General Practice

Welcome to the Discipline of General Practice

Welcome to the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Galway. We are pleased to introduce a dynamic academic community committed to strengthening general practice and primary care through education, research, and collaboration.

Our Discipline is guided by a shared vision of a transforming General Practice and Primary Care through innovative education, impactful research, and strong community partnerships, shaping better health for all.

We are a leading, progressive, collaborative and multidisciplinary department of General Practice. We deliver excellent, innovative undergraduate and postgraduate education, supporting the development of practitioners who provide safe, compassionate, patient-centred, and evidence-based care. We undertake clinically relevant and impactful research that informs clinical practice and policy, with the aim of improving patient care and contributing to more effective and sustainable healthcare systems. Collaboration underpins all that we do - we work in partnership with General Practitioners, clinical and research colleagues across the healthcare sector, patients and communities to ensure our work is informed by clinical practice, incorporates stakeholder input, and addresses identified healthcare needs.

We aim to foster an environment where students, educators, researchers, and practitioners can engage openly, learn from one another, and contribute meaningfully to the development of general practice and primary care.

We invite you to learn more about our work and to connect with us as we continue to support and shape General Practice and primary care into the future.

About Us

The Discipline of General Practice (GP) is centred in the Clinical Science Institute in Galway, with our faculty dispersed across the university campus and in the affiliated Medical School Academies in Letterkenny, Sligo, Castlebar and Ballinasloe.

Our team comprises professional services staff, clinical academic GP faculty, the majority of whom retain an active clinical commitment; primary care and psychology researchers, part-time GP clinical teachers, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral and master’s research candidates and undergraduate medical students.

A significant portion of our undergraduate education is delivered in year 4 of the medical undergraduate programme. This includes placements of medical students in our network of over 120 highly committed General Practices all along the western seaboard from Donegal to Co. Clare, including Irish speaking practices. Our Academic Clinician Advancement Programme recognises the value and excellence of these GP tutors, with the appointment of Honorary Senior Lecturers in General Practice annually.

Several of our faculty jointly hold positions with the Irish College of GPs (ICGP) National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice. We welcome and support GP registrars interested in developing their academic skill set, through the Module in Academic GP, a structured collaboration with the Western Training Scheme in General Practice.

Contact Information

Head of Discipline: Prof. Maureen Kelly

For general enquiries, please contact our administrative office:

Discipline Administrator: Una St. John
Email: general.practice@universityofgalway.ie
Phone: 091 49 3524
Office Location if applicable: Clinical Science Institute, University of Galway, Costello Road, Galway, Ireland