Enhanceing specialist women’s cancer services in region
HSE Mid West is pleased to announce the appointment at University Maternity Hospital Limerick of obstetrics and gynaecology specialist Dr Manel Barahona Orpinell.
With more than 25 years’ clinical and research experience, Dr Barahona’s expertise in gynaecologic oncology, and interest in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, significantly enhances the provision of specialist women’s cancer services here.
Dr Naro Imcha, Clinical Director of Maternal & Child Health, HSE Mid West, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Barahona to UMHL and the wider Mid West healthcare community. Dr Barahona is a highly respected European specialist in gynaecologic oncology surgery, and extensive experience in advanced cancer care, minimally invasive techniques, and multidisciplinary service development, will be a tremendous asset to our patients and clinical teams. His appointment represents an important step in strengthening specialist women’s cancer services in the region, and we are very pleased that patients in the Mid-West will benefit from his expertise and leadership.”
Dr Barahona has been honoured by the European Society of Gynaecologic Oncology (ESGO) for his accomplishments in gynaecologic oncology, and has published numerous research papers in journals and chapters in gynaecologic oncology textbooks.
Prior to relocating to the Mid West with his family, Dr Barahona was a Consultant Gynaecologist, specialising in Gynaecologic Oncology, at University Hospital Puerto Real, Cádiz, Andalusia, where he led a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering personalized, high-quality cancer care
As well as his extensive involvement in leading Spanish and international professional obstetric societies, Dr Barahona has contributed to and coordinated Spain’s national clinical guidelines for endometrial cancer.
He has also collaborated closely with patient advocacy groups such as ASACO (Spanish Society for women affected by ovarian cancer); and in India, with the NGO Fundacion Vicente Ferrer, and with the Kidway Hospital in Bengaluru, teaching surgical techniques in gynaecologic cancer.
Dr Barahona’s career began in 1997 in Cádiz, Andalusia, firstly at Hospital Virgen del Camino in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and then Hospital Universitario Puerto Real, where his clinical focus progressively shifted toward gynaecologic oncology and breast cancer.
To further specialize in cancer care, he trained and worked at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, followed by a key eight-year appointment at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío in Seville, one of Spain’s leading oncology centres.
There, Dr Barahona also coordinated the Gynecologic Oncology Unit, and the development of multidisciplinary and highly specialized care pathways, gaining expertise in minimal invasive and robotics applied to gynaecologic oncology surgery.
Outside his professional work, Dr Barahona enjoys sports and fitness.
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