
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
SURGhub, a groundbreaking e-learning platform, has brought the classroom directly to the homes and clinics of more than 19,000 healthcare workers across 190 countries in just two years, a new report has found.
More: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2025/06/study-showcases-impact-of-open-access-surghub-platform
#RCSIeducate #RCSIengage
‘Debunking the Myths: The Science of Our Sexual Health’ has won the RCSI Education Innovation Award 2025.
The programme was established to improve Irish teenagers' sexual health literacy, tackle stigma and counteract misinformation.
More: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2025/06/sexual-health-literacy-programme-wins-rcsi-education-innovation-award-2025
#RCSIeducate
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 RCSI Student Innovation Challenge.
Over four weeks, the challenge allows undergraduate students to explore the exciting world of research and innovation.
Read more ➡️ https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2025/06/students-address-real-world-healthcare-issues
@RCSI_Research
Ally Nolan has been named winner of the 2025 RCSI Art Award for her piece ‘The Men/ Na Fir'.
The RCSI Art Award, in association with the @RHAGallery and @IrishTimes, celebrates the link between art, medicine and well-being.
Read more ⬇️ https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2025/06/ally-nolan-announced-as-winner-of-the-2025-rcsi-art-award
RCSI is proud to be playing a key role in the new @Researchirel Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) Hub for HealthTech.
The €34.3m investment was announced today by Minister for @DeptofFHed, James Lawless.
🔗https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/news/news-article/2025/06/rcsi-plays-key-role-arc-hub-for-healthtech
#EUinmyRegion #RCSIdiscover
Students gained valuable insights into real-world job opportunities at a career pathways workshop during this year’s RCSI Research Summer School.
The school is supported by @MPSdoctorsIRE, @GSK, @Pfizer_Ireland, @PerrigoCompany and @Peisurgical.
➡️

RCSI’s Research Summer School invites students to explore a future in cutting-edge healthcare...
RCSI University of Medicine and Heath Sciences' Research Summer School began this week, with over 235 undergraduate students taking part. More ...
www.rcsi.com
The SURGhub Collaborative Group is delighted to announce that the first academic report on the development and implementation of the United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub) has just been published in the World Journal of Surgery. @WorldJSurg 👏👏
Accompanied by an…
Three of RCSI’s early career researchers have secured €1.94 million in funding under Research Ireland’s Pathway Programme.
The funding aims to support the next generation of independent research leaders in Ireland.
Read more ⬇
#RCSIdiscover

RCSI researchers awarded over €1.9m in Research Ireland Pathway Programme funding
Three early-career researchers at RCSI have secured a combined €1.94 million in funding from Research Ireland’s pr...
www.rcsi.com
The funding was secured by Dr Gemma Leon, Dr Ian Woods and Dr Jonathan Briody. Minister James Lawless announced the investment on behalf of Research Ireland.
@iWoodsie @Researchirel @lawlessj @TissueEngDublin @RCSIPharmBioMol @RCSI_PopHealth @DeptofFHed
Our doomscrolling habits and natural negativity bias means that we can start to doubt the goodness of human beings.
Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh explores the Light Triad approach to restoring hope in @ConversationUK.
Read the piece: @ChristianvN

The light triad: psychology’s answer to our darkest fears about people
Five ways to boost your hopefulness.
tinyurl.com
In 1813 the first Chair of Medicine, Professor John Cheyne, is appointed and medical teaching begins on St Stephen's Green
1916 Easter Rising: Insurgents occupied the College under the command of Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz. RCSI surgeons worked to treat the injured.
In 1990 David Bouchier-Hayes, RCSI Professor of Surgery, performed the first keyhole gall bladder removal in Ireland
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.