Catherine Moran is an Irish consultant neurosurgeon, recognized as the first female consultant neurosurgeon in Ireland. She specializes in complex spinal neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery (including deep brain stimulation), and general neurosurgery. Since 2020, she has been based at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, contributing significantly to neurosurgical care and training.
Early life and education.
Catherine Moran graduated from University College Dublin in 2006 with a medical degree (MB BCh BAO, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Obstetrics). She pursued neurosurgical training in Ireland. In 2016, she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FRCSI), sub-specializing in neurosurgery.
Career.
Moran completed advanced fellowships in functional neurosurgery at Bristol NHS Trust (UK) and Washington University in St. Louis (USA), as well as in complex spinal neurosurgery at King’s College Hospital, London, and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London. These fellowships focused on spinal tumor surgery, trauma, degenerative pathologies, and deep brain stimulation.
In 2020, she was appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, becoming Ireland’s first female consultant neurosurgeon. Her work involves complex surgeries and patient follow-ups. Moran also contributes to training future neurosurgeons and advancing minimally invasive and robotic neurosurgery techniques.
She featured in Virgin Media One’s 2025 documentary series "Brain Doctors".
Research and contributions.
Moran’s research focuses on functional neurosurgery and complex spinal surgery, including minimally invasive techniques and robotic neurosurgery. She has published internationally, notably on miRNA expression in human temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS). Her work contributes to improved surgical techniques and patient outcomes.
Recognition.
Moran’s historic appointment as Ireland’s first female consultant neurosurgeon was celebrated, with Linda Coogan Byrne highlighting her as an inspiration for women in medicine.