Working Life: Consultant general and breast surgeon Mary Morrogh

Mary Morrogh, consultant general and breast surgeon, Mater Private Hospital Cork, and Cork University Hospital (CUH).

6am: I’m out with the dog for a dawn run along the water’s edge in East Ferry, Co Cork, before the little people (Marcus, nine, Adam, seven, and Elizabeth, four) creep in for a cuddle. My husband, Padhraig, is an orthopaedic surgeon ( MPC, CUH and SIVUH), and we try to have flexible schedules allowing us to start the day with the children, dropping them to school when possible. Time with them is precious.

9am: Either straight to the wards or to a clinic. The team and I see our inpatients,consults for colleagues or new ‘acute’admissions. In-patients need to know what the day holds so we get thatorganised first.

Mid-morning: I have a couple of projects in the pipeline, many in conjunction with Dublin. The Mater Private Hospital is a dynamicorganisation constantly innovating and developing new services. For example,I have an interest in cancer genetics,specifically looking after ‘well’ people with a family history of cancer.

Most cancers are not genetic, but it’simportant to identify families at risk, and provide them with a pathway to stay well and prevent illness. I undertake riskassessment, discuss the challenges of genetic testing, and create a personalised pathway for that person and their family.

I’m also medical director of our wellness programme. I believe that we shouldencourage and support people to actively participate in their health by promoting health, preventing illness and personalising care pathways.

Everyone wants to stay well and live well, and we aspire to deliver person-centric “health and disease care” in a holistic and meaningful way.

It’s a big project, involving collaboration across internal sub-specialites and ourreferral network.

Idealistic? Absolutely! but we are committed to delivering the best healthexperience for all our patients.

Afternoon: Ether clinics, theatre or endoscopy, and soon I will be teaching medical students in UCC which is a pleasure and a privilege.

5.30pm…ish! Either myself or my husband dash home to tag out our lovely childminder — or my wonderful mother who is often roped into help. Evenings are, as in any house, taxiing children to activities, homework, housework, and any spare-time is spent outside. Nothing beats being immersed in nature.

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