Trainee Committee
The Committee of Anaesthesia Trainees (CAT) was established in 2011. The committee is composed of trainees elected by their peers. The role of the committee is to give anaesthesia trainees a formal voice and role within the College. They help influence and shape the Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme and provide trainee representation on a number of College Committees and external groups and contribute insights that influence the development of anaesthesia in Ireland.

Dr Kirsten Joyce

Chairperson of the Committee of Anaesthesia Trainees
NDTP Forum Subcommittee Representative
Training Year SAT 6
Dr Carrie Murphy

Immediate Past-Chair Co-Opt
Training Year SAT 6
Dr Eva Corcoran

Training Committee Representative
Pain Medicine Faculty Representative
Dr Gillian O’Keeffe

Treasurer
Sustainability
Dr Barbara Cusack

Vice-Chair of the Committee of Anaesthesia Trainees
Health & Wellbeing
Dr Bryan Reidy

JFICMI/ICSI Representative
Dr Lauren O’Callaghan

NCPA Representative
HSE Liaison
Dr Laura Gristeo

Health & Wellbeing Committee Representative
 
Dr Sinead O’Brien

Education Committee Representative
Quality & Safety Advisory Committee Representative
Dr Sophia Angelov
Training Committee Representative
CAT News & Social Media
Dr Gilly De Loughrey
Lead Anaesthesia Trainee (LAT) Representative
Examinations Committee Representative
The Lead Anaesthetic Trainee (LAT) role was established in 2015. The role of this representative is to encourage communication between all trainees and the Committee of Anaesthesia Trainees. They also facilitate communication at a local level between trainees and individual anaesthetic departments. There is a permanent LAT coordinator position on CAT to facilitate this. CAT updates LATs regularly on any developments within the College that will have an impact upon trainees, as well as CAT activities.
We have compiled a number of resources that trainees have found useful for the MCAI, FCAI and a number of optional exams that you may sit during training. We hope this helps a little with your initial preparation for exams! The resource are available on the relevant exam page:
What is it?
The fellowship network is useful list of contacts for trainees in their final years of training who are considering applying for a specialty fellowship abroad following completion of formal training in Ireland. Often the best people to talk to about a particular fellowship are those who have recently undertaken that fellowship themselves. They will be able to give advice on what to expect from working and living in a foreign city and what to expect to get out of a particular fellowship. As trainees in Ireland, we don’t rotate through every teaching hospital; therefore there may be missed opportunities to gather information from those consultants who have completed interesting fellowships. The fellowship network is a list of consultants and fellows who have recently completed or are currently undertaking fellowships across the world. Everyone in the network has kindly agreed to share their details with trainees who need a useful contact to find information about a fellowships. The contacts on the list are happy to be contacted via email and help in anyway they can to make your decision and application process easier. Details are listed by speciality and by region.
How to go about applying for a fellowship?
Having decided on a fellowship that might be for you, then the next step will be the application process. The application process for fellowships differs greatly from centre to centre. Some fellowship posts accept applications on a rolling basis and appointments are made in a similar manner. Some fellowships (particularly in the UK) advertise approximately 6 – 12 months in advance of start date and applications need to be made in time. Specific details on the application process are usually available on the website of the hospital hosting the fellowship. Make sure to check well in advance of what is required for and application! Be advised that you likely be competing against trainees from the host country and, in some cases; fellowships are awarded preferentially to those trained ‘at home’. It is advisable to contact the centre of your choice early in order to express an interest and to enquire about their specific application process. Contact cat@coa.ie to receive a copy of Fellowship Network Contacts.
CAT administers their own Facebook group and all trainees are welcome to join. To find out more contact cat@coa.ie or lat@coa.ie.
Upcoming Events
The committee also organises many professional and social events for trainees.
- AAGBI CAT/GAT: Social event Wednesday 26th September 2018
- AAGBI CAT/GAT: Meeting Thursday 27th September 2018
- Medical Careers Day: Dublin Castle Saturday 29th September 2018
- The Great Dublin Bike Ride: Sunday 23rd September 2018
- College Open Day: Saturday 3rd November 2018
- Annual Congress: May 2019
To find out more contact cat@coa.ie or lat@coa.ie.