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Final Congress Guide

Specialty Development

900 Section - Empowering PRM Training Through Trainee-Led Funding: A Case Series of Four Trainees Across Career Stages

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

    Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

  • MF

    Monzer Azhari Mahgoub Farah, MD

    Resident Doctor (General Medicine)
    Sligo University Hospital
    Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

    • Co-Author/Coautor(s)

  • LC

    Lindsay Cooke, MD

    Resident Doctor (General Medicine)
    Galway University Hospital
    Galway, Galway, Ireland

  • PK

    Papa'a Kadafa, MD

    Specialist Registrar, PRM
    Saint Vincents University Hospital
    Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    • Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

  • AM

    Aoife Murray, MD

    Specialist Registrar
    Oxford Centre for Enablement, Oxford University Hospital Trust
    Galway, Galway, Ireland

Objectives : The development of a highly skilled Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) workforce depends on access to specialised training and international expertise. This is especially important in smaller or emerging PRM training environments, where procedural education, research exposure, and subspecialty mentorship may be limited. This study examines how four trainees—at varying stages of their careers—utilised national trainee funding mechanisms to access international expertise, enhance procedural skills, and contribute to innovation in service delivery.

Design: This descriptive case series reports on four trainees’ experiences using flexible national funding schemes for trainees. Data was drawn from trainee-reported utilisation of funding for educational activities, international courses, fellowships, online training, and local service development initiatives.

Results:
PRM Trainees: Completed a six-week, hands-on ultrasound course through an online platform, addressing a key training gap as formal ultrasound education for spasticity remains difficult to access in Ireland.



PRM Trainee 1: After attending international conferences including ISPRM and networking with field leaders, this trainee received a competitive nationally funded fellowship in advanced neuro-interventional procedures for spasticity under expert mentorship and is using the national funding to sustain international research and presentations.



PRM Trainee 2: Funds was used to pay the first instalment of tuition fees for MSc in Rehabilitation Medicine.Funding will also support ongoing educational development through the planned purchase of a portable ultrasound device—a key tool to integrate ultrasound-guided techniques into clinical practice.



General Medicine Trainees: Rehabilitation placements are currently unavailable in some regions. Funds enabled attendance at international conferences, online subscriptions. Trainees led a local audit and QIP, building practical knowledge and interest in pursuing the speciality.


Conclusion: Trainee-focused funding schemes play a pivotal role in overcoming structural and geographic barriers in PRM training, particularly important for smaller nations.