Laura Heffernan is a graduate of the UCD School of Medicine who moved west to Galway for most of her training in Emergency Medicine. After completion of ASTEM, she moved significantly further west again, spending some time as a ship physician in the Caribbean providing care to up to 8,000 staff and guests on cruise liners.

She has returned to Galway as a Consultant since 2024 and has taken a special interest in the organisation of induction, teaching and mentoring of doctors within the department. She is the lead administrator of the Galway EM Space on the Eolas Medical app. She is also a member and lead reviewer on the IAEM Guidelines Committee, which publishes national clinical guidelines for EM doctors throughout Ireland. She is an ATLS instructor since 2022.

Laura was recently appointed Intern Coordinator for the West North-West Intern Network, one of six intern networks in the Republic of Ireland, with approximately 150 intern doctors in training posts spread across 11 sites in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Donegal.