Endocrinologists to come together for 49th Annual Meeting

The Irish Endocrine Society’s keynote meeting will feature lectures, trainee case presentations, and updates on advances in endocrinology and diabetes care

The Irish Endocrine Society (IES) will hold its 49th Annual Meeting on 7-8 November 2025 at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois. The programme includes keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, case discussions, and trainee sessions, along with the Society’s Annual General Meeting and Gala Dinner. The local organiser of the meeting is Dr Ma Pyeh Kyithar, Consultant Endocrinologist, Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

Opening sessions

On Friday 7 November, the meeting commences with poster displays and trainee activities, including a dedicated ‘Meet the Professor’ session with keynote speakers where seven trainee case presentations will be discussed. This focus on trainees reflects the Society’s ongoing commitment to supporting early-career clinicians and researchers. Delegates will also have access to the trade exhibition and poster hall throughout the day.

The formal opening address will be delivered by Prof Steven Hunter, President of the Irish Endocrine Society and Consultant Endocrinologist, the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Prof Hunter graduated in medicine at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and completed specialist training in endocrinology and diabetes in the city. He later undertook a two-year Fellowship in Charleston, US, before returning to join the Royal Victoria Hospital.

The first scientific session will feature four oral presentations, followed by the Paediatric Keynote Lecture, delivered by Prof Justin Davies, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, University Hospital Southampton and Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology, University of Southampton. His lecture is titled ‘Silver-Russell syndrome or Temple syndrome – Challenges in diagnosis and management’.

Silver–Russell syndrome and Temple syndrome are both rare genetic imprinting disorders that affect growth and development. Both conditions can be difficult to diagnose because of variability in presentation and overlap with other growth disorders. Management is often complex and requires coordinated input from paediatric endocrinologists, geneticists, and dietitians, with growth monitoring, nutritional support, and hormone therapy part of the spectrum of care in selected cases.

The afternoon programme will continue with further oral presentations and invited case presentations.

Hadden Lecture

The Hadden Lecture will then be given by Prof Pratik Choudhary, Professor of Diabetes, University of Leicester, UK. The lecture is titled ‘Is hypoglycaemia still a barrier to optimal glucose control?’.

Prof Choudhary has a special interest in type 1 diabetes and technology. His research portfolio covers hypoglycaemia management and the use of diabetes technology, with a particular emphasis on continuous glucose monitoring and linking glucose data with electronic health records. He is also leading studies on the benefits of advanced technologies for people with type 2 diabetes. Prof Choudhary has published widely, including papers and international guidelines on closed-loop systems, and has developed both in-person and online training programmes for patients and health professionals. His work also underlines the role of psychology in managing long-term conditions such as type 1 diabetes.

In addition to his research and clinical leadership in Leicester, he chairs the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Advisory Panel on driving and diabetes and is former Chair of the Diabetes Technology Network – UK.

The first day concludes with a drinks reception and Gala Dinner in the Maryborough Suite, offering further opportunities for networking.

Second day

The programme on Saturday 8 November begins with poster displays and the Society’s Annual General Meeting. The morning programme also features oral presentations.

They will be followed by the McKenna Lecture, delivered by Dr Hamish Courtney, Consultant Diabetologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The title of the lecture is ‘Making changes for diabetic feet… one step forward’.

Dr Courtney has been a consultant with the Trust since 2005. He studied medicine at QUB and later undertook a postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego. His leadership roles include serving as Clinical Director of the Northern Ireland Regional Diabetes Network and as a Council member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. His current work focuses on service development and improvements in diabetes care, and related complications, including diabetic foot disease.

The Diabetes Network for Northern Ireland launched a new diabetes foot care pathway in November 2019 to improve services for adults living with diabetes. The pathway was developed to ensure that all adults with diabetes have equal access to foot care services regardless of where they live.

It consists of four steps, beginning with annual foot screening and progressing through to advanced foot disease care delivered by a regional multidisciplinary team. The emphasis is on early detection, prevention of ulcers and amputations, and reducing the number of hospital admissions.

The first step of the pathway is annual foot screening. Every adult with diabetes is assessed by a podiatrist or podiatry assistant and provided with an individualised care plan. Patients receive information about how to monitor their feet and who to contact if concerns arise.

If problems are detected, patients are referred to step two, the foot protection team, a community-based service that provides early treatment and advice. Here, podiatrists offer local care and agree treatment plans with patients. If problems do not improve, patients are escalated to hospital-based services.

Step three involves the enhanced foot protection team, based in hospital. This stage provides specialist hospital support, with ongoing assessment and treatment from the most appropriate clinical team. Complex cases requiring higher-level intervention are referred to the final stage of the pathway.

Step four is the multidisciplinary diabetes foot team, based at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. This regional team manages urgent and complex cases, with the ability to deliver advanced treatment quickly. Local teams liaise with the regional service to ensure continuity of care.

By embedding structured screening, early community-based support, and access to regional expertise, the model is designed to prevent severe complications and improve long-term outcomes for people living with diabetes.

Following the lecture, delegates will then be able to attend the trade exhibition and poster presentations before the final scientific session, which will feature additional oral presentations. The meeting will close at midday.

The 2025 IES Annual Meeting will provide eight hours of continuing professional development across the two days.

The event continues to serve as a key forum for education, research dissemination, and collaboration in endocrinology, while also providing valuable networking opportunities for both established specialists and trainees.

The event continues to serve as a key forum for education, research dissemination, and collaboration in endocrinology