2007 Press Releases
The Cork School of Medicine: A History by Professor Denis O'Sullivan
The Cork School of Medicine: A History by Professor Denis
O'Sullivan spans the history of the School of Medicine at University
College Cork (UCC) from its foundation in 1849 to the present
day. Written by Professor Denis O'Sullivan, this authoritative account
of the history of UCC's prestigious School of Medicine will be launched
at UCC on Thursday, 25 January. Professor O'Sullivan who is Emeritus
Professor of Medicine at UCC, having held that chair from 1961 until
his retirement in 1990 was also Consultant Physician to the Southern
Health Board, at first in St Finbarr's Hospital and then at the Cork
Regional (now University) Hospital.
Early chapters of the book outline the origins of the school, its
leading personalities, notable teachers and occasional eccentrics.
Early Cork graduates are described, including details of their
backgrounds and career paths. Major events, such as the great College
fire of 1862, and important developments such as the admission of women
are also discussed. The story of the college and the medical school
during the first half of the twentieth century includes pen-pictures of
Windle, O'Rahilly, and other eminent medical professors. The university
scene during the 1930s and 40s is also examined.
The second half of the book deals with the medical school from 1950 to
the present day. The author was intimately connected with the school
for nearly all of this time which includes; the troubled 50s, the
renascent 60s and 70s, and the last twenty-five years, during which the
school attained its present status. The events surrounding the building
of the Cork University Hospital, the expansion of the voluntary
hospitals and the closure of the North Infirmary are detailed, as are
the development of the present-day departments, and events which shaped
Munster health services to their present form. The book concludes with
an appraisal of the most recent developments in the story of the School
of Medicine, including the opening of the landmark Brookfield Health
Sciences Complex.
Professor O'Sullivan was deeply involved in college life and in
particular medical school affairs, serving as Faculty Dean from
1967-1975, as College Governor from 1968-1980 and as NUI Senator from
1972-1977. He was also member of many national medical boards and
committees. He was conferred with a DSc Degree, honoris causa, in 2000 by the National University of Ireland in recognition of his contribution to UCC and to medicine.
The book is interwoven with references to graduates of the School of
Medicine, their lives and their achievements. The book is freely
illustrated, and will fascinate not only the medical alumni, but
everyone who is interested in Munster, its health and its University.
The launch of The Cork School of Medicine: A History takes place
on Thursday next, 25 January at UCC. Copies can be obtained
thereafter from UCC Visitors' Centre, North Wing and all good
bookshops. Price: €30.
355MMcS
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