Galway Bay fm newsroom - Professor Breda Smyth will become the interim Chief Medical Officer from next month.
She has specialised in public health for the last 16 years and currently works as a professor at NUI Galway and is a consultant in public health in HSE West.
Professor Smyth will take up the role on an interim basis from July 4th, pending the completion of a competition to fill the role permanently.
Current CMO Dr Tony Holohan's due to retire on July 1
Professor Smyth contributed significantly to Ireland’s COVID-19 response having been a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group; Chief Investigator on the multi-site study UniCoV study as well as her important duties as the Director of Public Health in HSE West.
Prof Smyth was also a founding member of the COVID-19 - Irish Epidemiology Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG).
Professor Breda Smyth is being seconded to the Department on a short-term basis.
An open competition for the permanent position of Chief Medical Officer has been advertised.