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Dr. Anita O'Donovan

Assistant Professor (Radiation Therapy)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H - PHASE II & III
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Anita O'Donovan

Assistant Professor (Radiation Therapy)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H - PHASE II & III

 Anita.ODonovan@tcd.ie

 3531896 3149


Anita O'Donovan joined the academic staff as an Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Radiation Therapy in 2011. In terms of academic achievements, she has received a BSc. in Radiation Therapy (First Class Hons), M.A.(j.o) and Special Purpose Certificate in Education, from Trinity College Dublin, and is currently in the final year of her PhD. Prior to joining TCD, she worked as a Radiation Therapist in St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network Dublin (St Luke's Hospital) and Cork University Hospital in both clinical and research positions. The overarching theme of her research and PhD subject is Geriatric Oncology, specifically optimal care of the older radiotherapy patient, and preparing the radiation therapy workforce for predicted demographic changes and a rapidly increasing older cancer patient population. Anita has previously served as a member of Board and Executive Committee of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), the first radiation therapist to be represented in this organisation. She was also a member of the SIOG Science and Education committee and editorial board member for the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, and member of faculty of the SIOG Advanced Course in Geriatric Oncology and Irish Geriatric Oncology group. Anita has a particularly keen interest in older patient advocacy and incorporating alternative teaching methods into the classroom. This commitment was recognised when she was awarded a Trinity College Provost Teaching Award in June 2017.
Project Title
 Care of the Older Radiotherapy Patient
From
July 2012
To
present
Summary
Background and Purpose: Eleven per cent of Ireland's population is currently over the age of 65; this is projected to double to 1.4 million by 2040. Approximately 60% of all Irish cancer cases occur in the over 65 age group. According to Irish Cancer Society and National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) predictions, new cancer cases in Ireland could potentially double by 2040. Despite the body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of geriatric assessment, its adoption in oncology has not been widespread. Traditionally a multidisciplinary approach is required in Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in order to identify problems and develop a care plan appropriate to individual patients. However, it is well recognised that CGA is time consuming and expensive. How geriatric assessment can best be integrated into Oncology remains to be clarified. My research is focussed on integration of geriatric medicine principles in radiation therapy. Outcomes: To evaluate the impact of geriatric assessment on specified treatment oncological outcomes, such as the ability to impact treatment decisions, treatment tolerance and quality of life. Impact: Population ageing will have a profound effect on the healthcare system in Ireland in the coming years. This will be especially evident in Ireland, where there will be a predicted doubling in the proportion of the population over the age of 65. There is now an impetus in all aspects of elderly care, to put the necessary infrastructure in place to promote successful ageing. The provision of state-of-the-art oncology services is one such area.
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Prostate Cancer Patient Survivorship ASPIRE Post CSCST Fellowship
From
To
Summary
The proposed ASPIRE Fellowship in Prostate cancer survivorship (ongoing) will comprise the acquisition of subspecialised clinical experience, knowledge and competency in the management of patients with prostate cancer focusing on the detection, evaluation and management of treatment-related sequelae and overall survivorship care. It will also evaluate and address unmet needs, in the specific Irish context and review the impact of existing guidelines on bone-health, including an audit of DEXA scans. A third component is the evaluation and implementation of frailty assessment tools in daily practice for patients aged 70 years and older. The overarching purpose of this programme of research is to provide more evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of older people with cancer.
Funding Agency
HSE
Programme
ASPIRE Fellowship

