IHCA Conference Booking
The IHCA is delighted to welcome international leaders from the UK, Australia and Ireland to the IHCA Sustainable Healthcare Symposium on Saturday 11th January 2025 from 12.30pm to 5.30pm in the College Green Hotel, Dublin 2.
Our healthcare system and society face unprecedented challenges, but together, we can take small steps that make a huge impact. This short event includes presentations, and panel discussions providing an opportunity to connect and learn with like-minded people who have an interest in accelerating and scaling sustainability solutions across our health service.
This symposium is designed to inspire and equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to drive effective and transformative climate action and sustainability measures starting in your workplace and community.
The symposium has been approved for 3 CPD Credits.
Among the high-profile speakers at the IHCA Symposium will be:
Prof Hugh Montgomery OBE, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, Co-Chair of the Lancet Countdown.
Prof Montgomery is Director of UCL's Centre for Human Health and Performance and has chaired the last two Lancet Commissions on Human Health and Climate Change, co-chairs the 35-country, 52-institute international Lancet Countdown, and organised the Royal College of Physicians' first meeting on Climate and Health. Hugh is accredited in General Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine. He has published more than 600 scientific papers, seven in Nature.
Dr Brian O’Connell, Emergency Medicine Consultant, General Practitioner, Sustainable Healthcare Lead, New South Wales Health, Australia.
Dr O’Connell is dual trained in Emergency Medicine and General Practice. He is the Sustainable Healthcare Lead for the Mid North Coast Local Health District and the Net Zero / Climate Risk Lead for NSW Emergency Departments with the Ministry of Health.
Brian is the co-founder of the Sustainable ED Program, and deputy chair of ACEM's Sustainable Emergency Medicine and Climate Advocacy Network. He is a board director with Climate and Health Alliance, a conjoint lecturer with UNSW and founder of sustainable community organisation Sawtell 2030.
Mr Jared Gormly, Head of the HSE Spark Innovation Programme.
As the Head of the HSE Spark Innovation Programme since 2017, Mr Gormly is driven by a passion for empowering healthcare professionals to innovate and transform healthcare delivery across Ireland. Holders of the 2023 Consultants' Contract (POCC23) can avail of up to €8,000 as part of an Innovation Fund for research or innovative projects. Jared will explain how this funding can also be pooled by a number of Consultants as part of a team project.
Dr Ana Rakovac, Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Tallaght University Hospital & Irish Doctors for the Environment
Dr Rakovac is a Consultant Chemical Pathologist and General (Internal) Medicine Physician at Tallaght University Hospital, Naas General Hospital, and Peamount Healthcare, a National Specialty Director for Chemical Pathology and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. Ana is Co-Chair of the Tallaght University Hospital Green Committee and joined the Irish Doctors for the Environment (IDE) in 2019, where she has chaired the IDE Sustainable Healthcare Working Group since 2020.
Mr Ciarán Hughes, Financial Planner and Director, Ethico
Mr Hughes is a Certified Financial Planner at Ethico, an expert in sustainable pension and investment funds, and a TEDx speaker. Ciarán helps people and organisations to understand why traditional investing is no longer fit for purpose and how moving our money now can deliver a sustainable future.
Further speakers will be announced over the coming weeks.
Attendance at the meeting is complimentary for IHCA Members. Please book your attendance at the Sustainability Symposium using the below form.
If you have any queries please contact Claire Boylan at c.boylan@ihca.ie.
Why Attend?
Our healthcare systems face unsustainable challenges due to funding limitations, increasing and ageing populations and escalating risks from climate related impacts. Approximately 30% of healthcare practices are considered low value, providing little or no benefit to patients. By collaborating, we can deliver better, tailored care, reduce waste, and optimise health funding.
The health community now recognises fossil fuels as significant health hazards, contributing to an estimated 5.1 million excess deaths per year globally due to air pollution. The healthcare system itself contributes over 5% of global fossil fuel emissions, exacerbating climate-related health impacts.
However, we have an opportunity to reverse this trend. By decreasing emissions and improving our patient care delivery, we can make a substantial impact.
Join us on 11th January in Dublin to learn how small, collective individual shifts can lead to significant, positive changes in our healthcare system and for our communities.