The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, the college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies, and professionalism throughout their working lives.
Through its Faculties and Institutes, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas, and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge they need to care for patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems. It also offers a range of educational diplomas and courses for learners in the wider healthcare sector.
Role: Regional Specialty Advisor (RSA) Histopathology – Galway
Affiliation: Faculty of Pathology
Department: Postgraduate Training and Education
Tenure of Office: 3 years and maximum of two concurrent terms
Remuneration/Benefits: Payment of RSAs takes place on a quarterly basis and in accordance with the number of trainees within their given speciality
Location: Galway
Closing date: 28 July 2026 at 16:00
The mission of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally.
The Faculty of Pathology
Background
The Faculty of Pathology serves pathologists, patients and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine in Ireland. The Faculty of Pathology is the professional and training body for pathology in Ireland. We also seek to ensure the highest standards in the practice of pathology. The Faculty was established in 1981 and is one of six faculties within the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In Ireland, pathology has six major areas of activity: chemical pathology, haematology, histopathology, immunology and clinical microbiology.
Basic Specialist Training (BST)
Higher Specialist Training (HST)
- Chemical Pathology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Haematology
- Histopathology
- Immunology
- Neuropathology
The Faculty achieves this aim through:
- Acting as the authoritative body for consultation on matters of educational, professional
or public interest concerning Pathology.
- Representing the specialty of Pathology on international, national and regional councils
or committees concerned with postgraduate medical education.
- Obtaining and maintaining recognition for itself as the Body responsible for advising
recognised Statutory Bodies on all matters concerning Pathology under any scheme for
specialist training, accreditation or registration.
- To maintain (i) a register of suitable persons training in Pathology (ii) a register of
recognised training posts (iii) a register of Consultants.
- To promote Fellowship of the Faculty of Pathology as a natural progression on completion
of specialist training.
Role Overview: The role of the RSA in Histopathology is to support the National Specialty Director (NSD) in their role in the development and delivery of postgraduate specialist training in Histopathology, under the governance of the Faculty of Pathology.
Reporting relationships: The RSA reports to the NSD who then reports through the Director of Education to the Dean and the Board of the Faculty of Pathology. The Faculty of Pathology has an RSA for each training hub – South Dublin, North Dublin, Munster and Galway.
Responsibilities
Content of Training Programme
- Assists in the updating of the specialty curriculum and logbook / eportfolio in consultation with NSD and other members of the Specialty Training Committee (STC) as well as the Education and Professional Development Department.
- Assists in the development of courses for specialist training with the Education and Professional Development Department.
- Assists in developing and organising Study Days across the duration of the training programme.
Support and Guidelines:
- Provide advice, career guidance and support to trainees in their hub in relation to training, examinations and general queries relating to the specialty.
- Follow delineated process for dealing with trainee / training issues as per the RCPI Grievance and Disciplinary Policy.
- Act as ambassador for the successful roll – out of the eportfolio.
- Act as liaison between trainers and trainees within their hub.
Governance:
Specialty Training Committee
- Meetings are held quarterly and chaired by the NSD.
- Attendance at these meetings is expected.
Recruitment and Selection:
- Play an active role in the recruitment and selection of candidates to the Basic and Higher Specialist Training programmes.
- Assist in short listing of candidates against agreed criteria with other panel members and NSD.
- Participate in interviews for entry onto the Basic and Higher Specialist Training programmes.
- Allocate trainees to various centres within their hub. In this regard, the number and location of clinical training posts in each hub should be made available to the NSD prior to the interviews and allocation process.
Hospital Inspections:
- Participate and assist the NSD in hospital inspections in the specialty when required.
Assessments:
- Participation in annual BST trainee assessments held in November.
- Assist the NSD in annual assessments of the specialty as requested (May / June).
Mandatory
- Must be a fellow of the Faculty of Pathology
- Must be a registered and active trainer of the specialty training programme in Ireland
- Must be entered on the Medical Council’s Specialist Division of the Register in the relevant specialty
- Must be registered on an RCPI Professional Competence Scheme
Nomination and Recruitment of a Regional Specialty Advisor
- The Faculty of Pathology is the appointing authority for RSAs in Histopathology
Tenure of Office
The tenure of office is three years. A maximum of two concurrent terms can be served as RSA.
Notification of stepping down as RSA at the end of tenure should be presented in writing to the training body at least 3 months prior to stepping down.
Training and Handover
- RSAs should partake in a 3 month handover / roll – in period to ensure the role is clearly defined.
- RSAs must complete the Physicians as Trainers: Essential Skills Course and Interview Skills course. These courses must be updated on a regular basis.
Payment
Payment of RSAs takes place on a quarterly basis and in accordance with the number of trainees within their given specialty.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is an inclusive employer and in line with our policies you are invited to disclose any reasonable accommodations you require for applying, interviewing or working with RCPI. Please be assured this information will be treated as confidential and not used for the purpose of selection. If you have any queries, please contact Suzann Donnelly at [email protected].
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, the college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies, and professionalism throughout their working lives.
Through its Faculties and Institutes, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas, and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge they need to care for patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems. It also offers a range of educational diplomas and courses for learners in the wider healthcare sector.