Details Date
NCCP Geriatric Oncology Steering Group April 2025 to present
Accreditation Council of Europe (ACOE) Councillor 2022 to present
European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Radiation Oncology Safety and Quality Committee (ROSQC) June 2016 to present
Member of Board and Executive Committee, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) October 2014 to 2017
Member of Faculty SIOG Advanced Course in Geriatric Oncology November 2016 to present
CORU Radiographers Registration Board, nominated by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science January 2024 to present
Member of faculty ESTRO Course Non-melanoma Skin Cancer 2017 to present
Chair of the Membership and National Representatives Committee, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) March 2014 to 2017
National Representative, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) January 2013
National Radiation Therapy reviewer on the Radiography Qualifications Review Board February 2012 to 2015
Member of teaching faculty on the ESTRO Teaching course on Basic Treatment Planning. March 2012 to October 2013
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Irish Medium Basic Basic
Italian Medium Medium Medium
Details Date From Date To
ESTRO member 2006 present
Registered member of CORU 2014 present
Cancer Trials Ireland 2015 to present
IIRRT member 2008 2022
Member of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) July 2012 present
Penny Mackenzie, Geoff P. Delaney, Lucinda Morris, Anita O"Donovan, One voice for radiotherapy: Addressing inequities in radiotherapy utilization for older adults, Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17, (2), 2026, p102899 - 102899, p102899-102899 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Baldini, C., Mislang, A.R.A., Cheung, K.-L., Pilleron, S., Wildiers, H., Rostoft, S., Neuendorff, N.R., Frelaut, M., Kanesvaran, R., Papamichael, D., O"Hanlon, S., Puts, M., Canoui-Poitrine, F., Dal Lago, L., Soo, W.K., O"Donovan, A., Gomes, F., Cooper, L., Canin, B., Bringuier, M., Battisti, N.M.L., Biganzoli, L., Brain, E., The ESMO/SIOG Cancer in the Elderly Working Group pragmatic strategies for clinical trial designs and endpoints in older adults with cancer, ESMO Open, 11, (3), 2026, p105940 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Morris Lucinda, Thiruthaneeswaran Niluja, O'Donovan Anita, VanderWalde Noam, Cree Anthea, Grover Surbhi, Jeppesen Stefan Starup, Simcock Richard, Review of current best practice in radiation oncology for older adults with cancer: Updates from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) Task Force , Journal of geriatric oncology , 17 , (2 ), 2026, p102839 -, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
O'Shea Evelyn, O'Donovan Anita, Sheehan Sharon, Coffey Mary, Brennan Sinead, Flynn Maureen, Browne Mary, Popivanov Petar, Gillham Charles, Daly Patricia, Bergin Sarah, Implementing Evidence-Based Quality Improvement in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety and Clinical Research Programs , Quality management in health care , 35 , (2 ), 2026, p94 - 103 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Forde E., Van den Berghe L., Buijs M., Cardone A., Daly J., Franco P., Julka-Anderson N., Lechner W., Marignol L., Marvaso G., Nisbet H., O'Donovan A., Russell N.S., Scherer P., Practical recommendations for the management of radiodermatitis: on behalf of the ESTRO RTT committee, Radiation Oncology, 20, (1), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Samuel Peters, Anita O"Donovan, Marcello Bellini, Amanda Caissie, Mary P. Coffey, Ali Dabach, Geoff P. Delaney, Peter E. Fischer, Gert Frenken, Brian Liszewski, Philippe Maignon, Eric Messens, Sophie Perryck, Baoshe Zhang, P.M.J. Reijnders-Thijssen, ESTRO framework for radiation oncology departments to mitigate against cyberattacks, Radiotherapy and Oncology, 214, 2025, p111305 - 111305, p111305-111305 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Palliative radiotherapy in the older adult in, editor(s)Vapiwala, Neha Jones, Joshua A. Dharmarajan, Kavita V. , Palliative Radiation Oncology, Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2024, pp275 - 288, [O'Donovan Anita], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Skin Cancer in Older Adults in, editor(s)Kenneth Rockwood, Ruth E. Hubbard, and Andrew Clegg , Brocklehurst"s Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 9th Edition, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2024, [Anita O'Donovan and Agata Rembielak], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Elizabeth Forde, Michelle Leech, Anita O"Donovan, Laure Marignol, Breaking Barriers in Medical Education: An Audit of Accessibility in Teaching Materials for Radiation Therapy, ESTRO 2024, Glasgow, Scotland, 3-7 May, 2024, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
O'Donovan A, O'Hanlon S, Breaking bad barriers: engaging older adults in cancer research, Age and ageing, 53, (2), 2024, pafae019-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
  

Page 1 of 10
Anita O'Donovan, Management of Older Patients with Skin Cancer: Are we Overtreating?, ESTRO 2024, Glasgow, 7th May 2024, 2024, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Anita O'Donovan, Radiation Therapy in Older Adults with Cancer , Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) Masterclass Series, Dublin, Ireland, March 6th , 2019, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Anita O'Donovan, Palliative Radiotherapy In Older And Frail Patients With Elements Of Geriatric Assessment, The Royal College of Radiologists Palliative Radiotherapy Study Day, March 13th, 2019, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
A. O'Donovan, Age Attuned Radiotherapy, European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 37, Barcelona, Spain, 20th-24th April, 2018, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
O'Donovan, A., Integrating Geriatric Medicine Principles into Oncology, Grand Rounds, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK, March 17th, 2017, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Anita O'Donovan, Integrating Geriatric Medicine Principles into Oncology, Royal College of Radiologists Annual Scientific Meeting, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland, 29th September, 2017, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Anita O'Donovan, Oncology of Later Life: New Horizons for the Radiation Therapist, Irish Institute of Radiography and Radiation Therapy Annual Conference, Cork, Ireland, 7th October, 2017, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
A. O'Donovan, Radiotherapy in Older Patients, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) Geriatric Medicine Training, Dublin, Ireland, November 18th, 2017, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
O'Donovan, A., Managing The Elderly In Radiotherapy Using Geriatric Assessment: 'MERGE', European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) Spring/Summer Magazine, 2017, Notes: [A special joint issue of the EONS magazine with the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)], Journal Article, PUBLISHED
A. O'Donovan, The Impact of Radiation Toxicity on Quality of Life of Older Patients, 16th Conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), Milan, Italy, November 17-19, 2016, SIOG, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


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Award Date
Saint Luke's Prize 2002
TCD Provost Teaching Award 2016-17
Geriatric Oncology;older cancer patient's experience and quality of life;survivorship care