeting.
The Robotic and Technology Learning Village will offer delegates the chance to get hands-on with multiple next-generation robotic platforms and emerging technologies.
Register for Charter ➡️ https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/events/event/2026/charter-meeting-2026
Two RCSI researchers have secured over €400K through the @hrbireland Applied Partnership Awards.
Their projects focus on strengthening paramedic mental health training and developing mental health supports for children with disabilities.
https://www.hrb.ie/hrb/minister-for-mental-health-mary-butler-announces-e3-million-investment-for-mental-health-research/
#RCSIdiscover
Our free Sustainable Healthcare course is now available in Spanish, expanding access to education on sustainable healthcare globally.
Fully online, this free CPD course is designed to be flexible and accessible, broadening participation.
➡️ https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2026/01/rcsi-launches-new-spanish-language-course
#RCSIeducate
Research by RCSI’s Prof Deirdre Fitzgerald Hughes shows AMR risks in sinks are driven by human behaviour.
Findings highlight a need for behaviour-focused interventions to support AMR mitigation.
➡️ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179935
#RCSIdiscover #NationalChallengeFund #NextGenerationEU
RCSI uses case-based learning to train medical students in holistic care.
Now in its fourth year, Dr Michael Daly and colleagues in the School of Medicine show how this approach is central to RCSI’s new medical curriculum.
Read the study 🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.105593
#RCSIeducate
Last chance to apply for 19 fully funded PhD scholarships in cancer research through Precision Oncology Ireland and @tcddublin.
€25,000 stipend and EU fees covered.
Deadline: 5 Jan 2026
🔗 https://forms.gle/NaN2xEw3m5sPTisT8
@Researchirel @RCSI_postgrad
A drop in mood is common after Christmas, especially in first days of the new year.
Professor Jolanta Burke, @RCSI_PosHealth, explains why this happens and outlines what you can do to make the post-Christmas slump easier to manage.
Read more:
How to combat the post-Christmas slump
Post-Christmas sadness has biological and psychological roots. Understanding them can help protect your wellbeing.
theconversation.com
Developing students tobecome ‘world citizens’
RCSI has extensive international partnerships including:
Clinical/research elective agreements and Erasmus partnerships with an extensive list of international institutions including Johns Hopkins University, McMaster University and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Joint undergraduate Pharmacy programme with Soochow University, China
Transnational education operations/partnerships in Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), Malaysia (RCSI UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) and PU-RCSI School of Medicine) and Dubai (RCSI Dubai)
5% of research output produced through international collaboration with 1,758 institutions worldwide (Source: SciVal 2013-2017 accessed February 2019)
Mission and vision
- To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Scholarship
- Innovation
At the global forefront of pioneering medical research
18,000
alumni, practicing in 97 countries
€35.1m
Research grant income 2018
The mission of RCSI’s research strategy is to improve human health through translational research: clinical, laboratory-based and health service research informed by bedside problems, and societal and global health challenges. We promote innovative research that leads to improved diagnostics, therapeutics and devices; tackles important healthcare delivery issues; informs policy and clinical practice and enhances the quality of education of healthcare professionals.
RCSI is developing research centres in areas of excellence and critical mass, focused on clinical and patient-centred research:
- Cancer
- Regenerative Medicine
- Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
- Surgical Science and Practice
- Population Health and Health Services
- Vascular Biology
Become a Member
The World 100 Reputation Network is a group of the best universities in the world, delivering research that enhances reputation and offering leaders the chance to develop their own careers on a global stage. Members benefit from events and study tours, training, monthly media monitoring, and unique reputation research to provide institutional advantage.