“I think we need to collaborate not only in health; I think I get a lot of my good ideas from friends and colleagues that work outside medicine and health – engineers, computer people, business people who look at the health issues from a totally different perspective. So I think the more we can maybe step out of our comfort zone a little bit and interact with people outside pure medicine, really helps to innovate a lot.” - Prof Mary Horgan

Episode 05 innovation in Healthcare podcast series

In this episode we interview Prof Mary Horgan, one of Ireland's best known infectious diseases specialists and medical education leaders, who was recently appointed by the Government to lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency.

Prof Horgan is currently Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin, and recently completed her second term as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the first female in this role since its establishment in 1654, and she is a former Dean of the Medical School in University College Cork.

During her career, Prof Horgan has spearheaded the development of many medical education initiatives in Ireland, alongside a distinguished clinical and research career. Prof Horgan's work to date in this field has been instrumental in reversing the downward trend in the uptake of the HPV vaccine, being heavily involved in Ireland’s Covid-19 pandemic response, and also in tackling the HIV epidemic in Ireland.

Truly a career dedicated to innovation in infectious diseases, medical education and public health.

In this podcast, she discusses what attracted her to infectious diseases, the importance of clear and ongoing communication about public health issues, and how collaboration is key for innovation and protecting public health.