Gerry Foley talks to two science graduates from 1982, one a pharmacist, the other a doctor. Both have gone one to have hugely important careers, primarily in public health. Emer Cooke is now the Executive Director for the European Medicines Agency in Amsterdam. Under her watch, the EMA was responsible for the regulation and rollout of the Covid vaccine across 27 EU states. Her agency is currently looking at future preparedness for other possible epidemics.
Dr Mary Black played a key role in the management of the pandemic response across Scotland. She is an expert in the sourcing and management of real time data for the health sector. Throughout a varied career, she oversaw the evacuation of critically injured patients from the besieged city of Sarajevo , in the early 90s. She recalls how her children had to learn not to walk on the grass, in case it was landmined. She's currently writing a family history of 3 female doctors through the generations.
Both graduates start the chat with memories of the Trinity Ball