DrAbdelsalam Ben Saaud

Dr Abdelsalam Ben Saaud, MB BCh BAO (Hons), MSc (Hons), PgCert, FIPC, PhD, is an Academic Lead and Lecturer in Postgraduate Medical Education at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). His work centres on curriculum development and innovation, postgraduate training in medical professionalism, and the advancement of evidence-based, patient-centred education across the health professions. He is the co-founder and lead of Ireland’s and Europe’s first MSc/PGDip in Professionalism in Medicine & Health Sciences, where he oversees programme design, accreditation, launch, and delivery. In this role, he collaborates closely with RCSI Online, the Graduate School of Healthcare Management, Surgical Affairs, and the Quality Enhancement Office (QEO) to implement high-quality governance, robust assessment frameworks, and academically rigorous learner support.

Clinically, Dr Ben Saaud is a Cardiovascular Physician trained in Emergency Medicine and in Cardiovascular and Endovascular Medicine. He holds a First-Class MSc in Preventive Cardiology and completed his PhD at the University of Galway, where he specialised in multidisciplinary cardiovascular risk-management strategies in carotid artery disease. His clinical background informs his teaching in acute and cardiovascular care, risk assessment, ethical decision-making, and high-acuity clinical reasoning, contributing to interdisciplinary educational initiatives across cardiovascular, surgical, and emergency care pathways.

At RCSI, he contributes to the integration of medical professionalism, human-factors science, reflective practice, leadership development, and patient-safety principles across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. His academic leadership includes developing Marks & Standards, assessment blueprints, curricular mapping to international frameworks (GMC, IMC, ABIM, CanMEDS, WHO), and collaborating with consultants, Training Programme Directors (TPDs), and clinical supervisors to enhance learner experience and programme quality. He integrates high-fidelity educational approaches, including simulation-supported learning, case-based scenarios, technical and non-technical skills teaching, hybrid learning, and OSCE-style assessments, to support professional competence, team performance, and clinical realism. His work aligns with RCSI Strategy 2023-2027 and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health & Well-Being).

Dr Ben Saaud co-leads a broad research portfolio spanning cardiovascular care and prevention, endovascular medicine, medical professionalism, professional identity formation, behaviour assessment, and health-professions education. His scholarship includes Cochrane systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, mixed-methods studies, psychometric validation of behavioural assessment tools, and national longitudinal studies such as the HEA-funded PROPER project. His methodological expertise spans clinical trials, epidemiology, behavioural research, psychometrics, and learning analytics. Through peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, and educational leadership, his research informs patient-centred cardiovascular care, patient-safety systems, professionalism training,  curriculum design, and evidence-based educational governance.

Internationally, Dr Ben Saaud serves as Associate Editor of the European Heart Journal – Case Reports, Chairperson within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress Clinical Case Committee, and Member of the Cochrane Heart Group (UK). He is a Fellow of the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC), a former Ambassador of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), and a former Nucleus Member of the Alumni Working Group in Preventive Cardiology at the University of Galway. He also contributes to institutional leadership as an Academic Member of the RCSI Race Equality Action Plan Committee (2025–2029). His contributions have been recognised through several distinctions, including the CROÍ Cardiology Gold Medal, the NIPC Educational Bursary, the NUIG Early-Stage Researcher Award, and additional awards for academic excellence. Across his clinical, academic, and research roles, Dr Ben Saaud is committed to shaping future healthcare professionals and advancing excellence in postgraduate education, cardiovascular practice, medical professionalism, patient safety, and high-quality clinical care.