Submit News/Event by Friday 23rd March 2012

To Subscribe to the School of Medicine E-Bulletin

Department of Gerontology Update

Professor J. Bernard Walsh

Professor Walsh was elected President of The Irish Gerontological society at their annual meeting in Dublin in September 2011 for a three year period. He takes over from Professor Des O Neill. The IGS is one of the oldest gerontology societies in the world, and seeks to develop expertise in the science of ageing.

The Society aims to develop a broad portfolio of ageing research in Ireland, and the Executive Committee membership includes representatives of social, psychological and healthcare aspects of ageing. The Department is well represented at the IGS as Professor Davis Coakley is also a previous president.

Professor J. Bernard Walsh was also presented with a Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. He was one of two Irish graduates receive a Fellowship at the ceremony in Edinburgh.  Professor Walsh received his Fellowship from the President of the College.

At the presentation the President of the College Dr Neil Dewhurst made reference to Professor Walsh’s contribution to Medicine for the Elderly in Ireland as well as to his role in the development of a leading European Bone Health and Osteoporosis Clinic in the Mercer’s Institute for Research on Ageing and St. James’s Hospital in Dublin. 

From Left to Right: Professor J. Bernard Walsh, Dr Neil Dewhurst

Ageing and the Life of the Mind

From Left to Right:  Dr John Kennedy, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Professor Thomas Mitchell, Professor Davis Coakley, Professor J Bernard Walsh, Dr Joe Harbison

The inaugural MISA lecture was delivered by Professor Tomas N. Mitchell in the magnificent surroundings of the Dining hall in TCD on Monday 9th of May 2011

This insightful and thought provoking lecture included interesting reflections on the nature of democracy and how society has evolved into the 21st century. 

In his lecture, Professor Mitchell presented his ideas about an age-friendly society and said that his ambitions for the future included:

• The  hope that  the ground-breaking work in geriatric medicine, research and education that is going on in St. James’s,  Mercer’s Institute, and TILDA at Trinity College Dublin will be supported and replicated, and will ensure superior medical care in this country for the elderly;
• That Ireland’s educational policies and services will expand opportunities for older people to extend their intellectual horizons;
• That the great experience and intellectual resource represented by our older generation can be utilised for the public good.

Professor Mitchell concluded that the way back for society in terms of active citizenship, effective governance, future stability and prosperity is through harnessing the wisdom and expertise of the older population.  

Dr John Kennedy, chair of the Medical Board of St James’s Hospital made a presentation to Professor Mitchell in recognition of his many years of service to the hospital.

Collaborative Project on Community Asset Mapping - Chicago’s Southside and Dublin’s Liberties

 From  Left to  Right : Dr Stacey Lindau- University of Chicago, Dr David Robinson- Trinity College and Dr Jennifer Makelarski- University of Chicago

A team from MISA including Dr. David Robinson, Dr. Gerard Boyle and Professor Rose Anne Kenny travelled to the University of Chicago to investigate an asset mapping project run by Dr. Stacey Lindau and her team at the Chicago Health and Vitality Studies.  Community asset mapping is the process of systematically identifying the human, material, financial, entrepreneurial and other resources that influence health in an urban area.  It is an important process for community projects of all kinds. 

The objective of this project is to create a network of stakeholders to facilitate community engagement and empowerment in relation to local health issues through (initially) engaging with an asset mapping process which will objectively quantify health inequalities in the Liberties area of Dublin city.