STUDENT MEDICAL SUMMIT
7th February 2026
STUDENT MEDICAL SUMMIT
SATURDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2026
3RD FEBRUARY 2018
#SMS2026
Research Competition
Posters detailing the research completed by students from across the island of Ireland will be on display in our poster gallery.
Our Judges will review all posters and choose the top 5 to proceed to the award round. Finalists will give a 7 minute presentation about their poster for final judging.
There will be various other awards on the day, with the overall winner taking home the title of 'Irish Undergraduate Medical Researcher of the Year.'
Panel Discussion 2026
AI in Medicine
This session aims to:
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Inspire medical students and future clinicians to think critically about AI’s role in healthcare.
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Encourage dialogue between clinicians, technologists, and researchers.
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Explore how Ireland can position itself as a leader in ethical and effective AI integration.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The Summit is a showcase of excellence in student research in the fields of health and life sciences.
The Summit serves to:
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Act as an opportunity for students to demonstrate and share the results of original research.
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Promote interest in research among students with opportunities to hear from scientific leaders, to see the impact that research has on the world first-hand, to meet and share ideas with other students and more.
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Award the Irish Undergraduate Researcher of the Year
When and where?
The summit is a day-long event that will be held on Saturday, February 7th 2026 at UCD Campus in Belfield.
2026 Keynote Speakers
Panel discussion: AI in Medicine
Prof. Ronan Cahill
Prof. Ronan Cahill is a Consultant Surgeon at the Mater Hospital and Professor of Surgery at UCD. An international leader in surgical innovation, his research focuses on the clinical translation of AI for decision support in operative and endoscopic surgery, including as PI of the Horizon Europe CLASSICA consortium, a major European collaboration applying AI to real-time surgical decision-making.
Prof. Peter J. MacMahon
Prof. Peter MacMahon is a Consultant Radiologist at the Mater Hospital and Clinical Professor at UCD, with expertise in emergency and musculoskeletal imaging. He has led the implementation of multiple AI tools in clinical radiology, applying them to acute conditions such as stroke, trauma and pulmonary embolism, and is actively involved in AI research and evaluation with UCD.
Brian Kelleher
Brian Kelleher is a leading young innovator in Irish health technology and the founder and CEO of Microdoc.
Recognised in Ireland’s 30 Under 30, he is pioneering AI-driven solutions to automate medical documentation, helping clinicians reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency in healthcare systems.
Q&A with Aghogho Okpara
Ask Aghogho! Get ready for an inspiring and interactive session at the 2026 Student Medical Summit
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Award‑winning medical student at UCD
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Content Creator
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Founder of Achieve with Aghogho (AWA)
2026 Workshop in collaboration with UCD EmergSoc
ABCDE approach in trauma setting
PREVIOUS KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
A University College Dublin alumnus, Professor O'Rahilly is unquestionably one of the most eminent Irish figures in modern research. Professor O'Rahilly has had a litany of honours bestowed on him throughout his extremely distinguished career. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society in 2003. In 2013, he was knighted for his contribution to medical research.
Professor Orla Hardiman has a longstanding record of research excellence which has seen her receive widespread acclaim domestically and abroad. Her major research focus is motor neuron disease and related motor neuron degenerations, in addition to interests in genetics and clinical epidemiology. Hardiman is the only Irish-based fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy.
Event Partners
