About us

Dr. Robert Ferris is a General Practitioner with special interests in Psychiatry, Sport and Exercise Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine and Healthy Ageing.

Dr. Ferris studied sports science at University College Dublin, graduating with honours, before undertaking his medical studies at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. He has since trained under the Irish College of General Practitioners, as well as completing further qualifications in Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Dr. Sinéad McCaughey is our Medical Clinician Lead at SAVVY Health, with extensive expertise in General Adult Medicine specifically Oncology, Cardiology, Respiratory, Rheumatology, Bone Health, Geriatrics and Polypharmacy.

Dr. McCaughey is registered with the Irish Medical Council, and holds an MBChB, a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Education and has completed MRCP exams.

With previous roles as a Medical Registrar and Oncology Registrar within the NHS, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, and St. James University Hospital, Dublin.

Dr. McCaughey brings a wealth of experience in both clinical practice and medical education. She has served as a Clinical Teaching Fellow and University Lecturer, demonstrating a strong commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Sinead has a keen interest in a holistic approach to healthcare, aiming to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and lifestyle health of each Client.

“Ageing is inevitable – Decline is not!”

She emphasises “By adopting Proactive Healthcare during midlife, we can reduce and even prevent onset of Chronic Disease in later life.”

Outside of her professional life, Sinéad enjoys amateur dramatics, is a keen chef, passionate about nutrition, and loves running, which helps her maintain a well-rounded and balanced lifestyle.

Sandra Walsh is our Lead Nurse Clinician at SAVVY Health, providing specialised Healthy Ageing Preventative Assessments and Lifestyle Health Advisory. As a Registered General Nurse (RGN) with a BSc (Hons.) and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), Sandra brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role.

Sandra has a strong background in managing Allergy, Migraine, Asthma, and uncontrolled medical respiratory exacerbations of severe lung disease. Her empathy and extensive experience in patient support ensures that our Clients receive comprehensive, compassionate and personalised consultations.

Working alongside our SAVVY Health Doctors, Physiotherapists and Clinical Dieticians, Sandra excels in working collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Her passion for Health Ageing and Pro-active Self-care, drives her to stay updated with the latest advancements in Preventative Healthcare and Lifestyle Medicine.

Outside of work, Sandra enjoys Keynote Speaking, Entrepreneurial Projects and Fashion.

James is the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at SAVVY Health, who is committed to enhancing the quality of life for middle-aged and older adults through proactive and preventative healthcare strategies. James has worked in a variety of clinical settings in Ireland and New Zealand. He has valuable experience prescribing personalised exercise and rehabilitation plans in musculoskeletal private practice, sports physiotherapy, brain injury rehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation.

'Exercise is medicine' describes James’ approach when supporting his clients to prevent and manage pain and long-term health conditions. His experience highlights that it is vital to treat the person and not just their condition to get the best outcomes for his clients.

James holds an MSc in Physiotherapy and a BSc in Health & Performance Science. As a CORU registered Physiotherapist and member of the ISCP, James is passionate about healthy ageing. James enjoys collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to provide excellent client-centred care. He is a strong advocate for the early identification of chronic disease risk factors and prescribing safe and effective exercise interventions to prevent the development of these conditions.

James in interested in using innovative and digital healthcare solutions to make physiotherapy and medical exercise solutions more accessible to his clients. He is motivated to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain optimal health as they age. James believes the effectiveness of exercise interventions should be monitored with periodic physical assessments. The data obtained from these physical assessments is a powerful tool to stay accountable as a practitioner and to motivate his clients to improve their health outcomes. James is committed to ongoing professional development to ensure that he continues to deliver up to date evidence-based treatment for his clients.

When he is not at work, James stays fit and active. He enjoys running, hiking with his dog, going to the gym and trying his hand at different water sports.

As a Nutritionist specializing in healthy ageing, Sarah Louise is dedicated to helping individuals navigate this life stage with vitality and confidence. Her background in Human Physiology and extensive experience as a personal trainer and coaching has equipped her with the tools to create sustainable health and wellness strategies tailored to individual needs.

With a Master's in Clinical Nutrition, Sarah Louise provides evidence-based, personalized advice that addresses the unique nutritional needs of those over 50. Her approach focuses on empowering clients to take control of their health, ensuring they discover their best self improving strength, energy, and well-being.

Dairin Patry is our Lead Life Coach at SAVVY Health, specialising in Health & Wellness, bringing a wealth of expertise in health coaching and a strong background in GP medical practice management. With qualifications including QQI Professional Coaching, Practice & Ethics, a PSC Diploma in Executive & Life Coaching, and a PSC Advanced Diploma in Coaching with Neuroscience, Dairin is passionate about the transformative power of coaching.

Dairin believes that everyone should have access to a coach and is particularly interested in Wellness/Life Balance Coaching. By building self-awareness and self-trust, Dairin helps clients take positive actions to reach their desired potential and goals, specialising in health, lifestyle, and personal development.

