A leading Irish specialist dealing with children’s cancers has been awarded an honorary CBE by Queen Elizabeth.
Prof Owen Smith was presented with the award on the Queen’s behalf by British ambassador Dominic Chilcott at a ceremony in Dublin on Friday.
Prof Smith, a consultant paediatric haematologist at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, also holds a medical professorship at Trinity College Dublin.
Much of his research has focused on clinical trials for children’s cancer, coinciding with a period of rapid improvements in the survival rates for paediatric leukaemia and other forms of the disease.
Prof Smith has also investigated ways of altering outcomes in cases of septic shock using new therapeutic approaches.
Prof Smith has a strong record in championing national developments in child and adolescent health over the past two decades and is currently special adviser to the boards developing the new national children’s hospital.
From Dublin’s northside, Prof Smith holds degrees in biochemistry and medicine from TCD. He trained at Great Ormond children’s hospital in London before returning to work in the Irish health service in the 1990s.
