Q&A with Dr Emer Kelly

Dr Emer Kelly is a consultant in respiratory medicine in St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin. She trained in respiratory, critical care and general internal medicine in Ireland and in Boston, completing the Harvard Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship. She is interested Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and in medical education delivery and research. She has previously served as an elected fellow on Council of the Royal College of Physicians’ of Ireland, Clinical Lead for Digital Strategy and Innovation and National Specialty Director for Higher Specialist Training in Respiratory. She served as Director of Learning Resources with the European Respiratory Society and has more recently been elected as Treasurer. Dr Kelly is currently in the role of Director of Training and Education in the Institute of Medicine, RCPI.  

What initially sparked your interest in becoming a Doctor?

I had my appendix out at the age of 14 and met some medical students. One of the students, a young woman, was very nice to me. I think it was then that I first learnt that women could study medicine and be doctors. I would love to remember more about her and to thank her. It is a reminder to me that every contact counts!

What was your favourite part of studying Medicine at UCD, and why?

I loved meeting smart young people from all over the country and the world who shared my love of learning. In UCD Medicine, I found my tribe and my husband…

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in Medicine?

Stay focused on the patient. This guides everything we do in medicine.

What were some of the highlights of your time at UCD?

I have such lovely memories of the Med Ball as the social event of the year. The experience of travelling to Kenya on the Medical Students for Overseas Relief (MSOR) changed my life and the way I think ever since.

In what ways did your medical education at UCD help prepare you for your role as a consultant in respiratory medicine?

In UCD, I met wonderful teachers and selfless individuals dedicated to their patients and to the succession of medicine and our specialties. They continue to inspire me to this day. My roles in postgraduate medical education allow me to work with younger smarter people every day. I know the future is bright.

What’s the proudest moment of your career to date?

Getting accepted by the Harvard Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship was a big moment for me. It was a validation of the education I had received through UCD, the RCPI training and the research I had worked on. We UCD graduates fit in and thrive everywhere we go!

Who have been the most inspiring mentors or advisors throughout your career, and how have they influenced you?

I am lucky enough to have had two amazing mentors in my career; Professor Shane O’Neill and Professor Bart Celli. They have served inspirations to me in how they have continuously worked on keeping up to date in their medical expertise whilst never forgetting the people at the centre of their jobs. Professor O’Neill introduced me to the concept of “female mentorship” before I knew what it meant. I am humbled by the exemplary examples they have both shown in their own work and family lives.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

As a medical educator this is my opportunity to quote William Osler: “...the student begins with the patient, continues with the patient and ends his study with the patient, using books and lectures as tools.”

What do you think will be the biggest challenge for doctors in the future?

I think the challenge of maintaining the trust in the doctor role on an individual and a society is a concern. I have the honour of taking care of patients with chronic disease over many years. I get to see that a strong and trusting doctor-patient relationship helps people navigate the tough times along the road we travel together.