Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is to step down from his position, it has been announced.
Dr Holohan will be taking up a new role with Trinity College as a Professor of Public Health Strategy and Leadership. He will take up the role on 1st July 2022.
Dr Holohan has been Chief Medical Officer since December 2008. He played a lead role advising on Government policy as Chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Professor Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin announced Dr Holohan’s move today.
Dr Tony Holohan said: “It has been a great privilege for me to serve as Chief Medical Officer and to have had an opportunity to be directly involved in issues of great importance and relevance to the health of the people of Ireland. In particular, these past two years have presented extreme challenges to public health globally and I have been honoured to work alongside exceptional colleagues in the Department of Health, the HSE, the wider health service and across Government. During this time, I have witnessed the dedication of colleagues to protecting the health and wellbeing of people across Ireland.
“I am very excited by this new opportunity, and I look forward with energy and enthusiasm to working with the Provost of Trinity College Dublin and her team, and through this to continue to contribute to improving public health policy, practice and outcomes.
“Now more than ever, a strong focus on public health protection and preparedness for health emergencies is required. I will seek to use this opportunity to deepen relationships and collaborations including with other universities and agencies, with the WHO and the various agencies of the EU. So much has happened in public health in recent years – together we have much to learn and much to gain.”
