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About Us

The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI) has a long tradition of promoting excellence in patient safety. We enable doctors to become expert and maintain that expertise in the fields of anaesthesiology, peri-operative medicine , intensive care and pain medicine . The CAI has been at the forefront of medical education and training in our speciality since the beginning of the twentieth century.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine is a Faculty of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI) . Along with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the CAI is a constituent College of the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in Ireland ( JFICMI).

We have earned a reputation for training doctors to the highest international standards. Many modern surgical techniques would not be possible without the anaesthetic drugs, the techniques and the equipment that anaesthesiologists use today. Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do, and this allows us to bring patients safely through the most challenging operations.  We are committed to achieving excellence in improving access to safe anaesthesia for all.

College Arms

The wording underneath “Salus Dum Vigilamus” is literally translated as “safety while we watch” – which speaks for itself.

Heraldic Description The College Arms reproduced here were granted in December 1999. The shield contains a semee of poppy heads; the cloud symbolises the drift to the other side by way of haziness (unconsciousness) with the healing hand of the Physician in attendance.  The Supporters in the form of dolphins are unusual and are granted for the first time in Ireland. They are contained on the “McDonnell of the Glens” Coat of Arms and in Heraldic terms provide a link to the administration of the first anaesthetic in Ireland by John McDonnell, a surgeon in the Richmond Hospital, Dublin.  The natural intelligence of Dolphins is acknowledged.  The Helmet with reef above affords protection to the Shield over which is the Harp of Ireland in the figure Nike (victory) associated with overcoming disease.  The Mantling in red and white is of obscure origin and is thought to afford protection from the elements. The Badge is an inverted roundel containing a poppy head.