FEATURE | tercentenary
Medical Alumni
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Eileen O’Reilly with her husband Dr Ghassan Abou-Alfa.
eileen M. O’reilly M.B. (1990)
Associate Member, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Associate Professor of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University 1) what made you decide to study medicine? Several role models in the family provided strong inspiration to pursue a career in medicine and subsequently several key individuals during my medical training in Ireland provided further encouragement and support for a career in medical oncology, including Dr Peter Daly, Dr John Crown and Professor James Fennelly. 2) what does you current job involve? what do you like most about it? I am a medical oncologist working in a large comprehensive cancer center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). I treat patients with a variety of gastrointestinal malignancies, although my clinical and research activities are focused on the treatment of pancreas, biliary, neuroendocrine and primary liver malignancies. Other key activities include teaching and education and training the next generation of GI medical oncologists.
Jean Holohan
Additionally, I have a number of institutional administrative roles and I am the current president of the MSKCC Medical Staff. I have one more key feature of my work that is truly valued, and that is that I work alongside my husband, Ghassan Abou-Alfa, who is also a medical oncologist at MSKCC! 3) what has been the highlight of your career to date? Pancreas adenocarcinoma is an extremely challenging malignancy, and one day, albeit not in the imminent future, substantial and meaningful progress will be made in this disease. My hope is that I will be part of that change. As medical oncologists, we get to look after patients and their families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Even in a small way in difficult malignancies, matters can improve for a period of time, and these small occurrences are treasured. 4) what is your most vivid memory of your time in trinity? I have many happy memories of my six years at Trinity College, of note was springtime at TCD which is a particularly beautiful time there, although also somewhat overshadowed with looming end-of-year examinations! The reputation and recognition of TCD at an international level is very heartening and I feel proud and privileged to have received my undergraduate degree there.
Jean Holohan M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. (1980) CEO Asthma Society of Ireland
1) what made you decide to study medicine? My father was a GP in a small village in Co. Clare. He was totally dedicated to his patients and his community and he inspired both my sister and I to study medicine. Although neither of us followed him into general practice his example was fundamental to my career choice. 2) what does you current job involve? what do you like most about it? After many years in senior management in an international pharmaceutical company I decided about four years ago to realise a long held wish to work in the voluntary sector. My current role as CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland is a valuable way to use my medical background and my business skills to help and support patients at a very fundamental level. I feel strongly about the importance of patient representation in shaping and developing our health service. One of the most rewarding aspects of my current role is working with a small but dedicated team to deliver a patient service consistent with international best practice.
3) what has been the highlight of your career to date? In many ways medicine is a privileged career because everyday practice can yield an exciting event to widen our knowledge and deepen our humanity. For me, the most exciting event in the past year has been the acceptance of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive of the Asthma Society of Ireland proposal to implement an evidence-based asthma management programme in Ireland. Implementation of this programme on a national basis will improve quality of life for thousands of patients and will reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this common chronic disease. 4) what is your most vivid memory of your time in trinity? I had never been inside the gates of College until the day I registered for pre-med. I can remember coming into Front Square, in the height of Freshers’ Week, as a young 17-yearold and finding myself in a vibrant, liberal and international community. Almost 30 years later the most enduring memory is of being immersed in a university life that was varied, stimulating and fun.
22 | Trinity Today
TRINITY TODAY 2010.indd 22
24/09/2010 11:22:46