Prize giving

The inaugural Professor John McGimpsey Prize has been awarded to Caoimhe McVeigh, a final year student at Queen’s University Belfast.

The award, handed out by the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), is named in honour of the late Prof McGimpsey who was dean of the dental faculty from 1998 to 2001. He was a consultant in oral surgery and director of teaching and learning as well as being department head at Queen’s University and Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.

Caoimhe becomes the first recipient of the award and she received the prize from Professor Donald Burden, director of the Centre for Dental Education at Queen’s University Belfast and Professor Gerard Kearns, dean of the dental faculty at the RCSI.

A spokesman for the RCSI said: “The Faculty of Dentistry at RCSI recognises the talent and potential of our dental students and we are committed to the pursuit of excellence in dentistry both in Ireland and overseas.

“Recognising the potential of our dental students, the faculty fosters a drive for excellence by awarding prizes, on an annual basis, to outstanding students within our dental schools.”

Further details of the dental faculty can be found at http://www.dentistry.rcsi.ie