Local dietitians from Galway University Hospital and the HSEs Galway Primary Care Service were successful in their bid to get the first non EU Dietitian recognized in the Republic of Ireland under CORU.

CORU are the professional body in Ireland who regulate all health and social care professionals including Irish Dietitians. In order to work as a Dietitian in the Republic of Ireland you need to first become registered with CORU. This means that CORU needs to recognize your qualifications and training and clinical placements in order for them to deem you fit to practice in this country.

Kulsoom Ghias arrived in Ireland in 2017 from her home country of Saudi Arabia. Her husband, quickly secured employment in the IT sector. Kulsoom however struggled to get her Dietetic qualification recognized here. Having graduated with a first class honors degree and a Masters in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Kulsoom was very keen to pursue her chosen career and to work as a Dietitian in this country.

Try as she might she struggled to get her foreign qualifications recognized until she met local Registered Dietitian and founder of Galway Nutrition & Therapy Clinic, Valerie O’ Connor. At the time Valerie worked with the HSE and was running a weaning group which Kulsoom attended. The two got chatting and Valerie set to work to support Kulsoom achieve her goal of recognition in Ireland. From the onset Valerie could see Kulsoom‘s talent and ability and that Kulsoom would be a wonderful asset to any Dietetic department. The two set to worked tirelessly together over a period of a year to secure approval from CORU.

Finally after three applications to CORU and having completed an eight month placement Kulsoom was granted her CORU recognition. Kulsoom is now part of the Dietitian team in Galway University Hospital. Kulsoom is hardworking, dedicated and a wonderful addition to the hospitals dietetic department, the wider hospital community and is a fantastic support to all her patients.

Valerie would like to thank Grainne O’ Byrne, Dietitian Manager, Galway University Hospital and Marie Mulkerrins, Dietitian Manager, Galway Community Nutrition & Dietetic Service and all their staff for the support and collaboration with getting Kulsoom’s qualifications recognized in Ireland.