Press release
Government announces the appointment of Professor Mary Horgan as interim Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that Professor Mary Horgan will take up a role as interim Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health.
The appointment was approved by the Cabinet this morning and follows the departure of former CMO Professor Breda Smyth.
Professor Horgan is Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. She has held various roles in the health service and led the expert advisory group on rapid testing, which recommended widespread use of the tests. She also served on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2023, Professor Horgan was appointed by the Minister for Health to lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency.
Minister Donnelly said:
"The Chief Medical Officer plays a critical role in developing policy and legislation regarding patient safety, quality in health care, and in developing strategies to support and improve population health.
"Throughout her career, and more recently in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and her work on NPHET, Professor Mary Horgan has demonstrated the experience, expertise and strong and effective leadership skills that are required for the role of CMO.
"I want to thank her for taking up this interim appointment and look forward to working with her in the department as we continue our focus on strengthening and improving Ireland’s preparedness for health threats and protecting and improving population health."
Professor Mary Horgan said:
"I am honoured to be taking up the role of Chief Medical Officer. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Department of Health and to bringing my national and international experience in healthcare to support the department’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland."
Professor Mary Horgan is Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin (UCD) and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. Originally from Kerry, she is a graduate of UCD and was awarded her MD in 1995, MRCPI in 1988 and FRCPI in 1997. She trained in Infectious Diseases in Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis before returning to Ireland in 1997 to take up a consultant post in Cork University Hospital.
Professor Horgan is a national and international leader in medical education and training, in infectious disease and public health and has spearheaded medical education and scientific education in Ireland.
Previously Dean of the Medical School in University College Cork (UCC), she was elected as the first female President of the Royal College of Physicians since its founding in 1654 and was re-elected to serve her second term in 2020.
She has served as President of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland and on the boards of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, the Mercy University Hospital and the Governing Body of UCC.
She also served on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and led the expert advisory group on rapid testing and chaired Ireland’s first National Research Ethics Committee. In November 2023 Professor Horgan was appointed by the Minister for Health to lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency. She was awarded the UCD alumni award for health in 2019 and has received several honorary fellowships in recognition of her contribution to the field of medicine.