Dr. Orlaith O Reilly graduated from University College Cork in 1982 and did her MPH in University College Dublin in 1985. She undertook general professional training in medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and psychiatry and practiced as a GP, prior to undertaking higher specialist training in Public Health Medicine, under the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. Her special interests have included policy and service development in cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic disease management and health information. She was the Director of Public Health in the South Eastern region of Ireland between 1995 and 2014 and was appointed as the National Clinical Advisor and Programme Group Lead, for Chronic Disease in 2014.