Professor John Calvin Coffey is the Foundation Chair of Surgery at the School of Medicine in University of Limerick and a consultant general and colorectal surgeon at University Hospital Group Limerick. Professor Coffey s team and their collaborators have radically altered our understanding of abdominal anatomy.  Their findings and curriculum are now in reference textbooks including Gray s Anatomy, Gray s Surgical Anatomy and Langman s Medical Embryology. They have developed new surgical techniques in the surgical management of Crohn s disease, and congenital abnormalities of the mesentery.  These advancements have prompted several multicentre international trials. In collaboration with UL and UHL Professor Coffey pioneered robotic intestinal surgery in Ireland.  He led the team that introduced robotic assisted colorectal, urological and gynaecological surgery to UHL.  Since development of these programs robotic assisted surgery has expanded dramatically in Ireland. Professor Coffey introduced the concept that the mesentery should be regarded as an organ. 

B.Sc (Anatomy) Hons University College Cork, 1995 MB., B.Ch., BAO., B.MedSci., University College Cork, 1998 AFRCSI, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 2001 PhD, University College Cork, 2004 FRCS (Gen.Surg), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 2009 CS , fellowship in colorectal surgery, The Cleveland Clinic