RCSI MyHealth

The second episode in the RCSI MyHealth series 2024/2025 will focus on the topic of understanding and managing chronic pain. This episode will explore the complex presentation of chronic pain. The panel will discuss the various management options, including the importance of therapeutic alliance and self-management to empower people living with chronic pain. This episode will be chaired by Professor Helen French, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Panellists include: Professor Suzanne McDonough, Professor and Head of School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Padraic Dunne, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr David Moore, Consultant Pain Specialist, Beaumont Hospital, and RCSI Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer Ms Catherine Flanagan, Patient advocate for people living with pain

As part of this discussion, the panel will discuss the emotional impact of a diagnosis from a patient advocate living with Lewy Body Dementia, raise awareness and share practical tools for maintaining brain health, as well as discuss developments in disease modifying treatments in this area.   This episode will be chaired by Professor Annie Curtis, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Panellists include:  Professor Alan Moore, Consultant Geriatrician, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and Honorary Clinical Lecturer, RCSI  Professor Norman Delanty, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, Clinical Investigator with SFI FutureNeuro Research Centre, and RCSI Honorary Clinical Professor   Ms Kathleen Farrell, patient advocate for people living with dementia

As part of this discussion, the panel will raise awareness around the key risk factors for heart health, in particular, how menopause affects women’s risk of heart disease and stroke, the role of lifestyle medicine in prevention and specific supports available around maintaining cardiac health and preventing cardiovascular disease.  This episode will be chaired by Dr Sarah Barry, Director of Academic Programmes, Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Panelists include: Professor Robert Byrne, Director of Cardiology at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin and Chair of Cardiovascular Research, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Robert Kelly, Senior Lecturer, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Consultant Cardiology & Lifestyle Medicine, Beacon Hospital Dublin Dr Una O’Neill, General Practitioner, Mercer’s Medical Centre, and GP trainer on the RCSI GP Training Programme

As part of this discussion, the panel will address the key concerns and worries that parents have around the topic of child nutrition and provide information and practical advice to support healthy growth and development.  This episode will be chaired by Professor Oran D. Kennedy, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI Panelists include: Dr Michael Riordan, Clinical Senior Lecture, RCSI and Consultant in Nephrology, CHI at Temple Street and Crumlin Dr Claire Timon, Lecturer in the School of Population Health, RCSI

In this episode the panel will address some of the issues we are facing globally with the rise of antibiotic resistance, review new and developing research in this area, and look at prevention and control measures that can be taken to reduce the impact and limit the spread of resistance.  Chair: Dr Deirdre Fitzgerald Hughes, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Microbiology and Deputy Head of School of Postgraduate Studies, RCSI,   Speakers: Professor Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Consultant Microbiologist, Beaumont Hospital and Head of Department, Clinical Microbiology, RCSI Dr Caroline McCarthy, General Practitioner and Clinical Lecturer, Department of General Practice, RCSI

In this episode, the panel will address some of the preventative measures, as well as focus on the recent developments in treatments, rehabilitation and the acute care of stroke patients, as well as sharing a personal journey with stroke. Chair: Professor Anne Hickey, Professor of Psychology and Deputy Dean for Positive Education, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Principal Investigator, Post-stroke Cognition Research Group   Speakers: Mr Martin Fahy, iPASTAR PPI champion Professor Frances Horgan, Professor at the School of Physiotherapy, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Professor David Williams, Professor of Stroke Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Beaumont Hospital

In this episode, researchers from the RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences will discuss how parents and caregivers can make the start of the school year a positive experience for children and teenagers.  Chair: Professor Ciaran O'Boyle, Director, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.   Speakers: Dr Jolanta Burke, Senior Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Mary Collins, Chartered Psychologist & Senior Coach Practitioner, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Trudy Meehan, Senior Clinical Psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health and lecturer at the Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

In this episode, our expert panel will discuss the existing and emerging evidence on vaping and what it means for our health. Chair Professor Anne Hickey, Professor of Psychology and Deputy Dean for Positive Education, RCSI Speakers Professor Gerry McElvaney, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, RCSI Professor Donal F. O'Shea, Professor and Head of Department, Department of Chemistry, RCSI Dr Dan Wu, Honorary Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, RCSI Additional recommended resources and links can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

This episode explores 'Debunking the Myths: Talking to Teenagers About Sexual Health' – The RCSI led programme providing science based information on sexual and reproductive health to teenagers and their parents. In this episode, the panel will discuss how to find clear and reliable information about sexual and reproductive health that will help both teenagers and parents with this sometimes challenging journey. Chair: Dr Trudy Meehan, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI Speakers: Professor Fergal D. Malone – Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RCSI and Consultant Obstetrician, Rotunda Hospital Dublin Dr Zara Molphy – Head of Research Programmes, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RCSI Dr Ronan Daly – Clinical Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RCSI Additional recommended resources and links can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

