Stuart Garrett, Mark McGowan and Dr. Roisin Plunkett initially founded CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare Together in 2015. Since then, six teams of allied and other health professionals have travelled to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda (2015 - 2014).
Stuart first travelled to Uganda when he was 16 years old as part of a transition year programme at St. Andrew's College, Blackrock. Whilst studying to become a Physiotherapist at University College Dublin (UCD), Stuart also got involved with UCD Volunteer Overseas (UCDVO). Stuart volunteered on UCDVO's Haiti, India and Nicaragua projects and established the UCDVO project partnership between UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science and Kisiizi Hospital. Since graduating from UCD in 2011, Stuart has led several groups of UCD students to Uganda where they have undertaken their elective placement at Kisiizi Hospital.
Dr. Roisin Plunkett also visited Kisiizi Hospital as part of the St. Andrew's College transition year programme. Since then, Dr. Roisin has actively been involved in the establishment of CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare acting as Secretary and in 2015 (-2018), co-led a team of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda.
Mark McGowan travelled to Kisiizi Hospital in 2012. Mark has actively been involved in the establishment of CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare Together acting as Treasurer and in 2015 and 2016, co-led teams of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda.
Board of Trustees (2025/2026)
Chairperson: Aileen Kelly
Aileen became aware of CHEEERS: DHT through friends and colleagues who had been on previous trips. She was due to volunteer in 2020, but due to Covid-19, her trip had to be postponed. Fortunately, the majority of her group was able to reassemble and finally ventured out to Kisiizi in 2022. She was part of a team of 9 healthcare workers. Aileen and the other speech and language therapist worked at building on the work of previous years with specific focus on upskilling local staff to continue the education process both within the hospital and in the school of nursing.
She got involved as it was a short term volunteering opportunity with a focus on sustainability. It provided a great opportunity to share knowledge and experience gained through her career with others. It also allowed her to learn from members of the MDT both from Ireland and from Uganda. This trip gave her an insight into a different culture and way of life. The skills and experiences that she have obtained through her work with CHEERS: DHT is transferable to multiple different facets if her professional and personal life.
Vice-Chairperson: Conor Stout
Secretary: Joe Noonan
Treasurer: Pat Leahy
Social Media & Communications Lead: Molly Kavanagh
Molly Kavanagh is a junior social media and public relations professional with an interest in international development, humanitarianism, and NGO communications. She works as a Communications Executive for the Irish-based international humanitarian organisation, GOAL, and graduated with a degree in English & Politics from University College Cork in 2023. She joined the CHEEERS:DHT board in 2023 to expand her experience in social media management for charities and non-profits, and to help profile the organisation's amazing work.
Training Lead: Amy Rennie
Recruitment Lead: Roisin O'Murray
Róisín O'Murray is the Speech and Language Therapy Manager at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. She has a passion for rehabilitation and helping all patients increase their quality of life post accident, trauma, or illness. She volunteered with the CHEEERS:DHT programme trip to Kisizii in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnings from this time in Uganda. Róisín joined the board in 2023 and is looking forward to continuing to support this wonderful charity in what ways she can in this role.
Fundraising Lead: Emma Pearson
Board Member: Enda Larkin
Board Member: Ella-Louise Taylor
Board Member: Aine McCarthy
Board Member: Sinéad Ó hÓgartaigh