NUIG awards gold medal to newly-qualified Collinstown doctor

A young Collinstown woman who has just qualified as a doctor has spoken out to encourage new students to take advantage of the chance to become actively involved in activities in university .

“Everything I gave, I received back a hundred-fold,” says Dr Laoise Plunkett from Collinstown who was conferred recently with an Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, NUI Galway.

At her conferring ceremony, Dr Plunkett was also named as recipient of a gold medal for Civic Engagement.

Dr Maureen Kelly, Senior Lecturer in General Practice and outgoing Vice Dean for Civic Engagement at the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences said: "Laoise was awarded the Gold Medal in Civic Engagement for her long-standing record of engagement across several areas but in particular with the NUIG Kayaking club.

“Her leadership and commitment ensured that the club was supportive to female members.

“Laoise has been instrumental in several initiatives that promote and encourage increased female participation in the sport.  These initiatives, including those based on the NUI Galway Active Consent training,  had a strong emphasis on developing a culture of personal safety and respect for all genders.  The values she displayed in this work - – reciprocity, respect and commitment will no doubt serve her patients well in the future.  She is a worthy winner of this year’s Gold Medal for Civic Engagement."

Said Dr Plunkett after the ceremony: "When I came to NUI Galway to study medicine I was eager to become fully engaged in university life.

“Volunteering was something I wanted to become involved with and as I progressed through university I became more involved in leadership roles within societies, such as the Voluntary Services Abroad Society and the Kayak Club.”

In 2017 the #MeToo movement spurred Dr Plunkett to combine her love of sport with her ambition to create spaces where women could feel safe.

“I am grateful for all the opportunities NUI Galway has given me, and for the support I received from the members of the NUIG-GMIT Kayak Club during my final year,” she said, adding that she would strongly encourage students to become actively involved in activities in university : “Everything I gave, I received back a hundred-fold. The friendships made and sense of belonging that I found at NUI Galway will stay with me as I embark on my medical career," she said.

NUI Galway has been acknowledging student excellence through the award of gold medals in Medicine for over 100 years. In partnership with the Community Knowledge Initiative gold medals are awarded to a Medicine student in the School of Medicine for their Civic Engagement contribution.