In this episode, our panel will continue a conversation started last year, with updates from new evidence and will provide practical ideas and resources to help navigate the menopause transition and post menopause phase of life, including how to manage this transition at work. In February 2022, RCSI aired a MyHealth episode on the menopause called ‘Living Well through Perimenopause and Menopause’. During the episode, our expert panel discussed empowering women to a better menopause experience through increased awareness of their multidisciplinary, evidence-based healthcare and self-care options. In a new second part of this series, we will put a focus on the experience of older women, the longer-term effects of using HRT and equity of access to healthcare, via questions previously submitted from the audience. Panellists Louise Keating (Chair), Physiotherapist and Lecturer, School of Physiotherapy and Co-chair of RCSI Women’s Network  Dr Sumi Dunne, GP and Lecturer, Department of General Practice, RCSI Dr Lisa Mellon, Psychotherapist and Lecturer, Department of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, RCSI  Additional recommended resources and links can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

In this episode, the panel will discuss the science behind obesity, as well as explore some of the common misconceptions around obesity and stigma, how we think and talk about obesity, and best practices in obesity care delivery. Chair: Dr Oran Kennedy, Lecturer at the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Speakers: Dr Grace O’Malley, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiotherapy, RCSI & and Clinical Lead in the Child & Adolescence Obesity Service at CHI Dr Elaine Byrne, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Deirdre Murphy, volunteer at the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity  Additional recommended resources and links can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

This episode of the RCSI MyHealth Series is on the topic of ‘Positive ageing – retiring well’. As part of this discussion, the panel will explore the process of retirement from a psychological aspect and lifestyle medicine perspective, as well as sharing practical tools and strategies to prepare for a successful retirement.      Speakers:   Dr Trudy Meehan, Lecturer at the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health  Professor Robert Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, RCSI, and Medical Director Lifestyle Health & WellBeing Consultant Cardiology & Lifestyle Medicine, Beacon Hospital, Dublin    Additional recommended resources and links can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

In this MyHealth Series episode, our panel discuss the importance of prioritising young people’s mental health, identifying early warning signs and sharing supports and things we can do to help protect young people’s mental health. This episode is chaired by Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director of the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health. Panelists include: Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director, Orygen; Professor of Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Professor Mary Cannon, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lisa McCarthy, Third Year Medical Student, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Helen Coughlan, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Additional useful resources shared during this episode can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures

In May 2021, public discourse gathered pace on how perimenopause and menopause was experienced by women in Ireland and their experiences in healthcare. In this RCSI MyHealth Series episode, our expert panel will focus on moving the conversation forward to empower women to a better menopause experience through increased awareness of their person-centred, multidisciplinary, evidence-based healthcare options. This episode is chaired by Professor Tracy Robson, Professor and Head of School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Panelists include: Dr Caoimhe Hartley, GP at Menopause Health and GP Tutor at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Lisa Mellon, Lecturer, Division of Population Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Maeve Whelan, RCSI Alumnus and Practice Associate and Founder at Milltown Physiotherapy Additional useful resources shared during this episode can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures Recorded February 2021

The theme of learning to live well continues in this next instalment of MyHealth. In part 2, our panel show how the remaining three pillars of lifestyle medicine; diet and nutrition, stress reduction and mental health, and harmful substance reduction can help us to make positive changes in our lives to improve our physical and emotional health. This episode is chaired by Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director of the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health. Panelists include: Louise Tully, Researcher at RCSI and Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition (UKVRN) Dr Pádraic Dunne, Immunologist, practicing psychotherapist and meditation teacher at the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health Professor Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI Additional useful resources shared during this episode can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures Recorded November 2021

In this RCSI MyHealth Series episode, our panel of experts provide a broad overview of cancer and address some of those most commonly asked questions about symptoms, risk factors and prevention measures, treatments and preparing for treatment, and the latest in cancer research. This episode is chaired by Professor Leonie Young, Scientific Director at Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Professor at the Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Panelists include: Professor Patrick Morris, Clinical Director Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Clinical Lead in Medical Oncology Medical Director, Cancer Clinical Trials and Research Unit, RCSI Hospital Group Dr Maeve Mullooly, Senior Research Fellow and Health Research Board Emerging Investigator at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences It was recorded in March 2022.

Learning to live well is the theme of the next two episodes in the MyHealth series. In part 1, a panel of RCSI experts review the lifestyle medicine pillars of physical activity and exercise, healthy relationships and sleep to explore the strategies and tools we can use to improve our physical and emotional health. This episode is chaired by Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director of the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health. Panelists include: Dr Annie Curtis, Senior Lecturer in the RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Dr Helen French, Senior Lecturer at the RCSI School of Physiotherapy Dr Trudy Meehan, Lecturer at the RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health Additional useful resources shared during this episode can be found on the RCSI website www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures Recorded October 2021

RCSI MyHealth is a suite of initiatives that provides a trusted and accessible source of information on health and well-being. The series covers health and well-being topics of broad interest to patients, their families and the wider public.  Access to accurate health information is an important resource to empower people with the tools to maintain good health and well-being. The lecture series is open to those who want to learn more about common illnesses and health-related topics directly from healthcare experts.  The series aims to demystify common health concerns by drawing expertise and insight from our team of researchers and international health experts at the cutting-edge of medical and healthcare developments. If you want to learn more about common illnesses and health-related topics directly from healthcare experts, subscribe to the RCSI MyHealth podcast today. For more information on previous MyHealth lecture series events, please visit www.rcsi.com/myhealthlectures