Dr Maria O’Kane appointed as Medical Council CEO

The Medical Council has today announced the appointment of Dr Maria O’Kane as its new CEO, following a competitive recruitment process.

Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr O’Kane as our new Chief Executive of the Medical Council. Maria brings over three decades’ experience of leadership at various levels of the health sector in Northern Ireland.

“The Medical Council has an important role in Ireland’s healthcare sector, and I know with Dr O’ Kane’s guidance and leadership, the Council will continue to develop and play an ever-growing role in delivering effective medical regulation and in supporting the wider sector.”

Until earlier this year, Dr O’Kane was Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, responsible for the effective running of an integrated health and social care organisation serving 390,000 people.

Dr O’Kane studied medicine in Queen’s University Belfast before qualifying as a consultant psychiatrist in the UK. With over 30 years’ experience working in healthcare leadership, Dr O’Kane has also held senior leadership roles in the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Dr O’Kane said: “A highly skilled workforce is essential for the delivery of safe and effective healthcare and medical regulation is key to this. As a regulator, the Medical Council is with the doctor throughout the entire lifecycle of their career, through the accreditation of medical education and training, through its role in the maintenance of continuous professional development, through registration and annual retention and when it is needed, through its complaints and investigations role.

“Medical regulators like the Medical Council have a vital role in informing policy and utilising the data they hold to support the wider healthcare system, workforce planning and healthcare policy. This is something the Medical Council plays a key role in and continues to develop through publications like the Medical Workforce Intelligence reports, for example.

“I am very much looking forward to commencing my role with the Medical Council and working with the organisation’s committed, experienced and dedicated staff, members of the Council and its committees and their stakeholders.”

Mr Ciarán Buggle, Executive Director for Complaints, Investigations and Fitness to Practise, will remain as Interim CEO until Dr O’Kane begins her appointment in early June.