Dr. Sinéad Kinsella

1975 – 2016

Sinéad Kinsella, a proud native of Wexford, graduated from UCC Medical School in 2000. She was Intern of the Year in Cork University Hospital before completing Basic Speciality Training in Medicine in Cork and progressing to work there as a Registrar in the Department of Renal Medicine. She subsequently entered Higher Speciality Training in Nephrology on the ICHMT SpR Scheme, training in Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital.

Her plan to pursue additional training abroad was disrupted by illness, but not her interest in patient-centred research, patient-centred clinical practice and her tremendous love of music, family, friends, and life in general.

In 2013 she defended her PhD Thesis ‘Vascular calcification and mineral bone disorder in chronic kidney disease’ based upon research performed under the supervision of Professor Joe Eustace. Her ability to pursue this research was supported by the UCC Medical Alumni Professor Denis O’Sullivan Clinical Research Fellowship and the Irish Nephrology Society Research Bursary.

Sinéad had exceptional empathy with patients, many of whom remember her with tremendous affection and respect to this day. She is held in equal esteem by a multitude of multi-disciplinary colleagues across many clinical sites in Ireland. Sadly, and whist working as a Consultant Renal Physician in her beloved Cork University Hospital, her illness returned and she passed away in July 2016. She is remembered in UCC by the Dr Sinéad Kinsella Medal, awarded annually on the basis of an adjudicated Clinical Case Presentation by an Intern training in the South Intern Network.

In 2019 she was amongst the first 20 Irish Women Doctors recognised by the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network (#SundayWiMIN).

She is very fondly remembered by many within the Irish Nephrology Society and beyond.

Liam Plant