Tom McCullough
MORE than 200 students graduated from University of Limerick’s Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS), and departments of Nursing and Midwifery and Clinical Therapies this week.
Tadhg Cronin, Stillorgan, Dublin who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from the University of Limerick with Caoimhe Cronin.
Picture Sean Curtin True Media
One hundred and sixty six students were conferred with medical degrees as they became the sixth graduating class of GEMS.
As well as the 133 Bachelor of Surgery graduates, students of the second graduating Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Paramedic Studies class received their awards. All 33 Paramedic Studies graduates are operational paramedics from a variety of organisations including the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, Irish Coastguard and the Private Ambulance Service.
Thirty-one people graduated with BSc in Physiotherapy, MSc in Speech and Language Therapy and MSc in Occupational Therapy graduated from the Clinical Therapies Department on the day.
The GEMS was established 10 years ago and is the only medical education programme in the country founded on the modern pedagogical principles of Problem Based Learning (PBL).
Professor Desmond Fitzgerald congratulated all the graduates at what was his first conferring in his new position as UL President.
“The graduates join a group united with a shared passion to improve the health and wellbeing of people locally, nationally and internationally. They graduate in important fields, because all will become able to change peoples’ lives forever ….. that’s quite a significant responsibility, but one I am confident that they are more than equipped to take on. They have all had to work hard over the course of their studies, acquiring the professional knowledge, skills and behaviour needed, not only for successful careers, but for making a real difference to those who will depend on their competence and humanity,” he said.
