THE Mater Private Network has paid tribute to Tralee native, Professor Declan Sugrue, who is retiring from clinicial practice as a cardiologist at the Mater Private in Dublin.

Well-known among the Irish medical community, Professor Sugrue, together with colleague and friend Dr. Hugh McCann, set up the group cardiology department at Mater Private in Dublin.

Professor Sugrue has cared for countless people during his extensive career as an interventional cardiologist. Originally from Tralee, to where he remained strongly connected no matter where he lived, he graduated from NUI Galway in 1976, before continuing his medical training at the RCPI.

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After a period of time in the UK and America, he returned to Ireland and pioneered procedures that were new to Ireland, and placed Mater Private at the cutting edge of world-wide practice.

Highly respected, he always acknowledged the ‘outstanding cardiac nursing, technical and radiographic staff’ who worked with him, saying that ‘taking care of patients is a team effort.’

He remained Director of Cardiology until 2019 when Professor Robert Byrne took over the position.

As a person, Professor Sugrue is described variously by colleagues as “a visionary”, “the perfect gentleman”, “the nicest person to work with”, “hugely conscientious” and “very respectful” of others.

Colleagues tell of how patients ‘adore’ him for his sense of humour, his down to earth manner and for his evident care for their wellbeing. Many refer to him as a ‘good friend’ and at one time some were known to bring gifts such as fish or Christmas cake in lieu of payment.

His penchant for Smarties is well known among his colleagues at Mater Private, but perhaps less well known is the fact that Professor Sugrue is a gaeilgeoir, plays the piano, once cycled across North America to raise money for charity and he loves everything to do with Irish culture.

During his time with Mater Private Network, he also maintained an impressive academic career. He is a Professor in University College Dublin with over 200 published academic papers and is also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in the UK & Ireland and the American College of Cardiology.

In addition, he has held and continues to hold many prestigious positions, including President of the Irish Cardiac Society and of the Irish Heart Foundation.

While Professor Sugrue is retiring from clinical practice he will continue his career in Academia and will sit on the Advisory board for the cardiology department in Mater Private Network.

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