National Executive Committee 2023

Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny (President)

Regius Professor of Physic, Professor of Medical Gerontology Trinity College Dublin and Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing, St James’s Hospital Dublin

Rose Anne holds the Chair of Medical Gerontology in Trinity College Dublin.  She is the founding Principal Investigator of The Irish LongituDinal study on Ageing (TILDA) and Director of the Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA) at St. James’s Hospital, where she is also director of the Falls and Syncope Unit.

She is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, London and Ireland, a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology, Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine Ireland, and was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.  She has received a number of international awards and has published widely, authoring over 600 publications including, her recently published book “Age Proof – The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life” which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2022.   In 2020, she was elected President of the Irish Gerontological Society. In 2022 she was nominated 24th Regius Professor of Physic at TCD (1637), the first female nominee.   Twitter:  @RoseAnnekenny1 

Professor Emer Ahern (Vice President)

Professor Emer Ahern is a Consultant Trauma and Orthogeriatrician in Cork University hospital and was appointed National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Older Persons in May 2022. She developed and leads the Irish Hip Fracture Database. Emer qualified from UCC and completed her postgraduate and specialist training in Ireland and Merseyside respectively. She is focused on the delivery of exceptional and safe healthcare to older adults, in age friendly systems that is informed by evidence and improved by data.   

Dr Catriona Reddin  (Honorary Secretary)

Dr. Catriona Reddin is a second year Specialist Registrar in Geriatric and General Internal Medicine in University Hospital Galway. Catriona graduated from NUI Galway in 2015 and subsequently completed a Masters in Clinical Research in 2020 (NUI Galway). She was awarded an Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme fellowship and will begin a PhD exploring the epidemiological association of diet and falls using traditional and advanced analytic techniques.

Dr Adam Dyer (Honorary Secretary)

Dr Adam Dyer is a Specialist Registrar (SpR) in Geriatric and General Internal Medicine (GIM). Adam graduated from Medicine in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 2017 and additionally holds an MSc in Neuroscience, an MSc by Research (Medical Gerontology), a Postgraduate Certificate in Statistics and Membership of the RCPI. Adam is currently undergoing joint clinical-academic training as part of the Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme enabling completion of an ambitious programme of doctoral research alongside clinical training in Geriatric and General Internal Medicine. Adam has published widely, with over 50 journal papers - many in leading gerontology journals. Adam’s translational research centres on the immunology of ageing and seeks to examine the impact of age and frailty states on immune responses, and how this influences the pathogenesis and progression of age-related disease. Adam is passionate about translating the latest advances in the basic biology of ageing into improvements in outcomes for older adults, particularly in the area of cognitive impairment and dementia. In addition to his role as co-secretary of the IGS, Adam is the current Age & Ageing Editorial Fellow and a member of the EuGMS Early Career Geriatricians Initiative.     Twitter:  @adamhdyer

Mr Jonathon O’Keeffe (Honorary Treasurer)

Mr Jonathon O'Keeffe RANP, FFNMRCSI​ (Treasurer). Jonathon is currently both a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Prescriber in Gerontology currently practising in St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), Dublin. He completed his initial training including an MSc in Gerontological Nursing in St James’ Hospital and Trinity College Dublin. Following this, he worked in the Private Nursing Home (NH) Sector in Nursing Management before undertaking a brief spell in Acute Medicine in SVUH. He was appointed to his current post in 2019 following additional training in Advanced Nursing Practise in UCD where he is also an Adjunct Lecturer. Jonathon also teaches in the Private NH Sector in the areas of Medication Management and Dementia Care. He is the local clinical lead for all Nursing Home patients admitted to SVUH and is a strong advocate in the areas of Person-Centred Care / Advanced Care Planning / Medication Rationalisation. He has been involved in numerous audit and research projects at both local and national level including the National Frailty Education Programme and the development of the recently launched National Transfer Document for NH Residents when transferring to the acute hospital setting. He is currently a member of the local Covid Response Team for SVUH & CHO6 and has gained extensive experience in Outbreak Management in the NH sector since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. e: treasurer@irishgerontology.com.    Twitter:  @jokeeffe16

