Professor John Kennedy

I feel mixed emotions.

I think most people would answer the question that way and I would too.

I've really enjoyed my time working.

It's been a fantastic time to be involved in cancer care in Ireland because services have improved so dramatically over the last 30 years.

It's been fantastic to be part of that.

Internationally, care for cancer has really improved as well.

Outcomes are far better for patients.

That's been incredibly gratifying.

Yeah, I graduated in 1983, did my basic training in Ireland, did a little bit of oncology and then went to America for 11 years.

I was at Johns Hopkins for 11 years doing cancer research and care there.

And I saw how...

I mean, it was quite a revelation to me at the time.

I saw how cancer care should be delivered, and that was not the way it was in Ireland in those days.

And I remember seeing a lady one morning who came in to me with severe headaches, and I was quite concerned.

She had brain metastases, and she had an MRI scan at lunchtime confirming that, and she started radiation the following morning.

And I thought to myself, that was the way to do it.

And now, thankfully, in Ireland, that is the way we do it because of all the advances that have been made and the improvements in service.

The difference is always substantial between what you see in America and what you see in a publicly funded healthcare system like we have in Ireland because it's a different funding system.

There's an awful lot of money in the system.

It is different.