Nephrology

Nephrology is a predominantly clinical specialty dealing with diseases of the kidneys as they affect people of all ages.

Besides the pathophysiological processes involved and the physical impact of each condition, psycho-social effects must also be understood. The potential benefits and risks of specific treatments must be learned and experience gained in the multi-disciplinary approach to management of patients with kidney disease.

The physician may later wish to may develop subspecialty expertise in areas such as transplantation, obstetric medicine, vasculitis, etc so it is important that an interest in such topics can be facilitated during training.

Requirements

General entry requirements for HST:

• You must have completed Basic Specialist Training in the relevant specialty (or an equivalent programme) by the start date for HST. Please note that not all BST programmes offer consideration of equivalence. Download guidelines on BST programme equivalence (PDF, 133KB).
• You must have achieved a relevant postgraduate qualification such as MRCPI in General Medicine, General Paediatrics or Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Please note: we have reverted to the previous regulations regarding the examination which were in place before COVID-19. That is, all HST candidates must have successfully passed their MRCPI Clinical Examination relevant to their speciality before their HST interview date. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
• You must be currently or previously registered on one of the divisions of the Irish Medical Council, or provide proof of eligibility for registration.
• You must have proof of competency in the English language in line with HSE specifications (PDF, 506KB).
• You must have demonstrated an aptitude for, and an interest in, that specialty.

Places in HST are allocated in the first instance to applicants who, at the time of application, are citizens of Ireland or nationals of another Member State of the European Union, Stamp 4 Visa Holders and UK nationals.