Dr Jude McSharry has been named Director of Medical Services at Aria Assistance, the new independent company formed after the management buyout of Europ Assistance UK & Ireland.
Dr McSharry was previously at CEGA coordinating repatriations and tending to patients in- flight. Before that he had his own GP practice in Dublin. Dr McSharry has extensive experience of emergency medicine and aviation, having worked voluntarily in remote locations such as Somalia and Albania, where he helped repatriate seriously ill children to Australia, the UK, USA and Ireland for life saving surgeries.
At Aria Assistance Dr McSharry will be based from the firm’s office in Haywards Heath, heading up a team of 35 medics. His responsibilities include making decisions about treatment and repatriation, clinical governance and overseeing the firm’s healthcare products, such as nurse-led triage and chronic disease management.
“My charity work abroad sparked a passion for medical assistance, which fuelled my career choices,” explains Dr McSharry. “I enjoy coordinating repatriation cases and at Aria Assistance I have the back up of an excellent team, which makes for a dynamic working environment and the safe return of patients.
“Aria Assistance works on behalf of some of the UK’s major insurance and travel brands, overseeing the care of sick or injured customers while they are abroad and repatriating them safely home where necessary. We are available 24/7 to help people when they are at their most vulnerable, so I am delighted to join the firm.”
At Aria Assistance, Dr McSharry will as cases require travel out to escort patients home, offering the highest level of medical support and managing difficult cases in the challenging aviation environment. His experience will stand him in good stead for his new role.
Dr McSharry is the latest in a string of high profile appointments for Aria Assistance as it works to deliver its vision of a single source of insurance and assistance services. Patrick Leroy, Chief executive Officer, comments: “I am delighted to welcome Dr McSharry to the Aria Assistance family and wish him every success for the future.”
