Professor Breda Smyth is an Irish public health specialist who served as Chief Medical Officer of Ireland from November 2022 until May 2024, having previously held the position on an interim basis.
14 Facts About Breda Smyth
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Breda Smyth previously was professor for public health medicine in NUI Galway and a consultant in public health in HSE West.
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Professor Smyth completed her primary degree in medicine in University College Galway.
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Breda Smyth then continued her training in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, undertook a Masters in Public Health in University College Dublin, a Medical Doctorate in NUI Galway and a post-doctoral fellowship in the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Professor Breda Smyth was conferred as a member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of Ireland in 2005, and, in 2013, was made a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in Ireland.
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Professor Breda Smyth has extensive experience leading national programmes across public health.
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Breda Smyth was a senior responsible owner on the HSE Public Health Reform programme in 2019.
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Breda Smyth was the national stroke prevention lead in the Stroke Clinical Programme 2010 to 2014 leading the pilot opportunistic screening for atrial fibrillation.
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Breda Smyth was announced as the permanent successor on 5 October 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the post.
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On 2 February 2024, it was announced that Professor Breda Smyth would be leaving her post as Chief Medical Officer after 18 months to take up an academic role in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
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Professor Breda Smyth has toured and performed worldwide as a violinist with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames which included performances at the Ryder Cup and the Red Cross for the Royal Family in Monaco.
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Breda Smyth released her debut album Basil and Thyme in 2002 and was nominated as female traditional musician of the year by the Irish Music Magazine in 2003.
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Breda Smyth hosted the Irish Music Magazine Awards in the National Concert Hall, Dublin in October 2003.
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Breda Smyth is married to Jimmy Higgins, a percussionist, and together they have two children, Blathnaid and Donal.