Honours for surgeon who separated conjoined twins

A MUSICIAN, a Supreme Court judge, the surgeon who led the team that separated Ireland’s conjoined twins, and a senior executive of a pharmachem giant will be honoured by their former college this week.

University College Cork (UCC) will present its 2010 Alumni Achievement Awards to musician and broadcaster Philip King, the Hon Mr Justice Liam McKechnie, Mr Edward Kiely, consultant paediatric surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, and Dr Paul Ahern, the senior vice-president of Eli Lilly, at a ceremony at the college on Friday.

Mr King is a founding member of the seminal band Scullion. With his company, Hummingbird Productions, he won an Emmy Award in 1991 for the landmark television series Bringing it all Back Home. A member of the Arts Council, he established South Wind Blows Productions in 2006 and he is the series producer of RTÉ’s Other Voices.

The Hon Mr Justice McKechnie was appointed to the Supreme Court this year and holds the distinction of being the first ever UCC graduate to be appointed to the country’s highest judicial court.

Mr Kiely specialises in neonatal surgery, upper gastrointestinal surgery, paediatric surgical oncology, and the separation of conjoined twins.

Earlier this year, he led the medical team which successfully separated the Cork conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffhaf.

Dr Ahern joined Indianapolis-headquartered Eli Lilly in 1980 and was involved in the start-up of the company’s facility in Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co Cork.

He has facilitated research collaboration between UCC and researchers at Lilly’s Kinsale and Indianapolis bases.

UCC will also present its Alumnus Award for Voluntary Services to UCC to Dr William Fennell for his outstanding contributions to the university’s Medical School.

The highly respected consultant cardiologist at the Bon Secours Hospital and Cork University Hospital has taught, mentored and inspired generations of UCC medical students and healthcare professionals.

UCC president Dr Michael Murphy said the award-winners’ outstanding accomplishments have brought great honour to their alma mater. “We regard our graduates as our global ambassadors and a valuable resource to the university,” he said.