THE IRISH PERINATAL SOCIETY

In 1972 a group of Paediatricians, Surgeons involved in newborn surgery and Pathologists perceived a need to stimulate interest in the problems of the newborn and thus the Irish Neonatal Society was founded.

The first meeting was held on the 26^th May 1972 in Temple Street Children’s Hospital and there were 15 people in attendance and apologies were received from five. Those attending included Dick Barry, Seamus Cahalane (Pathologist), Michael Curtin, Gerard Cousins, Des Donovan, Eric Doyle, Jim Dundon, Brian Mc Donagh, Alec McDonald, Niall O’Brien, Pauline O’Connell, Eddie Guiney (Paediatric Surgeon), Barry O’Donnell (Paediatric Surgeon), Joe O’Sullivan and Eddie Tempany and apologies from Paddy Deasy, Vicky Coffey, Brian McNichol, Neil O’Doherty and Conor Ward.

In the spring of 1973 the first clinical meeting was held at the Rotunda Hospital. The Registration fee was £1 and the dinner £3, with the meeting being well attended. It was a social success however, substantial financial loss was sustained. A meeting on the 9^th March 1974 took place at the Coombe Lying-In Hospital. This was a most significant meeting with a decision being made that the Irish Neonatal Society would have a name change and be altered to the Irish Perinatal Society. The aims of the Society were collated in 1975. See sections on "Mission of the Irish Perinatal Society".

In March 1974 a proposed membership of £5 per annum was recommended however this was never implemented. The Society has hosted a series of outstanding guest lecturers at each of the meetings with 1-4 invited guests’ speakers being hosted at each meeting.

From 1973 to 1976 annual meetings were held and from 1977 to 2004 meetings were held in both spring and autumn. Since 2004 annual meetings were held. In 2010 the first Irish Congress of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatal Medicine (ICOGPM) was held and The Irish Perinatal Society’s annual meeting is held in conjunction with this biennial meeting. There has always been a strong input from our colleagues in Northern Ireland and this has been particularly valuable within the Society. Each meeting since 1974 has had a Scientific Exhibition.

Mission of the Irish Perinatal Society

1. To foster interest in the fetus and newborn and to encourage research in perinatal medicine.
2. To promote a closer association between obstetrics and neonatal paediatrics and to encourage exchange of ideas and social contacts between all those with a special interest in the development of the fetus and young infant. Closer contact between the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Irish Paediatric Association with the Irish Perinatal Society was to be fostered.
3. To promote undergraduate and post-graduate training in early development. To enhance understanding of perinatal disorders and a more efficient management of these problems as they arise prenatally and/or during the intrapartum or postnatal periods.
4. To increase the availability of up to date information for those working in the field of perinatal medicine within Europe.

 

 

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

PRESIDENTS 1972-2016

 

 

SECRETARIES

 

 

TREASURERS

1972-1989 Joe O’Sullivan
1989-2003 Jim Clinch
2003-2015 Margaret Sheridan-Pereira
2015-John Kelleher

 

 

LOCATION OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS FROM 1973 

Rotunda, Coombe, National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Rotunda, Belfast, Coombe, Cork, NMH, Belfast, Rotunda, Galway, Coombe, Drogheda, Belfast, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Belfast, Coombe, Cork, Portballintrae, Limerick, Galway, Belfast, Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Cork, Galway, Antrim, Coombe, Cork, Dublin (joint meeting with the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians) 

2006 Rotunda
2007 Belfast
2008 Fota Island
2009 Carton House
2010 Limerick, Castletroy
2011 Ardilaun, Galway
2012 ICOGPM, Druids Glen, Wicklow
2013 No meeting
2014 Davenport, Dublin
2015 ICOGPM, Crowne Plaza, Dublin.

 

 

Conferences

 

 

Current Officers

President:

Dr. Christopher Fitzpatrick currently works as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

Secretary:

Dr. Aoife Mullally currently works as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

Treasurer:

Dr. John Kelleher currently works as a Consultant Neonatologist at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.