An immense loss to Irish medicine – Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon

The outpouring of tributes following the death of Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon is a testament to the affection in which she was held by those who knew her and the many lives she touched through her work, advocacy, and writing.

I only met Sarah once. It was at the dotMD conference in Galway in 2019 (the last dotMD to be held). I introduced myself after the talk she delivered. The talk was wonderful and drew a standing ovation. When we were chatting, I asked Sarah would she like to write her next column about the meeting. She agreed. The column – ‘Medical conferences can be life-changing experiences’ – was as wonderful and inspiring as her talk.

Like many people I feel like I had come to know Sarah through her writing. She was a regular columnist with the Medical Independent since 2018, shortly after I became editor. I contacted her following the recommendation from our previous editor Priscilla Lynch, who had run some pieces by Sarah. Following up on Priscilla’s recommendation was one of the best decisions I ever made in this role.

It was always a joy whenever Sarah filed a piece. For one thing, the copy was always spotless, with barely a comma out of place. But more importantly, Sarah always brought a lightness of style and wit that was inimitable. She had a vibrant way of writing that made you feel you were listening to someone speak. Someone very clever and very funny. Someone warm and honest. Someone who, whether they were enthusiastic or angry about an issue, could make you consider it in a new way. Someone who had been through hard times, but was determined to focus on the positives (and extract any humour that could be extracted).

It was her diagnosis with metastatic bowel cancer at the age of 37 that led to Sarah creating her blog: Adventures of a Sick Doctor. It was a topic she regularly covered on these pages. In August 2024, she wrote about how the cancer had returned. This column – ‘Coping with cancer recurrence in a hospital system under strain’ – had Sarah’s signature irreverence: “Anyway, here I am now in the middle of ‘Chemo No 5’ (not as much fun as the Mambo).”

It is also a good example of her seamless ability to weave the personal with the systemic. She pointed out that while taking a temperature in hospital should be relatively straightforward, it is not always accurate.

“For me, this meant the difference between being discharged home to my beloved family, or being whisked off to ICU.”

Almost two years later, we published a brilliantly provocative piece – ‘Cancer is no longer a special case’ – in which she wrote: “Living with (and even dying from) cancer is potentially one of the least bad things that can happen.”

It was Sarah’s position as both a doctor and a patient that was part of what made her so special as a writer and advocate and able to say things that could be difficult to say.

Her advocacy was not limited to cancer. She was a member of Deep End Ireland, which advocates for improved primary care for people living in areas of deprivation. Sarah was also passionate about gender issues and founded the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network (WiMIN) in 2017 to help support female doctors and medical students. She wrote about these issues frequently, including a column published early this year about her experience in setting up WiMIN and her decision to step down as Chair (‘My time in charge of something’).

There also were many pieces that defy simple categorisation. During the pandemic, she recounted the epic round-the-world sailing trip her parents once embarked on and how she joined for part of the way. She eulogised about the liberation of going handbag free. Sarah’s last column for us was about making a dress for her daughter’s Debs.

Being in a position to publish these pieces has been a privilege. I wish there could be many more. Sarah’s death is a huge loss to Irish medicine. We extend the deepest of condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

---

Some of the tributes on LinkedIn to Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon

“Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon was a leading light in our profession. She valued the traditions of our profession, but challenged every assumption. She spoke for women doctors and mothers who are doctors.

She volunteered her time to the Royal Medical Benevolent Society as part of her commitment to sick doctors. She was an advocate for cancer screening, contributing to the work of the National Screening Service, the HSE, and a voice for health services in deprived communities – Deep End Ireland.

Sarah took action when she saw something that needed to change. She knew her life would be too short, yet she used every minute to make a difference to others. She was a proud Cork woman, great fun, and had her own style – forever in silver shoes.”

Dr Suzanne Crowe, former President of the Medical Council

“It is with profound sadness that we mark the passing of our exceptional colleague, Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon…. Sarah was a long-standing and deeply respected Primary Care Clinical Advisor to CervicalCheck and, more recently, contributed her expertise across the Public Health team for all National Screening Service programmes. Beyond her clinical leadership, she was a dedicated GP, a writer, and a tireless advocate for women’s health. As the founder of the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network (WiMIN) and a key contributor to the Women’s Health Taskforce and cervical cancer elimination efforts, her impact on healthcare in Ireland was far-reaching and transformative.

Sarah possessed a rare gift for cutting through hierarchy, jargon, and administrative complexity to focus on what mattered most: The person at the centre of care. She consistently challenged us to view healthcare through the eyes of patients, reminding us that kindness, listening, and lived experience must always take precedence over systems and processes. Her wisdom, courage, and vibrant honesty brought clarity to every discussion.

Through her blog and her column in the Medical Independent, Sarah shared her candid reflections on living with cancer with extraordinary authenticity, generosity, and wit – maintaining that open and courageous voice right through to her final days.

On behalf of the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer and the entire Health Service Executive, I extend my deepest sympathies to Sarah’s family, friends, patients, and colleagues. She was a valued leader, mentor, and advocate, and her legacy of humanity, kindness, and clinical excellence will continue to guide our work.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.”

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE

“She gifted us with a lot; from her work with the national screening service, with Deep End and of course with the community she created in WiMIN. The IHCA provide free childcare at our annual conference; inspired by experiencing it at WiMIN. That was Sarah: Ripples of positive change everywhere.

I’ll miss her wit, her warmth, and the many great conversations.

Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.

Sincerest condolences to Derek, Ellen, Will, and Catherine, and everyone who knew and loved her.”

Prof Gabrielle Colleran, IHCA President