Dairin has a special focus on healthy ageing, prevention, and management. She emphasises the importance of maintaining physical, mental, emotional, and lifestyle health. Dairin will help you develop a personal action plan following your in-clinic MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) consultations, aimed at preventing chronic conditions and promoting a holistic approach to wellness. She supports you in achieving your goals through a comprehensive plan that addresses all aspects of your health.

Through support, challenge, and accountability, Dairin empowers our clients to achieve their Total Health goals and improve their overall well-being. Her approach is tailored to each individual's needs, ensuring that they receive comprehensive and personalised guidance.

Outside of work, Dairin enjoys gardening and spending time with her young family.

Suzanne has extensive expertise in healthcare business management, clinical leadership and digital transformation. With a strong background in multi-site clinic management, Suzanne excels in optimising operations and implementing innovative digital solutions to enhance patient care and streamline healthcare services.

Suzanne's role involves overseeing clinical operations, managing our Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Team and Administration, Regulatory Compliance, and ensuring gold standard Client Experience. Her leadership ensures the efficient functioning of SAVVY Health clinics, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care.

Passionate about improving healthcare systems, Suzanne focuses on integrating advanced technologies and best practices to create a seamless and effective healthcare experience for Clients and Clinical Team alike. Her strategic vision and operational expertise drive continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare delivery.

Evenings and weekends are spent walking the dogs, hacking out the horses in the Enniskerry Mountains, or getting ready for the weekend's Show jumping & Dressage shows with her daughter, who is an avid competitor. (Mum is Head Groom & Horse Taxi !!)

With 30 years of practicing Cardiology, Robert's my focus has shifted from treating patients with medications and stents alone to addressing the root causes of heart problems as well. Factors like work stress, poor eating habits, inactivity, lack of sleep, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption, loneliness and isolation often contribute to recurring symptoms and recurrent disease. Robert believe in a practical approach to patient care - listen to the patient’s story, make care easy to understand, easy for a patient to act on and to deliver successful health habit outcomes, leading to better health and longevity. The only way to do that is taking small steps every day. "Reach your potential, one step at a time."

Eva is a practising clinical psychologist, Associate Professor and Director of the Human Factors in Patient Safety (HFPS) training, research and assessment programme at the National Surgical Training Centre, Department of Surgical Affairs, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. The HFPS training is a mandatory component of the postgraduate professional training for surgical, emergency medicine, radiology and ophthalmology trainees. The programme provides interactive workshops for trainees and more recently for consultants on topics which include medical error, risk management, communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, decision-making, open disclosure, emotional intelligence, crisis management, resilience, professionalism and leadership. Eva pioneered and directs the academic Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety which is an inter-professional one/two year part-time online programme. Eva has over 45 peer reviewed publications on topics relevant to clinical communication issues, personality factors in medical education and assessment. Eva acts as advisor to the National Healthcare Communication Programme in Ireland,HSE. In recognition of Eva’s contribution to medical education and to communication training in healthcare, Eva was awarded a Principal Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy in the U.K. and an honorary fellowship by the International Association for Communication in Healthcare.

Fergus Shanahan, emeritus professor of medicine at University College Cork and foundation director of APC Microbiome Ireland, 'the largest human microbiome research centre in the world', is a clinician-scientist who has published over 600 papers in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, gut immunology and the microbiome, written or edited 10 books, and received many awards.

A former president of the Irish Society of Gastroenterology, his book Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease won the BMA Book Award for gastroenterology in 2006.

In 2013, Science Foundation Ireland named him as its Researcher of the Year and, in 2016, the Royal Irish Academy honoured him with a gold medal for his research contributions.

In 2020, Fergus published The Language of Illness, a critically-acclaimed book, described as ‘part-manifesto, part-memoir, and part-instruction manual’. In it he appeals for the use of ‘clearer, more holistic language by all those involved with, and affected by, illness’, which he argues – passionately – is an integral part of the human condition.

His most recent book "Listen to your Microbes" is a graphic story of the human microbiome, told from the perspective of the microbes. Fergus is also working on a new microbiome-friendly food product for healthy ageing.

Dr Maureen Gaffney is a very well-known author, clinical psychologist, broadcaster, writer, and columnist and is a much sought-after public speaker. Her most recent book, "Your One Wild and Precious Life" which became an immediate Number 1 Non-Fiction Best Seller, addresses the developmental journey from infancy to end of life, with very significant insights into the different stages of later life. Her special interest and expertise is the science and art of peak performance, of ‘being at your best’, She consults and works with a wide range of businesses in Ireland, the US, the UK helping them to build strong, diverse, and resilient leadership teams, including the Intel organisation, Boston Scientific; Hewlett Packard; the professional and financial sector, and the educational sector in Australia.

She has served in a number of state and private boards, including as Executive Chair of the National Economic and Social Forum, Chair of the Insurance Ombudsman Council, as a Law Reform Commissioner, and member of the council of the ERSI. She has a long-term interest in diversity and gender issues, is a member of the Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board, and served on its Executive Committee.

