Claire Gibbons studied medicine in National University of Ireland, Galway and graduated with honours in 2015. Following graduation from medical school, she finished her internship and subsequently worked in the field of surgery, completing rotations in plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, hepatobiliary surgery and finally specialising in paediatric surgery where she spent most of this time in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin.

To complement her clinical training, she completed a full-time Masters of Surgery during her internship. Her final thesis examined patient reported outcomes post deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEP) flap reconstruction. She has further gone on to conduct research at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level in various fields, including assessment of neurogenic bowel symptoms in children with spina bifida, paediatric HIV transmission and management of complex hepatic cysts. Claire values the importance of research as part of the surgeon’s role in improving patient care. Having presented her original research at conferences in Spain, Serbia and Japan, she has had her work published in national and international journals.

She is enthusiastically involved in teaching in both an informal and formal role, giving tutorials as part of the IJUMP initiative with UHG and speaking at parental education seminars. Her first hand clinical experience allowed her to identify unmet needs within the healthcare system. She believes the BioInnovate programme provides an excellent opportunity to become more proactive in improving and shaping our working environment. In her free time, she enjoys baking and travelling, most recently hiking Machu Picchu in Peru.