Tony Holohan steps down as Chief Medical Officer after 14 years of service

Dr Tony Holohan has officially stepped down from his role today as Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer today after 14 years in the role.

The outgoing CMO’s colleagues wished him well and acknowledged his “commitment and leadership” during the Covid-19 pandemic. In March, Dr Holohan announced that he would be stepping down from his position to take up an academic role at Trinity College.

However, after the move was met with controversy he ultimately decided not to take the position. Meanwhile, Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn also left the Department of Health in May to take up a job in the private sector.

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Dr Tony Holohan graduated from medical school at University College Dublin in 1991. After training in general practice he also trained in public health medicine, earning a Masters in Public Health (MPH) in 1996.

He was appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2001, before being promoted to Chief Medical Officer in December 2008.

Professor Breda Smyth has been appointed as interim Chief Medical Officer, and it is understood she will take up the role on July 4. completed.

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Professor Smyth was a member of NPHET and the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group, and the Department of Health has described her as having a “contributed significantly” to the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prof Smyth is also a founding member of the Covid-19 – Irish Epidemiology Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG).

Dr Colm Henry offered his best wishes to Dr Holohan on his last day and acknowledged his “leadership and commitment” in the role during the pandemic.

Taking to social media, Dr Henry wrote: “On Dr Tony Holohan’s last day as @CMOIreland, I want to acknowledge his leadership, courage and commitment throughout his tenure and the clarity he brought at a time of fear and uncertainty.

“This involved great personal sacrifice for him and his family. Tá muid faoi chomaoin aige.”

On Monday, HSE chief Paul Reid announced that he would be stepping down from his position in December to spend more time with his family, cutting short his five year tenure which would have ended in 2024.