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 Link to Biographical Portrait:  Victoria Coffey

 Later Life/Death and Legacy 

Victoria Philomena Dorothy Coffey lived at 74 Cowper Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 with her parents before their death and then until her own death. She died on the 15th of June 1999 aged 87, in St. James's Hospital where she had served most of her life. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin City, Ireland. According to Lynn Brady, Coffey's grave can be found at the LF103 Garden Section in the graveyard.

Her legacy will continue with a new project which highlights those who broke ground for women medics in Ireland and overseas. The project named "Women on Walls" at RCSI in partnership with Accenture will recognize the pioneering achievements of a group of extraordinary women and enhance the visibility of historical female leaders in healthcare. On International Women's Day 2018, Dr Coffey was honored for her outstanding contribution to medicine and chosen to be part of "Women on Walls" and her portrait displayed in the principle boardroom of the RCSI.

A selection committee carefully considered more than 55 submissions for this project and chose only 8 successful proposals made by six artists. These artists will now work with RCSI archivists to research Dr Coffey and the other candidates and develop their concepts. It is anticipated that completed artworks will be unveiled in Spring 2019. RCSI chief executive Professor Cathal Kelly says the portraits of Dr Coffey and the 7 other pioneering Irish female doctors, will finally bring these significant contributors to the advancement of Irish medicine and science out of the shadows and into the public eye where they belong. "These paintings will hang in our front boardroom where all our major events are organised. This college has a global reach and we have a responsibility to do the right thing in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to support women leaders of the future by making women leaders of the past visible and by raising their profile.

Professor Kelly states "that by shining a light on the women of RCSI who broke boundaries to become leaders in medicine and healthcare, it hopes to inspire current and future generations of women. The artist will bring the legacy of Dr Coffey to life when her completed portrait will hang in the historic St Stephen's Green building". Women on Walls campaign seeks to make women leaders visible through portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. Accenture's Women on Walls began in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy.

Coffey was Director of Research of the Foundation for the Prevention of Childhood Handicap and funds were raised to allow her to continue her research until she was over 80 years old. Higher Education Commission (HEC) states "Vicki was the most positive person I have known. She saw an objective and did not rest until it was achieved. She found paths for lost juniors, gave courage to waverers, and could instil enthusiasm in her co-workers".

 External Links 

Accenture: https://www.accenture.com/ie-en/women-on-walls-victoria-coffey

Business to Arts; http://www.businesstoarts.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Women-on-Walls-at-RCSI-SUPPLEMENTARY-INFORMATION2.pdf

Molly Judd Artist; http://mollyjudd.com/index.html