Professor Michael Larvin, former Foundation Professor of Surgery at the University of Nottingham Graduate Entry Medical School has joined the University of Limerick as a successor to Professor Paul Finucane who last month stepped down as Head of UL Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS).

Professor Larvin has previously held positions at the Universities of Leeds and London, Ulm in Germany and in the USA where he first encountered graduate entry medicine and gained his research Doctorate and education Masters.  His clinical and research experience lies in pancreatic disease, metabolism and minimally invasive surgery and his educational interests include technology enhanced learning, e-learning and immersive simulation. Over the last four years he has also been Director of Education at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Director of the NHS eLibrary for Surgery, Theatres and Intensive Care and National Clinical Champion for Surgical eLearning for the UK Department of Health.

Professor Don Barry, President at the University of Limerick has welcomed Professor Larvin to UL.  “Professor Larvin is an excellent fit to our GEMS. He is an enthusiastic advocate of Problem Based Learning which is at the heart of the GEMS programme and he believes, as we all do at UL, that graduate entry medicine will enrich medical education in Ireland by attracting students who are already thoughtful, caring and highly committed learners.”

Speaking from his new post at the University of Limerick Professor Larvin has said that he hopes to build on the solid foundations already established at UL GEMS, strengthening further the vital relationships with GPs, hospital specialists and post-graduate trainees in both teaching and learning.  “I am confident that the interaction of the medical school with local clinicians, health service managers and scientists offers huge potential for improvements in patient care, particularly at a time when austerity is leading a drive for improved benefits at reduced costs.  I am privileged to be joining UL GEMS at such an exciting time, with the opening of the new medical school building on a beautiful campus with excellent facilities and a dynamic, fast-growing university that places the student learning experience firmly at the top of its agenda,” said Professor Larvin, Head UL Graduate Entry Medical School.

The UL Graduate Entry Medical School recently marked its €1 million funding milestone which furthers its commitment to progressive medical research.  GEMS is implementing a research strategy focused on the themes of metabolic mediators of chronic disorder, life stage-specific conditions including aspects of ageing, and the provision of prophylactic guidance and therapeutic care in the community and acute facilities.  The School has pursued recruitment of experienced professorial leaders across the clinical specialties who are actively engaged in relevant top-tier health-oriented research.