Donal Buggy, chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive Community Games
Occupation: Chief executive officer, Health Service Executive Community Games.
Personal/family: Married to Maireád and expecting the first addition to the family in September.
What figure from the world of medicine or health do you most admire? My wife is a midwife. I think the quality of work performed by midwives in a pressurised environment is greatly undervalued in the health service.
What other career might you have chosen? I would love to have been a professional golfer, but sadly they don't accept 18 handicappers.
If you could grant three wishes for the health service, what would they be? I would see that Prof Drumm is given the time to make the necessary structural changes to streamline the HSE, make access to services available locally where feasible, and ensure that the community games and the HSE work together to build a sustainable relationship.
What is your greatest fear? That the spirit of Irish volunteerism would fade. Falling volunteer numbers for voluntary bodies is making service provision more difficult.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one? I haven't been hospitalised since getting my tonsils removed at 21. I'm told I was quite easy-going.
When or where are you happiest? Relaxing by the sea on a sunny Irish summer afternoon. There's nothing quite like it.
How do you cope with stress? I try to get to the gym for a lunchtime 30-minute run as often as I can. This helps clear your head and sets you up for a productive afternoon.
What is the trait you most admire in yourself? Punctuality. It's a highly undervalued trait.
What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? I get irritable with slow decision-making.
Do you use alternative or complementary medicine or therapies? I have tried various treatments over the years from acupuncture to homeopathy to deal with numerous sports injuries.
Who or what makes you laugh? Watching children enjoying taking part in community games always brings a smile to my face.
What is your motto? Mens sana in corpore sano. A healthy body in a healthy mind is the motto for the community games. I think it is a good philosophy for life.
What books would you bring to a desert island? Shipbuilding for Dummies.
(In an interview with Fiona Tyrrell)