Dr Cliona Murphy becomes the first woman Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

28 September, 2018

Dr Cliona Murphy becomes the 18th Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the only medical training body in Ireland solely focused on women's health, has its first woman Chair in its 50 year history.

Dr Cliona Murphy, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital, takes up the role of Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at its Annual General Meeting on 28 September 2018.

Dr Murphy graduated from University College Cork in 1993. She served as Ireland representative to RCOG Council from 2012 - 2016 and was Head of the Gynaecology Department at Tallaght Hospital from 2012 - 2016.

She took over the chain of office from Dr Peter Boylan and will be Chair for a three-year term until 2021.

On taking up the role, Dr Murphy spoke of her commitment to women’s health in Ireland: “As the Institute celebrates its 50th anniversary, we reflect on the many changes in obstetrics and gynaecology in those years. I am committed to continuing our mission to set standards in clinical care and in postgraduate education. In obstetrics, I hope to strengthen our professional links with our midwifery colleagues and engage with women in providing women-centred care."

Dr Cliona Murphy, Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Dr Murphy sets out her priorities for the next three years

“Access to quality gynaecology services for all remains a challenge,” Dr Murphy says. “Focusing on the needs of women throughout their life course including the post-reproductive years is important, given the increased life expectancy of women in Ireland.”

Dr Murphy set out her priorities for the next three years as:

The implementation of the Maternity Strategy, focusing on the quality and accessibility of gynaecology services
The recruitment and retention of doctors, nurses and midwives across the health sector, without doubt one of the most urgent needs in specialty women’s health services
Finally, the recent historic vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment requires implementation, underpinned by resources. The Institute is committed to playing a key role in its implementation.

On taking up her role as Chair, Dr Murphy said, “I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Dr Peter Boylan for his outstanding contribution to women’s health in Ireland and his dedication to the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists over the past three years.”

About the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Established in 1968, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is one of six postgraduate specialist training bodies based in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

The Institute has over 200 Members, all experienced consultant obstetricians/gynaecologists and experts in their field. Over 150 doctors are undertaking the Institute’s postgraduate training programmes in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The Institute is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. To mark the occasion, this year's Heritage Day lectures on 18 October celebrate 350 years of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in Ireland with talks on early modern midwifery, the Midwives (Ireland) Act 1918, and contraception, sexuality and health activism in Ireland in the 1960s.