Deirdre MacCarvill:Occupation: Life coach, psychologist and volunteer for the Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Disorder (HADD) Family Support Group
Personal/family: Married to Shane with four children, Conor (15), Duvesa (13) and twins Eoin and Angelina (6).
What figure from the world of medicine or health do you most admire?
Marie Curie, because she was such a pioneering woman who overcame professional and personal adversity.
What other career might you have chosen?
A sculptor.
If you could grant three wishes for the health service, what would they be?
Restructure the health service to make it work more efficiently, better funding for psychiatric services for children and adults, to ensure they meet the increasingly diverse needs of our population, and development of more community-based medical services available to all.
What is your greatest fear?
That something bad would happen to my kids.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one?
Only briefly, and I wasn't a good one - a nurse told me I was too independent and I should be able to accept help.
When or where are you happiest?
After a good coaching session or having a laugh with my family.
How do you cope with stress?
I try to get organised, talk about the cause and use relaxation techniques.
What is the trait you most admire in yourself?
Tenacity.
What is the trait you most dislike in yourself?
Being judgmental.
Do you use alternative or complementary medicine or therapies?
Rarely. When my daughter was first diagnosed with HADD I tried a lot of alternative and complementary options. In the end, I have to say they didn't really work for her. I think they do work for some people and I am open to them.
Who or what makes you laugh?
A good joke and how people behave.
What is your motto?
He who dares, wins.
What is your favourite TV or radio programme?
Scrubs.
What books would you bring to a desert island?
War and Peace to finally work my way through those battle scenes, anything by Irène Némirovsky and some chick lit.
In conversation with Fiona Tyrrell