Ciaran Cosgrave
"It is a privilege to be part of Queen's Leaders 18-45. Queen’s shaped so much of who I am – professionally and personally – and to be invited back in a leadership capacity feels like an opportunity to give something back."
Dr Ciaran Cosgrave is Director of UPMC Sports Medicine and the UPMC Institute for Health in Ireland. A Consultant in Sports and Exercise Medicine, he specialises in managing pain and injury for people of all ages and activity levels.
A 2004 graduate of Queen’s, Dr Cosgrave has over 20 years of experience in elite sport. He served as doctor to the Irish Senior Rugby Team from 2016 to 2024, was Head of Medical for the British & Irish Lions Tour in 2025, and has worked with Liverpool Football Club, Leinster Rugby, and at the 2012 Olympic Games. He also provided medical cover for the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers during their NFL game in Dublin.
"The education was world class and gave me the foundation to pursue a career that has taken me from Belfast to Dublin, Liverpool, and across the world with international teams. Beyond the academics, Queen’s gave me friendships that have lasted a lifetime, and a sense of belonging to a proud tradition. It was the place I always knew I wanted to study, and it exceeded all expectations."
At UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dr Cosgrave leads teams focused on clinical care, research, and innovation in musculoskeletal health, with a particular interest in concussion management and ultrasound-guided injections.
"Queen’s instilled in me the values of excellence, curiosity, and collaboration. The training I received in Belfast was rigorous, broad, and ambitious, which gave me the confidence to specialise in a relatively new field like Sports and Exercise Medicine. Ultimately, the sense of pride and purpose I felt as a Queen’s medical student has carried through every stage of my career."