Vascular surgeon who rose to the top of his profession
JOE O’DONNELL, who has died aged 65, was a vascular surgeon who rose to the top of his profession in the United States and Ireland, where he engaged in pioneering work in Munster.
Joseph Anthony O’Donnell was born in Cahir, Co Tipperary, the son of Wilfred and Lelia O’Donnell (nee Kirby). He went to school in nearby Rockwell College, before proceeding to his medical studies in University College Cork, graduating in 1967. He interned in St Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork, where he also commenced his postgraduate surgical training (SHO and Registrar posts) under the supervision of the now retired professor of surgery, Prof Michael Brady, getting his FRCSI in 1971.
He next proceeded to St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, and Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin, and subsequently, as the Ainsworth Scholar, to the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, where he became the chief resident in surgery in 1974.
In 1976, Joe obtained his American Boards certification in general surgery and was conferred an MCh in UCC. In that same year he became chief of vascular surgery at the New Jersey medical school in Newark and VA hospital in Orange, New Jersey.
In 1979 he was appointed the first consultant general surgeon with a special interest in vascular surgery, and clinical lecturer in the university department of surgery at the Cork Regional Hospital (now Cork University Hospital).
Although retired for six years, his influence lives on long since his last operation through the good work of the many who trained under his guidance, skill and leadership. He will be remembered for his meticulous attention to detail and for his kind and caring approach to his many thousands of patients during the 23-year period from 1979 to 2002. He pioneered the development of the investigation and surgical management of peripheral vascular disease in Munster, with an ever increasing on-call commitment, leading to his premature retirement in 2002.
As a colleague he was without peer, always supportive and never seeking accolades. His professional approach was a model for colleagues and the next generation. Together with Prof Cillian Twomey, he spearheaded the development of clinical audit and quality assurance activity in Cork teaching hospitals long before its national recognition as a core component of postgraduate educational curriculums.
The now renamed Quality Unit in Cork University Hospital will serve as another lasting testament to his major contributions in the CUH and UCC.
For many years he served as an examiner and council member for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 14 years as a member of the Postgraduate Surgical Training Committee. He was the Irish representative for vascular surgery in the Union Européen des Médecins Spécialistes for nine years.
Joe O’Donnell was a man of many talents, first and foremost a devoted family man, an outstanding musician and pianist, a talented artist, a keen sportsman and a great wit – he had a great capacity to remember funny stories and nobody told a joke better.
In later years he enjoyed the company of his grandchildren who will remember him fondly and will, in due course, learn to appreciate this humble man’s many great qualities.
Joe O’Donnell is survived by his wife Avril, who cared for him during his final illness, and their children, Aisling, Gavin, Kara and Ryan.
Joseph Anthony O’Donnell: born August 30th, 1943; died March 2nd, 2009