Dr Karen Dennehy

Dr Karen Dennehy is currently a third-year specialist registrar in geriatric medicine working in Cork University Hospital.  A graduate of UCC class of 2015, Karen has worked in both Irish and New Zealand health systems. She has completed a masters in clinical research in NUI Galway as well as UCC's certificate in health professionals education.  Another postgraduate qualification is the certificate in syncope and related disorders in St James’s Hospital.    Karen has recently been appointed as one of RCPI's Irish Clinical Educator Track fellows 2023-2025.  Elected to the IGS Executive Committee in 2022, Karen is excited to work with the committee to further promote aging and wellbeing among the public, students, trainees and healthcare professionals going forward. Twitter:  @KarenDennehy5

Dr Ciara Gibbons

Dr Ciara Gibbons is a 2nd year Specialist Registrar (SpR) in Geriatric and General Internal Medicine (GIM) in Sligo University Hospital. She graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2016 and additionally holds Membership of the RCPI, a Postgraduate Diploma in Assessment and Management of Frailty in Ageing Adults and a Postgraduate Certificate in Care for Residential Care Facilities. She has worked as a Clinical Tutor and Lecturer in Gerontology in UCD, developing the module to inspire future generations of doctors to adopt the principles of Geriatric Medicine in their practice. She has led and been involved in a number of Quality Improvement and Audit projects looking at improving older adults experience in the hospital, particularly around Delirium Recognition and Management, Falls and Advanced Care Planning.

Ms Florence Horsman Hogan

Florence Horsman Hogan RSCN / RGN FFNMRCSI: Florence has an MSc in Healthcare Ethics and Law (hons) and MSc in Nursing (Advanced Leadership) from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. She worked as a nurse in paediatrics (Children’s University Hospital Temple Street) for 16 years. Following a three-year period of Agency Nursing in Acute hospitals and Residential Care services she found her passion in gerontology. She commenced working in Care of the Older Person in Leopardstown Park Hospital Dublin in 2009. Initially as a CNM2where she led in projects such as reduction of restrictive practices (physical) and nurses completing HSELand education modules.

Since 2014 Florence has been working as a Quality and Patient Safety Manager in Leopardstown Park and has led in many quality improvement projects to ensure that residents are enabled to live their lives to the best of their abilities and in accordance with their wishes. Some such as appropriate prescribing of PRN Psychotropic Medication and management of insomnia with concurrent reduction of prescribing of hypnotic medication have embedded a culture within the Organisation of minimal prescribing of these medications (circa 5%). Following her MSc in Healthcare Ethics and Law with thesis being a legal and ethical analysis of Deprivation of Liberty in the Irish Residential Care Sector, she worked with the Interdisciplinary team to implement primacy of the residents’ right to consent, deprivation of liberty meetings for any wishing to leave the facility and practical implementation of the human rights-based approach using the HIQA FREDA principles. She has been and is currently a member of various national quality improvement groups which include; National Transfer Letter for Older Person Residential Care, National Clinical Guideline 21 ‘Appropriate Prescribing of Psychotropic Medication for People with Non-Cognitive Symptoms of Dementia’ and Education Group for Implementation of NCG 21. Twitter: @florencehhogan2

Ms Deirdre Lang

Ms Deirdre Lang RGN, Scottish Quality & Safety Fellow (Cohort 10), FFNMRCSI, MSc Leadership, BNS (Hons), Dip Mgt, HDip Gerontological Nursing, HETAC level 6 Special award in coaching. Honorary Teach Associate FFNMRCSI  Deirdre initially trained in St Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, as a Registered General Nurse. During the early part of her career she spent a number of years working in acute services both in Australia and in Ireland. She has had a variety of experiences in healthcare, having worked in mental health nursing and in practice development. Her experience in Older Persons Services includes the role of Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Assistant Director of Nursing and Director of Nursing both in the HSE and private sector. Her role as Director of Nursing Older Persons Services brings together all aspects of her experience to date, together with her passion for the older patient and those who provide their care. Twitter:  @deirdrelanglang

