Dr Ronan Kavanagh
Consultant Rheumatologist
About Dr Kavanagh
Dr. Ronan Kavanagh is a Consultant Rheumatologist and the founder of the Western Rheumatology Partnership, providing expert care at the Galway Clinic and Bon Secours Hospital for over 25 years.
Dr. Kavanagh received his medical degree from NUI Galway and completed his postgraduate training in Rheumatology as a research fellow and Senior Registrar at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge and The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and also trained in Belfast City Hospital and in Musgrave Park Hospital. He was awarded his MD Thesis by the University of Galway for his research work done while in Cambridge in 1998. He also holds the position of Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Galway.
He is passionate about the intersection of medicine, the arts, and technology.
Dr. Kavanagh founded and directed the dotMD Festival of Medical Curiosity for 10 years, a unique event that explored these connections to inspire and reinvigorate healthcare professionals.
A former President of the Irish Society for Rheumatology, he is also a sought-after medical speaker, interviewer, and occasional columnist for the Irish medical press.
He has acted as a medical advisor to several medical technology companies. He also directs the Osteoporosis Screening Service at Bon Secours Hospital, Galway. He has also acted as Chairman of the Board of Macnas Theatre Company in Galway.
In 2024, he was awarded the inaugural Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Recognition of Contribution to Medicine Medal in recognition of his innovations in postgraduate medical education.
His dedication to integrating the arts and technology into medical practice reflects his commitment to providing innovative and holistic care.
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New Clinic Location at Bon Secours Hospital, Galway
Western Rheumatology is pleased to announce that we are opening a new office location at the Bon Secours Hospital, Galway….
This Month in Arthritis and Osteoporosis – June 2026
If you follow health news, you may have noticed a flurry of exciting arthritis stories recently. From weight-loss injections to “cures” involving cell therapy, it can be hard to know what to make of it all. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of the five stories generating the most buzz – and what the science actually says.