Marie Cassidy

Last updated

Marie Cassidy
Born1955 (age 6768)
Rutherglen, Scotland
Education University of Glasgow
Known forfirst full-time female forensic pathologist in the UK
first female State Pathologist for Ireland
Medical career
Profession pathologist, academic
Sub-specialties forensic pathology

Marie Therese Jane Cassidy (born 1955) is a pathologist and academic. From 2004 to 2018 she was State Pathologist of Ireland, the first woman to hold the position. [1] She is Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and Trinity College, Dublin.

Contents

Early life and education

Marie Cassidy was born in Rutherglen, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1955. She is the granddaughter of emigrants from County Donegal. [2] She lives in London and is married with two children.[ citation needed ]

Cassidy studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating in January 1978.

Career

She became a member of the Royal College of Pathologists in 1985 and a forensic pathologist the same year, making her the first female full-time forensic pathologist in the United Kingdom.

She held a professorship of forensic medicine at the University of Glasgow before moving to Ireland in 1998 to take up the position of Deputy State Pathologist. [3] She was appointed to the position of State Pathologist in January 2004, succeeding Professor John Harbison to become the first female State Pathologist in Ireland. [4]

She is also Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and Trinity College, Dublin.

Cassidy has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations, helping to identify the remains of victims of war crimes in Bosnia. [5]

Cassidy announced her intended retirement as State Pathologist of Ireland on 7 September 2018. [6]

She has acted as a consultant to the television crime series Taggart . She also advised Irish crime writer Alex Barclay.

A character in the book The Human Body is based on her.

Media career

Since retiring as state pathologist in 2018, Cassidy has fronted series for RTÉ including Dr. Cassidy's Casebook where she revisited some of the most memorable investigations of her career. [7] In August 2022, she took part in the documentary Cold Case Collins, a retrospective look at the assassination of Irish revolutionary, Michael Collins on the hundredth anniversary of his death. [8]

In January 2023, Cassidy appeared on the sixth series of Dancing with the Stars Ireland . She was partnered with Stephen Vincent and was eliminated 2nd overall in week 4, finishing in 10th place.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forensic pathology</span> Medical speciality

Forensic pathology is pathology that focuses on determining the cause of death by examining a corpse. A post mortem examination is performed by a medical examiner or forensic pathologist, usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. Coroners and medical examiners are also frequently asked to confirm the identity of remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland</span> Irish medical professional training body and higher education institution

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a medical professional and educational institution, which is also known as RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ireland's first private university. It was established in 1784 as the national body for the surgical branch of medicine in Ireland, with a role in supervision of training, and as of 2021 provides a broad range of medical education in multiple countries.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise McIlroy</span> British medical doctor

Dame Anne Louise McIlroy, known as Louise McIlroy, was a distinguished and honoured Irish-born British physician, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. She was both the first woman to be awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and to register as a research student at the University of Glasgow. She was also the first woman medical professor in the United Kingdom.

Cedric Keith Simpson was an English forensic pathologist. He was Professor of Forensic Medicine in the University of London at Guy's Hospital, Lecturer in Forensic Medicine at the University of Oxford and a founding member and President of the Association of Forensic Medicine. Simpson became renowned for his post-mortems on high-profile murder cases, including the 1949 Acid Bath Murders committed by John George Haigh and the murder of gangster George Cornell, who was shot dead by Ronnie Kray in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Jacob</span>

Arthur Jacob (1790–1874) was an Irish ophthalmologist. He is known for founding several hospitals, a medical school, and a medical journal. He contributed to science and academia through his 41-year term as Professor of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and as the first Irish ocular pathologist. He was elected President of RCSI in 1837 and 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School of Medicine (Trinity College Dublin)</span> Tertiary institution of Medical and Health Sciences in Dublin, Republic of Ireland

The School of Medicine at Trinity College in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, is the oldest medical school in Ireland. Founded in the early eighteenth century, it was originally situated at the site of the current Berkeley Library. As well as providing an undergraduate degree in medicine, the school provides undergraduate courses in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiation therapy, human nutrition & dietetics and human health & disease, over 20 taught postgraduate courses, and research degrees.

Robert William Smith MD FRCSI MRIA was an Irish surgeon and pathologist who described Smith's fracture in his 1847 book, the first important book on fractures by an Irish author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Little (physician)</span> Irish medical practitioner (1837–1916)

James Little was an Irish medical practitioner. After spending an early part of his career as a ship's surgeon, surviving a shipwreck, he became chief physician at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin and Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Warwick Bigger</span>

Joseph Warwick Bigger was an Irish politician and academic. He was an Independent member of Seanad Éireann from 1947 to 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John M. Fitzpatrick</span>

John M. Fitzpatrick was an Irish urologist, emeritus professor of surgery at the University College Dublin School of Medicine & Medical Science and Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Gertrude McGill</span> Canadian forensic pathologist and allergologist (1882–1959)

Frances Gertrude McGill was a Canadian forensic pathologist, criminologist, bacteriologist, allergologist and allergist. Nicknamed "the Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan" for her deductive skills and public fame, McGill influenced the development of forensic pathology in Canadian police work and was internationally noted for her expertise in the subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Winifred Dickson</span> Irish doctor, first female Fellow of a Royal College of Surgery

Emily Winifred Dickson was an Irish medical doctor who was the first female fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She was also the first female fellow of any of the Royal Colleges of Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland.

Dr. Marcella Farinelli Fierro is a medical examiner and forensic pathologist. She was the former chief medical examiner of Virginia, appointed in 1994 and serving in this position until her retirement in 2008. She was the ninth woman certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology. Since retirement, Fierro has served as an educator, mentor, and adviser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Coffey</span> Irish pediatrician

Victoria Coffey graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and became a paediatrician, and later one of the first people to research sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and one of the first females to undertake significant research into congenital abnormalities. She also became the first female president of the Irish Paediatric Association, the paediatric section of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) Post-graduate Association, and the Irish American Pediatric Association. Coffey was also the first female recipient of the RCSI Distinguished Graduate medal.

Thomas Adesanya Ige Grillo, was a son of J. Aina Osaoba and V. Adenike Omolara (Serrano) Grill. He was the First professor of Anatomy in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethna Gaffney</span> Irish professor and scientist (1920–2011)

Ethna Elizabeth Gaffney (1920–2011) was an Irish professor and scientist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euphan Maxwell</span>

Euphan Maxwell (1887–1964) was an Irish ophthalmologist and the first woman ophthalmic surgeon in Ireland at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin.

Professor John Harbison was the first State Pathologist of Ireland.

Eve Patten is an Irish writer and Professor of English at Trinity College Dublin.

References

  1. "State Pathologist's Office". Department of Justice and Equality. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. Moonan, Niall (2005). "STATE PATHOLOGIST MARIE CASSIDY TELLS OF HER GRUESOME WORK". The Mirror.
  3. Quinlan, Ailin (13 December 2010). "What I did today... Professor Marie Cassidy State Pathologist". Irish Independent . Dublin: Independent News & Media . Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  4. Press release on appointment as state pathologist Archived 12 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Raleigh, David. "Meet Marie Cassidy - Ireland's first female state pathologist". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  6. "State Pathologist Marie Cassidy to retire". Journal. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  7. McDonnell, Ciara (11 May 2021). "Dr Cassidy's Casebook: A harrowing look behind the scenes of some of Ireland's most gruesome deaths". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. "Cold Case Collins - what really happened at Béal na mBláth?". 20 August 2022.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)