RCPI welcomes five new Ordinary Councillors to the College Council
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is pleased to announce the election of five new Ordinary Councillors to its College Council. Following a vote by Fellows of the College, the following individuals have been elected to serve:
- Professor Rónán Collins and Professor Tim Lynch as Ordinary Councillors for Medicine
- Dr. Jennifer Martin as Ordinary Councillor for Public Health Medicine
- Dr. Michael Farrell as Ordinary Councillor for Pathology
- Professor Keelin O’Donoghue as Ordinary Councillor for Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Each new appointee brings valuable experience and expertise to their roles and will contribute to the ongoing development of RCPI.
Meet the new Council Members
Dr Michael Farrell | Pathology
Dr Michael Farrell is a Consultant Neuropathologist with over 40 years of experience in Ireland, having worked as a consultant since 1984. He graduated from RCSI in 1974 and became a Member of RCPI in 1977. After completing his pathology and neuropathology training in Ireland, London, and Canada, Dr Farrell became the first Professor of Clinical Neurological Sciences at RCSI in 1996 and later served as Dean of the Institute of Irish Clinical Neuroscience. His primary research interests include epilepsy and neurodegeneration. Dr Farrell has received numerous honors, including the 2023 RCSI Alumni Inspiring Teacher Award, and is an active member of several international neuroscience societies. Committed to education, he is passionate about sharing his extensive knowledge with the next generation of medical professionals.
Dr Jennifer Martin | Public Health Medicine
Dr Jennifer Martin is a Senior Public Health Leader currently establishing and leading the new National Health Service Improvement Team within Public Health in Ireland. Her work focuses on reorienting the health and social care system to improve both population health and patient care, ensuring services are aligned with equity, evidence, and long-term impact. Dr Martin has actively contributed to RCPI as a faculty trainer, interviewer, and by helping shape the reformed public health curriculum. She has also supported the development of post-CSCST fellowships to strengthen leadership pathways in public health. With a strong background in strategic and operational leadership grounded in the principles of Sláintecare, Dr Martin leads initiatives focused on quality improvement, regional capability, and evidence-based planning.
Prof. Rónán Collins | Medicine
Prof. Rónán Collins is a Consultant Physician in Geriatric and General Internal Medicine at Tallaght University Hospital, with a specialist interest in stroke and atrial fibrillation. He is also an Associate Professor of Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin. Prof. Collins has held leadership roles in both clinical practice and medical education, including serving as RCPI national clinical lead for stroke. He has been a member of the RCPI Council and Vice President, and is the lead author of the National Stroke Strategy (2022-2027). He also contributes to national and international stroke research and clinical guidelines, serving as National PI on the TICH-3 stroke trial and Irish coordinator for the first Intercollegiate Clinical Stroke Guideline for the UK and Ireland.
Prof. Tim Lynch | Medicine
Prof. Tim Lynch is a Consultant Neurologist at the Mater Hospital since 1998. In 2008, he founded the Dublin Neurological Institute (DNI), a center of excellence in clinical neurology, where he serves as Clinical Director/CEO. His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases and neurogenetics, supported by grants from organizations such as the EU, HRB, NIH, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. In 2019, he became Chief Academic Officer IEHG and Vice Principal for Health Affairs UCD, driving collaboration between healthcare and academia. Prof. Lynch is a passionate advocate for the Academic Health Science Centres (AHSC) model, which integrates teaching, research, and innovation into clinical care to improve patient outcomes.
Prof. Keelin O’Donoghue | Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Prof. Keelin O'Donoghue is a Consultant Obstetrician and Senior Lecturer at Cork University Maternity Hospital and University College Cork (UCC), where she became a Professor in 2020. A UCD medical graduate with a PhD from Imperial College London, she is a trained Subspecialist in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a Fellow of both the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Prof. O'Donoghue leads the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at UCC, the only research group in Ireland focused on pregnancy loss and perinatal death. She has played a key role in developing National Standards for Bereavement Care in collaboration with the HSE’s National Women and Infants' Health Programme. As Clinical Lead for Guideline Development in Maternity & Gynaecology and national specialty-training director for RCPI’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology scheme, Prof. O'Donoghue is deeply committed to advancing training, guidelines, and research in her field.
These new appointees will help drive the strategic development of RCPI, offering leadership and advocacy in their respective fields.
The College Council, as the governing body of RCPI, plays a critical role in setting the College’s mission, vision, and strategic direction, while ensuring accountability through oversight of policies, initiatives, and functions.