ProfessorNiall O'Higgins

Graduated MB BCh BAO (Hons) from UCD in 1965 with 1st place and 1st class honours in Medicine. BSc (Hons) in Anatomy in 1967. MCh (By thesis) on hormonal aspects of breast cancer in 1974.

Fellowship by examination of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (1970), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1970) and Royal College of Surgeons of England (1970).

Surgical training in hospitals in Ireland and England (mainly in the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London)
Consultant Surgeon and Senior Lecturer in Surgery, University College Hospital, London (1976-1977).

Full Professor of Surgery and Head of UCD Department of Surgery (St. Vincent's University Hospital from 1977 until retirement 2007

President, European Society of Surgical Oncology

Foundation Chairman, Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe

President, Federation of European Cancer Societies (now the European Cancer Organisation)

President, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (2004-2006)

Foundation Professor of Surgery, RCSI Medical University of Bahrain (2008-2011)

Chairman, University of Limerick Hospitals Group (2012-2017)

Advisor to the Department of Health on Oncology Affairs in Europe (2017-2022)

Chairman, National Screening Advisory Committee (2019-2023)

External Examiner in Surgery in the Queen's University, Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, NUI Galway, National University of Singapore, University of Malaysia, Kuwait


Invited Lecturer/Professor in Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Denmark, Canada, USA, South |Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

Honorary Fellowships; Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, American College of Surgeon College of Surgeons of South Africa, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons. Honorary Memberships: Academie Francaise de Chirurgie, European Society of Surgical Oncology, Hellenic Surgical Society. President's Medal, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Established 1st Breast Cancer clinic in Ireland. Extensively involved in establishment of BreastCheck (theNational Breast Cancer Screening Programme). Initiated, with Professor EJ Guiney the National Liver Transplant Programme. Established the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Programme in Ireland. Initiated the European Board of Surgery Qualification Examination in Surgical Oncology

President's Medal, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Rovsing Medal, Danish Surgical Society; St. Vincent's University Hospital Medical Board Gold Medal; Award for teaching excellence, UCD; Festschrift for Professor Niall O'Higgins (2008) Irish Journal of Medical Science, 177; S109-S163