The successful candidates will be required to start 13th July 2026.
Regional Anaesthesia and Acute Pain Fellowship, Cork University Hospital
The regional anaesthesia and acute pain fellowship at the Department of Anaesthesia Cork
University Hospital (CUH) is a 12 month structured higher specialist training position during which
successful candidates can further develop their regional anaesthesia skills in a busy but
supportive learning environment. There are five fellowship posts, which offer access to training
and mentorship for suitably qualified candidates. Candidates in their final year of specialist
training or those who have already successfully completed higher specialist training in
anaesthesia will be considered for interview.
Cork University Hospital:
Cork University Hospital (CUH) is a tertiary referral, Level 1 equivalent
trauma centre, located on the western boundary of Cork City. CUH serves an immediate
catchment population of 600,000, and functions as a supra-regional Major Trauma Centre, Cancer
Centre, Paedictric Centre, Obstetric and Gynaecology Centre, Cardiology and Cardiothoracic
Surgery Centre, Renal and Respiratory Centre for a total a population of 1.6 million people. All
surgical sub-specialties reside onsite at CUH.
CUH has over 80,000 ED presentations, 8,500 births, 250,000 out-patient attendances 50,000
inpatient discharges and 90,000 day cases. CUH has 800 beds which will increase further in line
with the strategic development plan. CUH currently employs more than 5000 staff, and is the
primary teaching hospital for the Faculty of Health and Science in University College Cork.
Clinical training:
Each fellow will have access to a varied clinical workload, in new and evolving
environments. The evolution of CUH as a Major Trauma Centre (MTC) provides unique
opportunities and challenges. The regional anaesthesia and acute pain fellows will have access to
a complex case mix and busy caseload within which to master their skills. Upon successful
completion of the fellowship, fellows will be capable of performing as a senior clinician in a
dynamic, high stakes environment, while integrating regional anaesthesia into clinical anaesthesia
and acute pain practices.
Places of work:
The regional anesthesia and acute pain fellows rotate on a week to week basis
across the CUH campus and contribute to the following anaesthesia services: Orthopaedic
Trauma Theatres & Block Room; Ambulatory Soft Tissue Upper & Lower Limb Trauma Surgery;
Ambulatory Trauma Orthopaedic Surgery; Acute Pain Service; Inpatient Trauma Floor Block
Room. A detailed job description for each of these locations is available upon request. The
fellowship posts on offer include two academic posts and three clinical posts.
Academic posts:
It is expected that the academic regional anaesthesia fellows will conduct a
minimum of two interrelated pieces of original research on the broad topics of clinical
anaesthesia, acute pain, regional anaesthesia, trauma management, procedural skills training or
the integration of innovative technology into clinical practice. The academic fellow will have
access to protected academic time on a fortnightly basis. The expected academic outputs from a
one year academic fellowship programme are: two or more original projects resulting in abstract
presentations at national and international meetings, manuscript publications in peer review
journals. The investment in a higher postgraduate degree through research in UCC (MSc, MD,
PhD) is desirable but not essential, and should align with the fellow's career goals. Academic
fellows will be selected from the overall cohort of fellows by application to the programme
coordinator for protected academic time.
Clinical Posts:
It is expected that the clinical regional anaesthesia fellows will conduct a minimum
of two interrelated quality improvement projects during their year in post. The clinical fellow will
have non-clinical time built into their working week. Academic outputs are not expected from
clinical fellows, however the data derived from Quality Improvement projects, might form the basis
of abstract presentations at national and international meetings. Clinical fellows are not excluded
from academic work, however protected academic time is not possible given service demands
and resource allocation.
To receive additional information please feel free to email Dr Brian O'Donnell