New appointments at the Irish Heart Foundation

The Irish Heart Foundation has announced the appointments of Dr Catherine McGorrian PhD FRCPI as Medical Director and Kevin Gregory as Director of Finance and Operations.

Dr Catherine McGorrian

Dr McGorrian, Consultant Cardiologist and General Physician in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and an Associate Clinical Professor in University College Dublin, took up the role of Medical Director on 1^st November 2026, succeeding Dr Angie Brown.

Having graduated from RCSI in 1997, Dr McGorrian has been a doctor for nearly 30 years, with a career still founded on clinical work with patients. She completed her specialty training in Cardiology and General Medicine in Ireland and Canada.

Dr McGorrian worked and studied at McMaster University in Ontario and UCD, where she graduated with an MSc in Health Research Methodology and PhD on Cardiovascular Epidemiology, respectively.

An author and co-author of more than 60 scientific publications, she has been working in the Mater Inherited Cardiac Conditions Clinic since 2008, along with work on the hospital wards and emergency department.

As well as her clinical work, she has worked as a hospital Clinical Director, and the chair of the Clinical Advisory Group in Acute Medicine through the RCPI.

The role of Medical Director is to promote the aims and objectives of the Irish Heart Foundation by advising the Chief Executive, Senior Management Team and the Board of Directors on medical matters in relation to all aspects of cardiovascular disease prevention and cardiology generally.

Kevin Gregory

Kevin Gregory was appointed Director of Finance and Operations with the Irish Heart Foundation on 1^st November 2026. Prior to this Kevin was Director of Social Enterprises & Employability at Rehab, from 2023 to 2026 where he led the international team, providing employment for people with a disability in Social Enterprises.

Kevin has extensive experience as Director for Corporate Services including Finance, HR, IT and Governance in national charities Barnardos, Focus, Vita and Business in the Community / Community Foundation Ireland. Kevin also worked in the private sector in Savills and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PWC.

Additionally, Kevin holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UCD). His postgraduate education includes an MSc in IT Applications (DCU), a Diploma in Project Management (UCC), an IMI Diploma in Organisational Development & Transformation, and a Law Society Certificate in Charity Law, Trusteeship, and Governance.

Kevin has also contributed as a board member with organisations such as Volunteer Ireland, the Irish Penal Reform Trust, and currently the Irish Blood Transfusion Board.

Speaking of the appointments, Irish Heart Foundation CEO, Emma Balmaine, said, “I congratulate Dr McGorrian on her appointment as Medical Director and Kevin Gregory on his appointment as Director of Finance and Operations. I look forward to welcoming them to the Irish Heart Foundation. They will play pivotal roles working with myself and Senior Management, our Board of Directors, colleagues, patients and stakeholders to support our strategic agenda, mission and vision.”