She earned her B.A. in Psychology at University College Cork, her M.A. in Behavioural Sciences at the University of Chicago and her PhD at Trinity College Dublin. She has completed Executive Education Programmes on leadership and governance in the Harvard Kennedy School, the University of Chicago Business School, and the Kellogg School of Management. She was a very active member of the Ageing Well Network and was commissioned to author Ageing and Development in Late Adulthood. She is the author of the best-selling Flourishing (Penguin). Her new book Your One Wild and Precious Life published in September 2021 sets the three basic psychological needs that need to be met from the beginning to the very end of life; how they play out at every stage of life, and significantly shape our psychological and physical wellbeing, our relationships, our work and our creativity.

John is a recently retired GP with over 40 years’ experience as a GP. He is also a specialist in prostate health.

John established his own multidisciplinary GP practice in Morehampton Road before it moved to its current location in the ground of RHD. John was Well Woman’s Centre and led the Vasectomy Clinic for many years.

Having retired from his own practice in 2020, John continues to work as a Prostate specialist in the Beacon Clinic.

He is a passionate advocate for preventative and holistic health.

Patricia McGettrick was in clinical practice as a Consultant Ophthalmologist at HSE and was one of the founding ophthalmologists for the National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme(NDRSP) and was Programme Ophthalmologist from 2013 to 2023.

A graduate of UCD and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FRCSI), Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh (FRCSEd) and Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London (FRCOphth). She convened the first of the ICO seminars on legal aspects of healthcare held during the Annual Conference of ICO in 2015, and thereafter at the College's Winter Meeting in December 2016.

Patricia is a former member of the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee of ICO and has a special interest in the clinical and legal aspects of Informed Consent and Open Disclosure, following on from her studies of Healthcare Ethics and Law at RCSI.

James is currently the Assistant Professor of Strength & Conditioning at the School of UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Sciences. He received his BA in Accounting and Human Resource Management from the National College of Ireland in 2004, his BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from the University College Dublin in 2012, MSc in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Edinburgh in 2013, and PhD from University College Dublin in 2018. His doctoral studies focussed on exercise training and dietary strategies to support improvements in body composition and physical function in older adults. His research to date has focussed on an ageing population, including establishing the optimal mode of exercise prescription in older adults, as well as gaining a greater understanding of barriers and facilitators to exercise maintenance in older adults.

James is also an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He is an Exercise Specialist with over 15 years of Strength and Conditioning experience working with both in high performance sport and with clinical populations. James has been actively engaged in elite sport and exercise all his life and has varied sporting experiences in Ireland, USA, Australia and Spain.

Dublin native Kate Gunning, is a co-founder and managing partner with Focus Academy, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Her expertise is in evaluating and developing market opportunities for emerging innovative companies and their inventive technologies.

Focus Academy is an activation hub which provides a vibrant space together with market and product development programming to both US and international emerging companies and strategic corporates.

Focus operates international accelerator programs including CARA (Centre for Aging Research and Accessibility) which addresses the health and wellness needs of older adults. To this end, CARA collaborates with innovators and their end-users to accelerate the advancement of technologies for aging and independent living.

Focus Academy is collaborating with SAVVY Health, to help identify breakthrough technologies that enhance the health, quality of life and independence of older adults, and which could be part of the suite of solutions being offered to clients.

Kate’s career has included senior leadership roles with organizations that include Thermo Fisher, Berkeley National Laboratory, NSF, and NASA’s Translational Research Institute for Space Health. With an expansive network both in the US and internationally, she is frequently tapped for advice and guidance and serves as a mentor for several leading accelerators in the US and overseas.

Pat successfully held senior Finance Director positions in companies such as Kingspan (manufacture of building materials), Becton Dickinson (Medical devices manufacturing), BAM Contractors (Civil Engineering) and the global franchising arm of Britvic (FMCG – soft drinks manufacturing). For a number of years, he was also a non-executive Director at a national charity focussed on the needs of older people.

At Kingspan Pat and Anne first worked closely in the design and deployment of major strategic initiatives and radical work practice changes in business operations leading to significant commercial growth.

Ranjana Thanvi is the Founder and CEO of Memorres, a prominent software development company with a focus on delivering innovative solutions in the healthtech sector. With expertise in strategy, design, and technical development, she leads multiple organizations through their digital transformation journeys.

Memorres is a comprehensive software development studio that provides end-to-end services across various industries. As a strategic technical partner for SAVVY Health, Memorres played a crucial role in the research, discovery, UI/UX design, and development of the SAVVY digital health platform, supporting SAVVY's holistic healthy ageing programme for individuals aged 50 years and older.

Ranjana is passionate about designing innovative digital healthtech solutions driven by her philosophy of human-to-human dynamics, making healthcare more accessible and intuitive for patients of all ages. She is committed to empowering businesses with the technology and solutions they need to fulfill their vision and contribute positively to humanity.

Her extensive network in Australia and Ireland has made her a sought-after advisor and partner for several leading enterprises, where she frequently provides strategic guidance and technical expertise.