Laois GP to take part in Ireland's National Menopause Summit

Portarlington GP Dr Sumi Dunne will take to the stage alongside a host of experts and stars for Ireland’s National Menopause Summit. 

Featuring leading advocates, clinicians, facilitators and professionals in the area of menopause and perimenopause, the inaugural National Menopause Summit Advocating for Change will take place in the The Round Room at The Mansion House in Dublin on Thursday, March 23.

Dr Sumi, who is probably best known for her television appearances in Operation Transformation since 2019, has a keen interest in Women’s Health.  

Within her General Practice Dr Sumi has developed a particular interest in Women’s Health.  She believes strongly in the need for clinician leadership, and completed a Master’s in Leadership at RCSI together with being a member of the RCSI Human Research and Ethics Committee. In 2020 Sumi was appointed for her work in health and well-being a Fellowship of the Faculty of Sports Medicine RCSI. 

In 2021 Dr Sumi was appointed to the Oireachtas specialist sub-committee on Mental Health.  Dr Sumi is also a GP committee member of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).  She is taking part in the latest season of Operation Transformation which coincidentally is being filmed around Laois. 

Moderated by journalist and broadcaster Gráinne Seoige and featuring the phenomenal Davina McCall, whose advocacy around perimenopause and menopause is unsurpassed, the National Menopause Summit aims to shift the narrative by debunking myths and taboos, providing inclusive fact based information, advocating for support across both the personal and professional arenas and provide a platform of understanding and respect to ensure no one suffers needlessly at this oftentimes highly challenging and transitional stage of life.

Compèring and moderating this landmark event is Gráinne Seoige, whose recent TG4 documentary Meanapás: Meon Nua explored the topic of menopause, how it is handled in this country and served as a ground-breaking vehicle to debunk menopause for Irish women. The expertly curated panel of speakers will feature Davina McCall who has become a passionate advocate for raising awareness about menopause as well as fronting two critically acclaimed Channel 4 documentaries and recently releasing her book Menopausing. 

Founder and co-director of the National Menopause Summit, Sinead McNamara said the inaugural event will seek to tackle issues around menopause and the workplace. 

“This Masterclass in Menopause will deliver the ‘no filter reality’ of the serious challenges perimenopause and menopause presents while affording attendees best in class knowledge and information to negotiate these challenges,” she said. 

“Also championing for a ‘new norm’ across the Irish workplace, The National Menopause Summit will advocate and empower the introduction of inclusive, compassionate and sympathetic work policies to ensure all feel supported to forge forward in their careers, thus stemming the flow of women choosing to exit the workforce, or disregard opportunities for advancement, due to the lack of these crucial supports,” she added. 

One of Ireland’s favourite comedians, the inimitable Deirdre O’Kane will close out the day with a stand-up comedy set musing on all things menopause, midlife and the maelstrom that is modern living.

The inaugural summit’s powerful voices and exceptional speaker line-up also includes Loretta Dignam, founder and CEO of The Menopause Hub;  Dr Caoimhe Hartley, clinical lead Rotunda Hospital Menopause Clinic,  founder and CEO Menopause Health; Dr Sumi Dunne, GP and clinical lecturer in General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the GP expert on RTE’s Operation Transformation; Dr Deirdre Lundy, lead medical officer for the Complex Menopause Service at the National Maternity Hospital Holles Street; Sallyanne Brady, advocate and founder of The Irish Menopause;  Joanne Healy, head of group employee relations at Bank of Ireland and Katie Ridge, head of employer relations at Adare Human Resource Management.  Additional speakers will be announced over the coming months. 

National Menopause Summit is presented by Best in Fest, the multi award winning events and festival agency based in Dublin.