7 minute read
True Champions
from 2025 RCSI Alumni Magazine
by RCSI
RCSI recognises the loyal support of its benefactors with the ultimate honour – induction to the prestigious Court of Patrons. Carmen Ang reports
Patronage is far from a modern concept. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Egypt (circa 3000 BC) when members of the nobility offered civilians their support and protection in exchange for loyalty.
By the Middle Ages, patronage had evolved into one of the most influential social and cultural systems of its time. Throughout the Renaissance, an era marked by significant growth and economic expansion, it was patrons who funded large-scale projects like medieval colleges, the commissioning of translations and artwork, and provided financial support for artists and musicians while they focused on their craft.
Fast forward to the present day, and patronage remains a vital part of society, particularly for educational institutions like RCSI, which is not publicly funded and relies on philanthropy and grant funding to help fund myriad research projects and strategic innovations. Patrons have been instrumental to RCSI’s advancement – it’s fair to say that the University would not be where it is today without the unwavering support it has received from generous benefactors over the years. However, patronage was not always a part of RCSI’s story.
The Start of Patronage at RCSI
In the early 1960s, RCSI was on the brink of shutting down. Despite its longstanding history, the College was in dire straits financially. While its facilities were in desperate need of repair, its income was barely enough to cover basic operations, let alone fund improvements or expansion. The College was at breaking point, so when Dr Harry O’Flanagan became Registrar in 1962, his work was cut out for him.
Fortunately, he was up to the challenge. As RCSI’s first medically trained Registrar, Dr O’Flanagan brought a unique blend of medical knowledge and administrative experience to the role, making him uniquely qualified for the daunting task ahead – figuring out a way to generate more income so RCSI could expand its facilities.
After reviewing the books, Dr O’Flanagan realised two things: the College was granted next-to-nothing in state funding because of its status as a private institution, and the little income it was managing to generate was being taxed at a business rate.
The Council had an idea of how to improve its financial situation – by gaining charitable status. The idea was inspired by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, which had gained charitable status a decade earlier by winning an appeal against the UK’s tax authority.
However, this approach was risky, as there was no guarantee that RCSI would win a similar court case in Ireland. If the College lost, it would be stuck with substantial legal fees.
So, rather than take the matter to court, Dr O’Flanagan used his exceptional negotiation skills to persuade the right people in the Government and the Revenue Commissioners to make an exception for RCSI, and to work with the College to find a solution to its tax status.
The plan worked, and in 1964, after an amendment to its Charter, RCSI was granted charitable status, which not only meant a significant relief in the College’s tax obligations – it also meant that the College could now accept donations from alumni and other interested parties.
And thus, patronage at RCSI was born.
Establishing the Court of Patrons
After gaining charitable status for RCSI, Dr O’Flanagan set out on a fundraising mission around the world. He travelled to the UK, Africa, and the US, engaging with alumni and asking for their philanthropic support to help grow RCSI’s facilities.
At this point, donations from the community were crucial to the College’s advancement, since RCSI wasn’t receiving significant funding from the Government, at least compared to state universities like Trinity or UCD.
In an article from 1968, Dr O’Flanagan writes, “Were [RCSI] to be treated by the Government on an equal footing with other medical schools [in Ireland]… then our current grant should be at least £107,000. That our grant is only £16,000 is a measure of the extent to which we must rely on our own resources.”
Fortunately, donations from alumni started to trickle in, and by 1969, the College had secured enough funding to begin the development of a new medical school, which would be built on York Street, just behind the old college campus.
Recognising how vital philanthropy had become to RCSI, Dr O’Flanagan decided to establish an initiative to honour the College’s most generous benefactors, calling it the Court of Patrons.
Members of this honorary group had to be nominated by a committee comprised of the President and past Presidents who were members of RCSI Council. According to an RCSI journal at the time, “elected patrons receive a Medallion of Office from the President. While membership of the Court of Patrons confers no corporate privileges upon the recipients, there will be for them a distinctive academic gown”.
New inductees were admitted to the Court of Patrons on Charter Day, by either attending or receiving mention during the ceremony. While the Court was technically established in 1968, its first-ever member, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, was not inducted until 1974. Ó Dálaigh was the President of Ireland at the time and was inducted into the Court because of his involvement in the opening of the new medical school on York Street.
Over time, 40 additional members joined the Court of Patrons. Their contributions helped fund the expansion of the College, upgrades to its facilities, and provided support for students by funding a number of university programmes, scholarships and clinical electives.
Reviving the Court of Patrons
In 2024, after a 25-year hiatus, RCSI made the exciting decision to reinstate the Court of Patrons, with the induction of its latest member, RCSI graduate, Dr Hamad Al Jaber (Class of 1997).
According to Professor Deborah McNamara, President of RCSI, “Council had been discussing for some time how best to acknowledge and celebrate our most distinguished and generous alumni.”
“As we approached the start of the academic year in September 2023, we realised it marked the 50th anniversary of the first member’s induction into the Court of Patrons. This seemed like the ideal opportunity to revive this important forum and engage leading alumni in the life of RCSI today.”
The Court’s latest member, Dr Al Jaber, graduated in Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics from RCSI in 1997, and is founder and chairman of PHI Clinics for Plastic Surgery in Qatar.
Support from alumni like Dr Al Jaber is crucial to the institution’s ongoing growth and success. According to Professor McNamara: “alumni donors provide essential financial resources that enable RCSI to more effectively pursue its mission and vision ‘to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health’. Alumni contributions fund scholarships, pioneering research, new teaching facilities, and a range of initiatives that enhance RCSI’s reputation. Alumni gifts help create opportunities for students and faculty, fostering an environment of excellence and innovation.”
With more innovation on the horizon, RCSI’s future success is contingent on the continued support from generous benefactors like Dr Al Jaber, whose contributions enable the University to develop exceptional patient care and help shape the future of healthcare and surgery in Ireland and beyond. ■
