Mary Jackson

"The sharing of experience with colleagues from other countries was also valuable and I believe I have a range of friends throughout the world now with whom I can communicate on our mutual interest in cancer control."

Mary Jackson
Principal Officer
Cancer Policy Unit, Department of Health and Children (DoHC)
Dublin, Ireland

Mary Jackson joined the DoHC in 1988, with qualifications in applied biology and laboratory science. She acquired a B.A. in Public Health Management with a health economics focus in 1994. During her tenure with the DoHC, she has worked in the Health Promotion, Community Health, and Blood Policy divisions; in 2007, she was assigned as Principal Officer of the Cancer Policy Unit. Ms. Jackson and her unit work closely with the director and with other health agencies in Ireland, such as the National Cancer Registry, the National Cancer Screening Service, and the Health Research Board, in shaping an appropriate health response to cancer control issues. Throughout her career, Ms. Jackson has been actively involved in supporting a multi-disciplinary approach to tackling health related issues.

Ms. Jackson attended the Principles and Practice Course in 2008. The training that she received at NCI has provided her with a valuable set of resources and contacts on a wide range of issues that play an integral part in her work. She regularly references course materials, particularly with the recent commencement of Ireland's National Cervical Screening Programme. Overall, the course presented a diverse range of information, which will complement the skills that Ms. Jackson is developing in order to carry out her role as Principal Officer in the DoHC's Cancer Policy Unit as effectively as possible.