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Congratulations to Professor Keelin O’Donoghue and Dr Brendan Fitzgerald

19 Oct 2024

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) President's Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of Consultants in the areas of research, innovation and clinical practice in the Irish health service. Congratulations to Professor Keelin O’Donoghue and Dr Brendan Fitzgerald who were finalists in the research and clinical practice categories of the inaugural awards, respectively.

IHCA President, Prof Gabrielle Colleran, announced the winners at the IHCA Annual Conference and AGM on Saturday, 12 October in Kilkenny. Congratulations to all of the nominees, and winners.

Professor Keelin O’Donoghue’s nomination

Professor Keelin O’Donoghue has spearheaded Irish research into pregnancy loss for more than a decade. The focus of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG), led by Professor O’Donoghue, is on achieving a better understanding of pregnancy loss experiences and impacts, together with the development of resources and evidence-based advice and interventions, so as to improve the health and social outcomes for women, babies and their families. Professor O’Donoghue continues to lead the development of the National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death in all 19 Irish maternity units on behalf of the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP). Professor O’Donoghue believes strongly in translating research into positive actions for patients. Last year, the Cork-based Group launched a ‘Call to Action’ to increase awareness and action around pregnancy loss. At a meeting of Cork City Council in October 2023, members approved a motion calling on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to improve and standardise miscarriage care and services nationally based on findings from the RE:CURRENT project led by the PLRG, which evaluates recurrent miscarriage service in Ireland.

Dr Brendan Fitzgerald’s nomination

Dr Brendan Fitzgerald is a Consultant Perinatal Pathologist at Cork University Hospital (CUH). When Dr Brendan Fitzgerald was appointed to CUH in 2011, there were no specialised perinatal pathology services outside Dublin. He has since developed a specialist perinatal medical scientist (SPMS) role and trained 3 SPMSs in perinatal postmortems, placental dissection and bereavement care, allowing maximal delivery of specialised perinatal care despite working single-handedly for 10 of the intervening 13 years. Dr Fitzgerald has resiliently strived to improve and expand the perinatal pathology service, constantly focusing on patient-centred care, despite an RCPath workload equivalent of 1.9 WTE for many years. Through his clinical excellence, treatable pathologies have been recognised, even in early losses, allowing successful pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent losses. He has reduced the unexplained stillbirth rate in CUH from >35% pre 2011 to <5%. He also developed a specialist gestational trophoblastic disease service, including ancillary testing, allowing specialised reporting of molar pregnancy in-house and externally. Brendan established a holistic approach to pregnancy loss, emphasising bereavement care in every postmortem, even early losses, where scientist time is dedicated to creation of mementos for parents. He continues to recognise new pathologies. His recognition of Covid placentitis and subsequent advice to government was instrumental in the provision of early Covid vaccination in pregnancy, limiting further pregnancy losses nationally.

More information

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association was established to promote and support the advancement of the practice of medicine, in all specialties and areas, and to advocate for the improvement of health services in Ireland. It currently represents 95% of hospital consultants in the Irish health service. The theme of this year’s conference was compassionate leadership.

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Cork, Fifth Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland,

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