Welcome to the ISTM Member Spotlight, where we celebrate the people behind the practice of travel medicine. Meet Gerard Flaherty, the immediate past president of ISTM.
What inspired you to pursue a career in travel medicine/migration health?
I seem to have inherited my love for travel and exploration from my late mother. I’ve always been interested in other places, peoples and cultures. An academic scholarship to Israel as a medical student convinced me that I should try to make travel and the study of travel a central part of my career. After completing the Diploma in Travel Medicine in Glasgow, I never looked back. I find travel both relaxing and rejuvenating. It gives me renewed clarity and a broader perspective on life. It keeps my feet on the ground. Keeping people healthy during travel is a natural extension of this interest.
Describe your current role and key areas of focus.
My academic role at the University of Galway in Ireland is busy but very stimulating, with teaching, assessment, student support, research, leadership, and administrative duties. My clinical role now is mostly in pre-travel healthcare and I enjoy that greatly. I serve in other voluntary roles with various organizations, including the International Society of Travel Medicine, which of course is the most rewarding part of my work life!
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I am naturally curious, so I love to discover and share new information and impart that knowledge to students, colleagues and the wider scientific community. Being a part of a traveler’s journey is also a great privilege and it is nice to feel that you have made a difference, especially where a traveler has complex pre-existing conditions or a challenging itinerary. Giving personal time to support wonderful organizations like ISTM has brought me into contact with some of the finest people I have ever met and I treasure our friendships.
How did you first become involved with ISTM?
It was a natural progression from deep involvement in the early years with the Faculty of Travel Medicine in Scotland and the Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine. I should acknowledge former ISTM President, Fiona Genasi, who taught me during my Diploma in Travel Medicine in Glasgow and was a source of great encouragement to me when I decided to put myself forward for election to the ISTM executive board in 2014. I credit the late great Peter Leggat from Australia with giving me the push I needed to go forward as a candidate for election as ISTM President-elect. I and many others continue to miss Peter’s wonderful camaraderie and good humor. Peter’s legacy endures in his many outstanding contributions to travel medicine.
What has ISTM membership meant to you—professionally or personally?
I have gained much more from ISTM than I could ever give back to it. I value the human friendships, being around like-minded and open-minded people who love to travel and appreciate diversity and cultural differences. I have benefited greatly from my experience in various ISTM leadership roles, first as Counselor and then as President-elect and President, working closely with colleagues on the Journal of Travel Medicine, presenting at the CISTM conference or on the annual Travel Medicine Review and Update Course, and of course gaining the respected Certificate in Travel Health. All of these and other benefits have served me well in my academic career, have helped to forge my professional identity and have given me good friends for life. You can see ISTM’s profound influence on my life from the fact that I am using American English in writing this piece!
What is your favorite destination or travel story?
I spent a lot of time in high altitude destinations in my 20s and 30s and had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer expedition physician. Some of my happiest travel memories are from this period. The beautiful blue skies and snow-covered Himalaya literally take your breath away and live forever in your memory. I also have a deep love for travel in Asia, with strong professional links to Malaysia, Thailand and other countries in the region. I love the culture, the people, and of course their cuisine! In Europe, we have so many magical destinations on our doorstep. Venice is probably my favorite city in the world, but has itself suffered from mass tourism. Travel is a great privilege and we must always try to leave light footprints wherever we visit.
What’s your “travel health must-have” when you’re on the road?
It depends entirely on where I’m going. In some African and South American countries, it will be my Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate! Otherwise, if I could cheat a little by saying a well stocked travel health kit, containing dressings and bandages, antiseptic cream, antihistamines, insect repellent, SPF cream, anti-diarrheal agents and so on. Don’t forget your travel insurance policy as well.