Professor Hilary Hoey honoured with Royal College of Physicians of Ireland St Luke’s Medal
Professor Hilary Hoey has been awarded the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) St Luke’s Medal for her outstanding contribution to paediatric medicine and her leadership across several key roles within RCPI, including her role as Director of Professional Competence. The award was presented to Prof Hoey during the annual St Luke’s Dinner, a highlight of the RCPI’s annual conference, where clinical leaders and medical professionals gather to celebrate excellence and achievements in healthcare.
St Luke’s Medal is one of the highest honours given by RCPI, recognising individuals who have made a lasting impact on healthcare. Prof Hoey’s selection for the award is a testament to her lifelong dedication to paediatrics and her outstanding leadership in medical education, clinical care and healthcare policy. Her work, particularly as Director of Professional Competence at RCPI, has been instrumental in shaping the college’s professional competence and CPD accreditation programmes, where she works closely with the team to support almost 7,000 doctors enrolled in the scheme.
During the medal presentation, Dr Judith Meehan, Dean of the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics, praised Prof Hoey for her pioneering work and significant leadership in paediatrics: “Professor Hilary Hoey is a pioneering and transformative leader in paediatric medicine whose impact spans clinical care, education, research, policy, and advocacy both in Ireland and internationally.”
Dr Meehan also emphasised Prof Hoey’s role as a trailblazer, noting, “She is a trailblazer for women in medicine and a champion for children's health and wellbeing, making her a most deserving candidate for recognition and the award of St Luke's medal.”
Reflecting on her recognition, Prof Hoey expressed her gratitude, saying: “I am deeply honoured to be recognised by my peers, colleagues and friends with St Luke’s Medal. This is an award that my family and I will treasure for many years to come. It’s a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals in paediatrics, medical education and the wider healthcare community, and I am truly grateful to the college for this incredible honour.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to combine clinical work, education and research. Plato once defined happiness as coming when ‘your work and words are of benefit to others.’ As healthcare professionals, we are fortunate to have endless opportunities to make a positive impact on children, adults, their families and communities.”
“I hope that the practice of medicine, which I’ve loved so much, continues to bring as much fulfilment to our young doctors as it has for my generation.”
Professor Hoey joins a distinguished group of previous St Luke’s Medal recipients, including healthcare leaders such as Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer at HSE, and Prof Derek O’Keeffe, Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospitals and Professor of Medical Device Technology at NUI Galway.
A distinguished career
Professor Hilary Hoey, a graduate of University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, has dedicated over 50 years to paediatric medicine. She began her career in general practice, where she often faced unconventional situations, such as attending home births and driving ambulances on obstetric calls. Her true calling in paediatrics emerged during her time at the Rotunda Hospital, leading her to work at renowned institutions like Great Ormond Street in London, the University of San Francisco and the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she specialised in endocrinology.
Returning to Ireland, Prof Hoey was appointed Chair of Paediatrics at Trinity College Dublin and a consultant at the National Children’s Hospital in Harcourt Street and Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin. She served as Dean of the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics from 2011 to 2014 before becoming Director of Professional Competence in 2014.
In addition to her work at RCPI, Prof Hoey is an internationally respected leader, serving in key roles with the International Paediatric Association, the European Paediatric Association, and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards, including the ESPE Outstanding Clinician Award (2016) and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Healthcare Awards (2017).
Prof Hoey was also the first female clinical professor in Ireland and continues to mentor future leaders in paediatrics and medical education.