Biography:John Crown

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Short description: Irish medical practitioner and former politician (b. 1957)
John Crown
Professor John Crown, stock headshot.jpg
Senator
In office
April 2011 – April 2016
ConstituencyNational University
Personal details
Born (1957-03-01) 1 March 1957 (age 66)
New York City , United States
NationalityIrish
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Orla Murray[1]
Children4
Alma mater

John Crown (born 1 March 1957) is an Irish consultant oncologist and former politician.[2] He served in the Seanad from 2011 until 2016 but did not stand for re-election.

Background and education

Born in Brooklyn, New York to Irish emigrant parents,[3] Crown's family returned to Ireland in 1967,[4] and attended Synge Street CBS.[5] Crown received his medical training in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. A graduate of University College Dublin and the State University of New York[which?], and holds degrees in medicine, science and business administration.[6]

His postdoctoral training took place at Guy's Hospital in London and St. James's Hospital in Dublin. He completed his training in oncology in New York at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.[4] He held the post of assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University until 1993 when he returned to Ireland, becoming a consultant at two Dublin hospitals: St. Vincent's and St. Luke's. He holds professorships in cancer research from Dublin City University and University College Dublin.[7]

Crown has worked to reform cancer treatment in Ireland as chairman of molecular therapeutics for Cancer Ireland, and founder of the Ireland Co-operative Oncology Research Group (ICORG).[4][7] Crown, along with his colleagues developed translational breast cancer research.[8]

Crown became a vocal critic of the health policy of the Irish government led by Bertie Ahern and his successor Brian Cowen, and of the Minister for Health Mary Harney. In November 2007 he was involved in a controversy with the state broadcaster RTÉ when he was unexpectedly dropped from a discussion panel on The Late Late Show. The broadcaster denied that pressure had been applied by the government, but the decision was attacked by opposition politicians as "censorship and a denial of free speech".[9]

In May 2021, he was admitted as a member of the Royal Irish Academy.[10]

Seanad election

In March 2011 Crown announced that he would stand for election to Seanad Éireann in the National University constituency. He stood as a non-party candidate, and pledged to give his senator's salary to cancer research.[11] In his regular column in the Sunday Independent, Crown expressed hope that James Reilly, health minister in the new government elected in February 2011 would reform the health services.[12] Offering the electorate what he called "fresh thinking, new abilities, and a different perspective" he was elected on the 24th and final count for the National University constituency.[13]

Seanad bills

As a member of the 24th Seanad, Crown brought three bills before the house. The first was The Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011.[14] It was rejected by the government.[15] A second was the Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012.[16] It was accepted by the government[17] A third was the Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013.[18] It was rejected by the government.[19]

In 2013, Crown stated that Opus Dei prelature was mobilising within the Irish professions to influence efforts at Irish abortion law legalisation.[20]

References

  1. "Baby James is the jewel in the crown for John and Orla". 24 April 2015. https://www.independent.ie/life/the-edge-yes-leo-has-his-cake-and-eats-it-31168852.html. 
  2. "John Crown". Oireachtas Members Database. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/John-Crown.S.2011-05-25/. 
  3. Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 209. ISBN 9780717150595. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "About John Crown". John Crown. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110513074948/http://www.johncrown.ie/about-john-crown. 
  5. "Vocal critic of past health policy". Irish Times. 20 December 2013. https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2013/1220/Pg003.html#Ar00301:0BD5350DF54309B5350BC5430E05350F8543. 
  6. "Professor John Crown". http://www.ucd.ie/innovation/newsevents/tedxucd/2013/speakers/professorjohncrown/. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Culliton, Gary (1 April 2011). "Crown's Jewels of Wisdom". Irish Medical Times. http://www.imt.ie/features-opinion/2011/04/crowns-jewels-of-wisdom.html. 
  8. "Leading consultants get €6.5m to support dedicated research time". Dublin City University. 15 May 2007. http://www.dcu.ie/news/2007/may/s0507g.shtml. 
  9. Reid, Lorna (12 November 2007). "Cancer specialist at centre of RTÉ row refuses to be gagged". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/cancer-specialist-at-centre-of-rte-row-refuses-to-be-gagged-1217181.html. 
  10. "Admittance Day 2021". Royal Irish Academy. 21 May 2021. https://www.ria.ie/news/membership/admittance-day-2021. 
  11. Walshe, John (4 March 2011). "Cancer specialist Crown in bid for Seanad seat". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/latest-news/cancer-specialist-crown-in-bid-for-seanad-seat-2565552.html. 
  12. Crown, John (24 April 2011). "Reilly can stop inefficiencies -- and save kids' lives -- overnight". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/reilly-can-stop-inefficiencies-and-save-kids-lives-overnight-2628247.html. 
  13. De Bréadún, Deaglán (28 April 2011). "Norris elected after Seanad recount". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0428/breaking15.html. 
  14. "Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2011/5011/document1.htm. 
  15. "Government to block "bizarre proposal" restricting lobbying of judges". TheJournal.ie. 21 September 2011. http://www.thejournal.ie/government-to-block-bizarre-proposal-restricting-lobbying-of-judges-232472-Sep2011/. 
  16. "Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012". Houses of the Oireachtas. http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=20997&&CatID=59. 
  17. "Government approves car smoking ban draft laws". RTÉ.ie. 19 March 2013. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0626/326684-govt-approves-car-smoking-ban-draft-laws/. 
  18. "Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013". Houses of the Oireachtas. http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2013/2113/b2113s.pdf. 
  19. Oireachtas, Houses of the (15 December 2015). "Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages – Seanad Éireann (24th Seanad) – Tuesday, 15 Dec 2015 – Houses of the Oireachtas". https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2015-12-15/9. 
  20. McDonald, Henry (12 March 2013). "Opus Dei accused of lobbying to prevent Irish abortion reform: Leading doctor and politician John Crown says secret Catholic sect is trying to prevent limited abortion being made legal". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/12/opus-dei-irish-abortion-reform?CMP=twt_gu. 

External links