Welcome to The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland
The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care.
Our College supports doctors in Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine to enhance their skills, competencies and professionalism throughout their working lives; delivered through structured postgraduate training in hospitals across Ireland, examinations, educational programmes, and continuous professional development opportunities.
The Council elects a President every three years . The current President is Prof Donal Buggy. The Faculty of Pain Medicine of the CAI was founded in 2008.
Along with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the CAI is a constituent College of the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in Ireland, founded in 2009. Prior to that, it was a founding member of the Irish Conjoint Board of Intensive Care Medicine (1996).
College Arms
The College Arms reproduced here were granted in December 1999. The shield contains a semee of poppy heads; the cloud symbolises the drift to the other side by way of haziness (unconsciousness) with the healing hand of the Physician in attendance. The Supporters in the form of dolphins are unusual and are granted for the first time in Ireland. They are contained on the “McDonnell of the Glens” Coat of Arms and in Heraldic terms provide a link to the administration of the first anaesthetic in Ireland by John McDonnell, a surgeon in the Richmond Hospital, Dublin. The natural intelligence of Dolphins is acknowledged. The Helmet with reef above affords protection to the Shield over which is the Harp of Ireland in the figure Nike (victory) associated with overcoming disease. The Mantling in red and white is of obscure origin and is thought to afford protection from the elements. The Badge is an inverted roundel containing a poppy head.