Dr Amanda Lavan

Dr Amanda Lavan (Social Gerontology Representative). Amanda graduated from The Royal College of Surgeons in 2009 and completed her specialty training in geriatric medicine in 2020. She completed her PHD entitled “Adverse drug reactions and target for deprescribing in high-risk older adults’ through University College Cork in 2018 and her master’s in health service management entitled “Multimorbidity, frailty, polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing severe drug interactions and healthcare utilisation in older adults with cancer” with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 2019. Since 2020, she is a consultant geriatrician at St James’s hospital, Dublin and a senior lecturer in gerontology with TCD. Her research interests included medication optimisation in older adults, geriatric oncology and falls and syncope. She currently chairs the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee at St James’s Hospital.   Twitter: @amandahlavan

Ms Edel McDaid

Ms Edel McDaid is a clinical specialist physiotherapist in older persons rehabilitation in the Royal Hospital Donnybrook. Edel graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2012 with a BSc in Physiotherapy and additionally holds an MSc in Ageing Health and Disease from Cardiff University (graduated 2022). Her dissertation was completed in partnership with the Orthopaedic Service in St. Vincent's University Hospital examined the recovery of mobility post hip fracture comparing a clinical outcome measure with the person's perception of their recovery. Edel is the former Chairperson of the Neurology and Gerontology special interest group of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. Her primary interests are in rehabilitation, fragility fractures and age-friendly healthcare. Edel led in the creation of the IGS Podcast and hosts the monthly podcast series. Twitter: @edelphysio 

Ms Íde O’Shaughnessy

Ms Íde O’Shaughnessy graduated from University College Cork in 2009 with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy. She has worked in various care of the older person services across a number of acute hospitals nationally. She is currently working as a clinical specialist occupational therapist on an older persons team in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. Íde holds a MSc in Older Person Rehabilitation from University College Cork and is currently a PhD candidate at the Ageing Research Centre based in University of Limerick. Her research is focused on examining the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment models of care on clinical, patient reported and process outcomes among older adults presenting to emergency and acute care setting with medical complaints. She has a keen interest in translational ageing research and practices that inform national and international policy and practice.  Twitter: @ideoshaughnessy

Ms Bibiana Savin

Ms Bibiana Savin is the Assistant Executive Director – Case Management & Support with Sage Advocacy, an organization that provides advocacy and support services to older people, vulnerable adults, and healthcare patients.   Bibiana has social work, sociology, business studies, and advocacy qualification and also holds a Master of Social Science (Human Rights and Social Policy).  She completed additional training in Leading Strategic Projects Programme with Saïd Business School, and DIPEx International Accreditation with Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford.  Bibiana is a Patient and Public Interest (PPI) Representative on a number of national forums such as the Irish Hip Fracture Governance Committee in the National Office for Clinical Audit, HSE Patient & Service User Forum, and the Emergency Department Taskforce. She is also a member of the HSE Mental Health Engagement & Recovery Subgroup for Sharing the Vision Recommendation 65 Project, and the UCD PPI Ignite Executive Committee.  Bibiana is interested in Advocacy, Sociology of Health and Illness, Social Gerontology, Qualitative Research and Photography.

Dr Ruairi Waters

Dr Ruairi Waters is a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at Galway University Hospital. He has completed dual training in both geriatric medicine and general practice. He is currently clinical lead for the Falls and Scyncope service in Galway University Hospital. He is a Principal Investigator on a large Randomised Control Trial which is a community-based screening trial for atrial fibrilation (R-BEAT)

Supported by:

Dr. Denise Burns (Administrator, Events Manager)