OXYGENERATION’S Jennifer Flaherty has been shortlisted for a Businesswoman of the Year award.
Senior Clinic Executive at the Galway-based clinic, Jennifer is a finalist in the Employee Shining Star category at the Network Ireland Galway ceremony to be held on June 28.
Oxygeneration is a hyperbaric oxygenation clinic which has filled a critical gap in the healthcare sector since opening six years ago in Galway. Jennifer has been with Oxygeneration since its establishment and is passionate about promoting the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen. “I have the luxury of having seen it change people’s lives,” she tells The Clare Echo.
“We promote natural responses at a more accelerated and efficient rate. It’s very good for the likes of non-healing wounds and post-radiation and it is covered by Irish Life for a number of conditions.
“It’s non-invasive and it really has been life-changing for people.”
Galway native Jennifer has upskilled during her time at Oxygeneration, gaining qualifications in applied laboratory sciences and quality assurances at Athlone IT, which she notes has given her great confidence in liaising with medical practitioners.
Reacting to her nomination, Jennifer said, “I’m surrounded by very talented and amazing ladies in that group. Network Ireland is such a phenomenal environment for ladies in business. The support is amazing and there are categories specifically for employees who want to develop and want to showcase their skills and achievements and that’s exactly what this award is.
Mother of one Jennifer says being part of the group has been a ”phenomenal addition” to her life both personally and professionally.
“When you are a woman in business, you feel you need to be strong and you say ‘just get on with it, you don’t need that pat on the back’. But when you get acknowledged, it feels good. And to see the batch of ladies I’ve been shortlisted with, it does a lot for your confidence and pushes you to heighten your own standards.”
Jennifer believes that hyperbaric oxygen treatment should be made more widely available to the public. “We find people make their way to our clinic after years of suffering unnecessarily. The science is there to say that it needs to be evaluated more in how the HSE do apply it and use it and link in with private clinics like ourselves. I definitely see hyperbaric oxygen being on the tip of people’s tongues over the next year or two.”
Jennifer also acknowledged the support she receives from her colleagues at Oxygeneration, adding “We’ve helped people return to work, we’ve helped people avoid limb amputation. Really the feel-good factor contributes to why I’m so happy coming to work every day, we see amazing things happening here at the clinic and I’m so fortunate to be part of that.”
