A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist has been announced as the Master-Elect at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.

The board directors of the hospital selected Dr Michael O'Connell for the period from 2020 up to 2026.

Dr O'Connell is currently a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital.

He will take up the post on January 1st 2020, succeeding Dr Sharon Sheehan - who has held the position since 2013.

Dr O'Connell will be the 32nd Master of the Coombe, which will celebrate its bi-centenary in 2026.

The hospital is a voluntary tertiary-referral university teaching hospital, and is the largest provider of women and infants' healthcare in Ireland.

Dr Mike O'Connell

Chairman of the board John Gleeson said: "The board is very pleased to have a clinician of Dr Michael O'Connell's calibre elected to the role of Master.

"Dr O'Connell has demonstrated his suitability for the role, with extensive clinical and leadership experience and I and all of the board members look forward to supporting him in the months and years ahead".

Dr Sharon Sheehan added: "I am looking forward to working very closely with Dr O'Connell in the coming months in preparation for him taking up his appointment at the beginning of next year.

"Dr O'Connell has vast experience relevant to the role and I have no doubt that he will continue in delivering on our collective mission of excellence in the care of women and babies at the Coombe".

Trained in University College Cork (UCC), Dr O'Connell completed specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology in both Ireland and the UK.

He is particularly interested in the training of junior doctors and has held many roles in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI).

He is currently clinical lead for digital strategy and innovation at the RCPI, and is also the clinical director for integration for the Coombe and the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.