Practice Profile

Dr Nicola Black:
MB MCh BAO BA DOWH DCH MICGP (MCRN 19045)
Nicola graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1995, completing the GP Vocational Training Scheme in 1999 and placing 2nd overall in the Irish College of General Practitioners Final Examinations. Diplomas in Obstetrics and Women’s Health (DOWH) and Child Health (DCH), completed during her training programme, have proved immensely valuable for her special interest in female health and paediatrics. Nicola worked with Dr Liam Lacey in Blanchardstown from 1999  until temporarily moving to the UK in 2001, gaining valuable experience of primary care in the Dublin 15 area .Working as a partner in the Chapeloak Surgery, Leeds, Nicola co-ran the Child Development Clinics at the practice. She was also the lead GP in the Substance Misuse Clinics. Furthering an interest in Health Promotion, Nicola also attained distinctions in two additional Diplomas – ‘Primary Care Coronary Heart Disease Prevention’ and ‘Primary Care Diabetes Management’. In May 2011, she completed the ICGP’s Diploma in Management in Practice. She has since become an examiner and a lecturer on the Management in Practice diploma course. Upon returning to Ireland in 2005, Nicola resumed work in Dublin 15, spending two years in the Meridian Clinic and a subsequent year gaining further valuable experience in GP practices in Templeogue and Rathfarnham, until the establishment of Oakwood Medical Clinic. Dr Nicola Black is originally from Castleknock, where she lived for most of her life. Nicola is married to a Consultant Geriatrician, and they have twin girls.

Dr Nina Byrnes:
MB BCh BAO(Hons) BA DCP MICGP (MCRN 19905)
Dr Nina Byrnes graduated third in her class with an Honours Medical Degree from Trinity College Dublin in 1996. She undertook postgraduate training in hospital medicine in Ireland, the USA and Australia including time in the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Ohio. Having worked in a large range of medical specialities she realised her interest lay in Primary care and Preventive Medicine. She obtained her Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners in 2004 and is on the Specialist Register of the Irish Medical Council. In addition to her GP qualifications Nina obtained a post graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry as she believes strongly that a person’s mental health has a profound influence on their physical wellbeing.Nina had been working as a GP in the Dublin 15 area since 2005. Her work encompasses all areas of general family practice but her special interests are cardiovascular and preventive health, women’s health and lifestyle medicine. She is known for her ability to break down medical jargon and her empathetic straight talking approach. In addition to working full time as a GP Nina has also appeared on our TV screen as co presenter on the popular series “Health of the Nation” on RTE. She has contributed to radio shows on several local and national stations and has recently published her first book ‘Your Health Matters’.  Having had many excellent mentors throughout her career Nina is committed to the next generation of doctors. She is involved in teaching undergraduate Trinity Medical Students and has been appointed as a Trainer on the Trinity Graduate Training Scheme in General Practice. Nina was born in Dublin but spent part of her childhood living in France and the USA. She has made Castleknock her home since 2001 and lives here with her husband and two children
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Dr Geoff Lavery:
MB BCh BAO BMedSc DCP DME MRCGP (MCRN 125820)
Dr Geoff Lavery graduated from University College Dublin in 2002; Geoff commenced vocational General Practice training in Ireland, before completing his studies in Southampton; qualifying as a Member Royal College General Practitioners in 2007.Originally from Portadown, Geoff moved to Dublin in 1996 to study Medicine, in addition to this, his passion is playing rugby for UCD and Mater Hospital RFC. During his medical training, Geoff attained Diploma’s in both Psychiatry and Medicine of the Elderly which have been indispensible as a GP; since entering practice Geoff developed special interest in Men’s Health issues; he also has a Certificate in Travel Health and most recently a Graduate Diploma in Dermatology (UCD). While in the New Forest, Geoff became actively involved in the teaching of medical students. Upon his return to Dublin, he became a tutor for 5th year medical students from Trinity College; future plans are to establish Oakwood Medical Clinic as a teaching practice. Geoff has been developing roots in Castleknock, where his wife is from, since 1999, they live with their young son and daughter.

Practice Nurse – Rowena Lannigan:
Having joined the Oakwood Medical team in June 2010, Rowena brings an additional range of skills and experience in family healthcare to the practice. Married with three children, Rowena qualified in 1996 from North London University-Whittington Hospital as a Registered General Nurse, then pursued further study in Queens University Belfast, where she graduated as a Registered Midwife.Working in Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Londonderry until 2000, in both antenatal and neonatal units, Rowena then returned to Dublin, to work with the Irish Family Planning Association where she undertook her Certificate in Family Planning. Following this she worked with Reproductive Choices, where she specialised in family planning and crisis pregnancy management for the next five years. From 2006-2010, she has worked as a Practice Nurse in Inchicore, Lucan and Blanchardstown. Rowena is actively involved in paediatric immunisation, as well as having an interest in health screening – including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, asthma and cervical checks, but her area of special interest remains Family Planning and Antenatal Care.