Dr Mary Henry is Inaugurated as New Pro-Chancellor
Posted on: 08 March 2012
Distinguished medic and politician Dr Mary Henry was inaugurated as a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, recently at a special ceremony in the Provost’s House. The Chancellor and Pro-Chancellors play a fundamental role in the University. As Pro-Chancellor, the conferring of degrees at commencements will be a primary commitment for Dr Henry who joins the College’s Chancellor, Dr Mary Robinson, and Pro-Chancellors Dr Patrick Molloy, Dr John Scattergood, Dr David Spearman and Dr Petros Florides.
Dr Mary Henry first entered Trinity College Dublin as an undergraduate in the early 1960s. She became the first Non Foundation Scholar in Medicine in 1963 and graduated first in her year in Medicine in 1965. Following this Dr Henry completed her MD by thesis in 1968. For over forty years, Dr Henry worked as a consultant vascular physician at the Rotunda, Adelaide and Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospitals in Dublin, as well as in private practice, and published many papers in scientific journals. She has devoted a lifetime to improving healthcare, especially for women, both by the practice of medicine itself, and at a political level.
Speaking at the inauguration, Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast said: “It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome an individual with such an impeccable record of scholarship and public service, and an esteemed graduate of this University, to the Pro-Chancellorship of the University of Dublin, the 53rd Pro-Chancellor to be appointed to this role since the foundation of the College in 1592.”
Dr Henry’s formal political career began in the 1990s, when she was elected as an independent member of Seanad Eireann in 1993 for Dublin University, however her political ambitions were clear when she acted as a founder member of the Women’s Progressive, now Political, Association in the 1970s. The Association had been set up to encourage the participation of women in public life. Among her many political achievements include the campaign to introduce dental and optical benefits for the wives of insured workers. She was also instrumental in the development of new medical legislation, including the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and the Mental Health Act 2001. Her Private Member’s Bill on Child Sex Tourism was incorporated into a Government Bill aimed at stopping this practice. She was re-elected to the Seanad twice before deciding not to stand for re-election in 2007.
Deeply committed to Trinity College Dublin since her undergraduate years, Dr Henry just recently stepped down as Chair of the TCD Association and Trust. In recognition of her work in encouraging women to become involved in public and political life, Dr Henry was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Ulster in 1999 and a Distinguished Alumni Award from Trinity College Dublin in 2008.
Dr Mary Henry, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin.