Dr. Ciaran Cosgrave is one of Ireland’s leading consultants in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He is Director of UPMC Sports Medicine and the UPMC Institute for Health, and specialises in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal pain and injury in people of all ages and activity levels, from elite athletes to active individuals.
With over 20 years of experience in elite sport, Dr. Cosgrave has worked across rugby, soccer, athletics, basketball, karate, and judo, and was part of the medical team at the 2012 Olympic Games. He served as Head of Medical for the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2025, having previously held medical roles with the Irish Men’s Rugby Team (2016–2024), the British & Irish Lions (2021), Leinster Rugby, and the Liverpool FC Academy.
Dr Cosgrave graduated in medicine from Queen’s University Belfast and holds an MSc in Sports & Exercise Medicine from Trinity College Dublin. He also has postgraduate qualifications in Strength and Conditioning, Sports Psychology and Medical Education. He joined the team at UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in 2013, following completion of his higher specialist training in Liverpool.
At UPMC SSC, he works alongside athletes, coaches, and multidisciplinary teams to support health, recovery, and performance through evidence-based sports medicine. As a Consultant Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician and UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC), he has a distinctive interest in the intersection of medicine, rehabilitation, and human performance.
His expertise includes concussion management, with a focus on diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment, and return-to-play decision-making following sport-related concussion. He also performs comprehensive ultrasound-guided injection therapies across joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, tailoring treatment options including corticosteroid, hyaluronate, PRP, Botox, and Arthrosamid to individual clinical needs
MB, BCh, BAO, MRCP, FFSEM (UK), FFSEM (IRL), MSc (SEM), PGCME
- Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO), Queen’s University Belfast, 2004
- Masters in Sports & Exercise Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, 2007
- Member of the Royal College of Physicians, 2009
- Diploma in Sports & Exercise Medicine (Edinburgh), 2010
- Fellow of the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine (UK), 2013
- Fellow of the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine ( IRL) 2015
- Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, Edge Hill University, 2012
- Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Psychology, Liverpool John Moore’s University, 2013
- UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC), 2026
- British & Irish Lions 2021
- IRFU, 2016-Current
- Leinster Rugby, 2014-2016
- Liverpool Football Club, 2011-2013
- London Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2012
- Team GB Athletics, 2012
- Mersey Tigers Basketball, 2009-2011
- Ulster Karate Association, 2005-2013
- London and Liverpool Marathon, 2011-2013
- Northern Ireland Youth Football teams, 2007-2012
- UK School Games 2011
- Irish Youth Olympic squad, Belgrade 2007
- Irish Inter-Varsities Rugby, 2007
- Irish Judo Team, 2006
- Irish Inter-Varsities Judo Champion, 2000-2007
- Competed in Judo at the Youth Olympic Games, 1997






