Health Research Institute Member Honoured at Sylvester O’Halloran Perioperative Symposium

We are thrilled to share that a distinguished member of our Health Research Institute, Anna Marie Kiernan, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Pain Medicine, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, has been awarded at the prestigious Sylvester O’Halloran Perioperative Symposium. The O’Shaughnessy medal for best oral presentation was awarded for the Anaesthesia Session for the abstract titled "Impact of the development of the University Limerick Hospital Group Pain Excellence Centre."

The annual Sylvester O’Halloran Perioperative Symposium, named in honour of the renowned surgeon, was initiated in 1992 by the late Mr. Peter Delaney. This esteemed event spans three days and has grown to encompass a wide range of medical disciplines, including general, vascular, colorectal, breast/endocrine, orthopaedic, ENT, paediatrics, anaesthesia, urology, gynae, scientific, radiology, intensive care medicine, and video surgery sessions. 

Anna Marie was happy to share more information, "The symposium features several paper prizes, poster prizes, and named lectures, such as the Sylvester O’Halloran Lecture, Sir Thomas Myles Lecture, and the Paul O’Byrne Lecture. The latest symposium took place from February 27 to March 1 2025. Presenting on the impact of the Pain Excellence Centre and having that work recognized at such a prestigious level validates the dedication, innovation, and patient-centred focus that has gone into its development by all members of the team.  The project fostered collaboration across disciplines and has led to new innovative approaches to care with the aim of adding value to patient care and experience. The Sylvester O’Halloran Perioperative Symposium offers a vital platform to share this knowledge and advancements as well as challenging perspectives in patient care. Such an event always provides food for thought and creates meaningful discussion on how to improve care."

This achievement aligns perfectly with the mission of the Health Research Institute (HRI) to advance person-centred, technology-enabled integrated healthcare and treatment. By focusing on good health and wellbeing across the lifespan, Anna Marie's work exemplifies our commitment to revolutionising patient care.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Anna Marie for her outstanding contribution to the field of anaesthesia and for bringing innovative solutions to procedural pain management. Her dedication and expertise continue to inspire us all.