Heartbreaking tributes have been paid following the death of a young doctor from Co Dublin who ” touched the lives of countless patients and families t hrough her expertise, compassion, dedication, and kindness”. Dr. Aoibhlinn O’Toole, a mum-of-two from Sandymount, passed away peacefully in Blackrock Hospice, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, September 17. Dr O’Toole is survived by her wife of Fionnuala, sons Naoise and Fionn, father Aidan, brother Kevin and sister Sinéad. Dr O’Toole worked as a consultant gastroenterologist, which is a medical professional who specialises in the digestive system, and was considered one of the leading Irish health experts in her field. The Dublin native graduated with honours from University College Dublin in 2004 and went on to complete her specialist training in Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine in St Vincent’s University Hospital, Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. She was the UCD Newman Scholar in Inflammatory Bowel disease and obtained an MD from UCD for her research on colorectal cancer and immune evasion. Dr O’Toole subsequently moved to Boston where she completed inflammatory bowel disease fellowships in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Programme for Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health. She returned to Dublin in 2015 to join the Gastroenterology team in Beaumont Hospital and Bon Secours, and as a clinical lecturer with Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Tributes have poured in for Dr O’Toole, with friends, colleagues and patients remembering her for dedicating her life working to help others and the kindness and compassion she showed her patients. A message shared on a Facebook page dedicated to support those in Ireland battling Crohn’s and Colitis said: ” We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Aoibhlinn O’Toole, a highly respected gastroenterologist, researcher, and unwavering advocate for people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. “Dr O’Toole was not only an exceptional clinician, but also someone who was genuinely loved and valued by the Irish IBD community. Through her expertise, compassion, dedication, and kindness, she touched the lives of countless patients and families, helping them navigate some of their most difficult moments. “Her contribution to IBD care, research, and education will leave a lasting legacy, and her loss will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Many within our community will be forever grateful for the care, support, hope, and reassurance she so generously gave. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her wife, children, family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched. “Thank you, Dr O’Toole. Your impact will never be forgotten.” Dr Gabrielle Colleran, head of department in radiology in the National Maternity Hospital, paid a moving tribute to Dr O’Toole, hailing her as ” a brilliant physician, a loyal friend, a fearless patient advocate”. “Those of us lucky enough to have known her are devastated at her death so young,” she said. “She was a brilliant physician, a loyal friend, a fearless patient advocate. But so much more than that, she was an irreplaceable beloved wife to Fionnuala and a devoted Mammy to their 2 precious boys. “That they had the Christening of their youngest last weekend and Evie’s funeral will happen this weekend seems particularly cruel “Evie loved life, she lived every minute and she was robbed of so many years with Fionnuala and their boys. “She was a wow, in a world full of ho hum and will be always missed. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.” A colleague of Dr O’Toole’s said: ” Aoibhlinn and I first met in 1998 when we started medicine and have worked in the same hospital at several stages of our careers, now most recently in Beaumont. She was always full of fun and laughter, a friend to all. She managed to combine a hard work ethic with her joie de vivre, setting an example to us all about living life to the full. “What was also so clear, was her love for her family. From our younger days, hearing about her parents and siblings, and now also Fionnuala, and her two beautiful boys. She will be so missed. My deepest condolences to you all. Rest in peace Aoibhlinn.” While a former patient of Dr O’Toole’s added: ” I had the honour of being Aoibhlinn’s patient after years of being unwell. Her holistic approach and true understanding of the illness changed not only the trajectory of my disease, but my life. “She set a standard of care that I will carry forward with me. I trusted her implicitly, and I will be forever grateful that I had the privilege of calling her my doctor. “My deepest sympathies are with Aoibhlinn’s wife, children, family, and friends. I am so deeply sorry for your loss.” Dr O’Toole’s funeral was held on Saturday morning in The Church of St. John The Evangelist, Ballinteer, Dublin 16, followed by cremation in Mount Jerome. Her family said that ” Evie lived life to the full” and requested that those attending her funeral “wear a splash of colour in her memory”. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here .

Original source: ie