royal college of surgeons in ireland royal college of surgeons in ireland the royal college of surgeons in ireland (rcsi) is a medical professional and educational institution, which is also known as rcsi university of medicine and health sciences, ireland's first private university. it was established in 1784 as the national body for the surgical branch of medicine in ireland, with a role in supervision of training, and as of 2021 provides a broad range of medical education in multiple countries. royal college of surgeons in ireland (rcsi), also styled as rcsi university of medicine and health sciencescoláiste ríoga na máinleá in éirinnmottoconsilio manuque (scholarship and dexterity)typeprivateestablished11 february 1784presidentprofessor p. ronan o'connellstudents4,094 (as of 2020)address123 st. stephen's green, dublin, irelandcampusurbanaffiliationsnuiwebsitewww.rcsi.com rcsi's main campus is situated on st. stephen's green and york street in central dublin and incorporates schools of medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy and nursing. it offers undergraduate and postgraduate education in a number of healthcare fields. the rcsi achieved ireland's highest position in the times higher education (the) university impact rankings 2021, coming joint second in the world for ‘good health and wellbeing’ from a total of 871 institutions. the university impact rankings recognise universities around the world for their social and economic impact based on the united nations' 17 sustainable development goals (sdgs). history background and foundation since medieval times, the practice of surgery in dublin was licensed by one of the guilds of the city of dublin, the barber-surgeons' guild, also known at times as the guild of st. mary magdalene. the guild chapel was in christchurch. guild membership was obtained by a 3-year apprenticeship, followed by 2 years as a journeyman. in fact the college of surgeons maintained a mandatory period of apprenticeship to become a qualified surgeon until 1828. in 1446, the barber-surgeons' guild was incorporated by a royal decree of henry vi, becoming the first medical corporation in britain or ireland. in 1765 sylvester o'halloran, a surgeon from limerick, proposed a college of surgeons along the lines of the college de st. cosme in paris, which had been regulating french surgeons since it had been created by royal charter by louis ix in 1255, to train and regulate surgeons. the dublin society of surgeons was founded in 1780 at the elephant public house on essex street (now parliament street). trinity did not teach surgery as a subject until 1851, so ireland was entirely without a school focused on surgery. to have a separate organization focused on providing standardised surgical education became one of the goals of the society and they lobbied for a royal charter, in 1781 presenting the lord lieutenant a petition to be incorporated separately from the barbers. the awaited charter was granted by king george iii on 11 february 1784. the governing body, including the first president, samuel croker-king, and william dease, first professor of surgery, met in the boardroom of the rotunda hospital for the first time on 2 march. non-discrimination admission or employment was not subject to discrimination on sectarian grounds. two of the rcsi's leading founders, sylvester o'halloran and william dease, as well as 11 of its first 57 presidents, were catholics. the college also recognized the medical qualifications given by the catholic university from 1856, which gave legitimacy to their diplomas.