Professor Breda Smyth is an Irish public health specialist who served as Chief Medical Officer of Ireland from November 2022 until May 2024, having previously held the position on an interim basis.
[4][5] Professor Smyth completed her primary degree in medicine (MB, BCh, BAO) in University College Galway.
[10][11][12] On 15 June 2022, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly appointed Professor Smyth as Chief Medical Officer of Ireland on an interim basis from 4 July, following the retirement of Dr Tony Holohan.
[3][14][15] On 2 February 2024, it was announced that Professor Smyth would be leaving her post as Chief Medical Officer after 18 months to take up an academic role in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
[19][20] She released her debut album Basil and Thyme in 2002 and was subsequently nominated as female traditional musician of the year by the Irish Music Magazine in 2003.