Catherine de Blacam is a plastic surgeon with special interest in cleft surgery and paediatric plastic surgery. A graduate of UCD, she completed her specialist training in plastic surgery in Ireland, as well as an Aspire fellowship in cleft surgery at the Dublin Cleft Centre.
In addition to her clinical work, Catherine has a keen interest in patient-reported outcomes and clinical research. She was awarded a MD in molecular biology from RCSI and completed a clinical research fellowship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Christoph Theopold
Plastic Surgeon
Christoph Theopold studied medicine in Oxford and University College London (1999). Following a research fellowship at Harvard University Medical School he trained as a plastic surgeon in the UK and Ireland. He undertook further specialist cleft training at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and Head & Neck reconstructive surgery in Australia.
He undertakes the primary surgical management of children referred to the Temple Street Children’s Hospital cleft team, as well as secondary surgery for speech or appearance. He is involved in your child’s care from birth until adulthood.
David Orr
Plastic Surgeon
David Orr is a plastic surgeon with a special interest in cleft surgery and paediatric plastic surgery. He qualified from Trinity College, Dublin in 1986 and, following basic surgical training in Ireland and a research fellowship in surgical oncology in Cardiff, trained in plastic surgery in London, Oxford and Manchester. He spent a year in fellowship training at the Australian Craniofacial Unit and the Royal Adelaide Hospital before returning to Ireland as a consultant in 1998.
Laura Duggan
Cleft Services Manager
Laura qualified as a General Nurse in Waterford and completed her Paediatric Training in Temple Street Hospital (1991). After graduating she continued to work in Temple street as a staff nurse in a medical/surgical ward before progressing to CNM 2 managing a busy surgical ward.
In 2005 she joined the Dublin Cleft Centre team to coordinate cleft services in St. James's Hospital, CHI Crumlin and since 2010 services in Galway. She completed the Nurse Specialist Course in Nottingham in 2008.
Tim McSwiney
Orthodontist
Mr McSwiney trained as a specialist orthodontist at University College Cork and then as a consultant orthodontist at the cleft and craniofacial unit, Oxford University Hospital.
He is the orthodontic cleft lead at St James Hospital Dublin. As part of the Dublin Cleft Centre team, he is responsible for advising and providing orthodontic treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies. This also involves giving advice to patients who may be undergoing treatment in our peripheral centres.
Aisling O Mahony
Prosthodontist
Dr Aisling O Mahony is the Cleft Prosthodontist involved in replacing missing teeth at the end of treatment. Dr O Mahony works in St James’s Hospital and is involved in planning when your child is young although this treatment does not usually begin until early adulthood. Aisling was trained in Trinity College Dublin and did her specialty training at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Clare Cremmins
Senior Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
The Speech and Language Therapiston the Cleft Care team at St. James’ hospital works with children (5 years and over) and adults who present with communication difficulties associated with cleft palate.We also provide assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for people presenting with nasal sounding speech which is not associated with cleft palate. Speech and Language Therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide a comprehensive programme of care for each individual.
Aisling O'Dwyer
Lead Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
The Speech and Language Therapiston the Cleft Care team at St. James’ hospital works with children (5 years and over) and adults who present with communication difficulties associated with cleft palate.We also provide assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for people presenting with nasal sounding speech which is not associated with cleft palate. Speech and Language Therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide a comprehensive programme of care for each individual.