Photography – Reda Jamil
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI), the seventeenth graduation ceremony for its students, in the presence of Lieutenant General Doctor Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, and Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, at the Gulf Convention Center.
The ceremony was attended by a number of officials and academics, including Professor Michael Keren, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin, Professor Samir Al-Otoum, President of the Medical University of Bahrain (Royal College of Surgeons – Bahrain), and Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Dublin.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that the higher education sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoys the support and attention of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the country. He praised the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which contributed to achieving the progress witnessed by the sector. He congratulated the graduating students and their parents, and at the same time praised the efforts made by the university in preparing cadres. Qualifications in various medical specialties, by providing high-level academic programs that contribute to enhancing professional competence, stressing the support of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council for higher education institutions in the Kingdom to achieve further development and progress.
Meanwhile, Professor Michael Keren delivered a speech in which he expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, for his sponsorship of the graduation ceremony, congratulating the graduates of the Class of 2026 on their distinguished academic achievements, and praising the solid relations between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
For his part, Professor Samir Al-Atoum stressed that the university continues its commitment to preparing qualified health personnel capable of contributing to the development of the health care system and enhancing its services in the Kingdom of Bahrain and globally. He congratulated the graduates of the Class of 2026 and wished them success in their professional careers.
He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Education, the Higher Education Council, the Supreme Council of Health, and the teaching hospitals that contribute to training students, for the continuous support and cooperation they provide to the university.
The ceremony witnessed the celebration of the academic achievements of 168 graduates from the medical program, and 117 graduates from the undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing, reflecting the university’s continued commitment to supporting the development of the health sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The graduates took the professional oath, committing themselves to upholding the highest ethical standards, showing compassion in patient care, dedication to serving the community, and continuing the pursuit of knowledge.
In turn, Dr. Ayman Khudair, the first in the College of Medicine class, delivered the graduates’ speech, during which he expressed his pride in the academic achievements achieved by the class, praising the support of academic staff members, families, and colleagues throughout the years of study.
Meanwhile, nurse Noura Al-Ruwaii gave a speech on behalf of the College of Nursing class, during which she expressed appreciation for the support that the students received throughout their years of study, stressing the importance of the humanitarian role of the nursing profession in serving society.
The ceremony witnessed the honoring of distinguished academic achievements among graduates of the College of Medicine, where Dr. Ayman Khudair received the gold medal for general excellence in medicine.
Dr. Semple Gusev also won the gold medal for graduation and the silver medal for final stage, in addition to the Professor Niall O’Higgins Award in surgery, the Professor John Murphy award in obstetrics and gynecology, and the Professor Charlotte Kamel award in psychiatry.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Rujaib won the bronze medal for the final stage.
Dr. Sama Thiyab won the Professor James Finucane Prize in Medicine.
Dr. Janan Al Radi also received the Professor Joe McMenamin Award in Pediatrics.
Dr. Tim Achal received the Professor David Whitford Prize in General Medicine.
From the College of Nursing and the College of Graduate Studies and Research, the first batch, nurse Zahraa Asiri, received the gold medal for general excellence in nursing.
Nurse Rawan Al-Dosari won the silver medal for the Bachelor of Nursing program.
Nurse Noura Al-Ruwaii also won a bronze medal for the Bachelor of Nursing program.
Nurse Maryam Jarashi won the Rufaida Al-Aslamiya Award in Nursing.
Nurse Muhammad Rustom also won the gold medal for general excellence in the Master of Nursing.
Researcher Farida Al-Khamisi obtained a master’s degree in scientific research (MSc!by!Research(From the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)RCSI) in Dublin.
