Insights: speaking

Mark and his fiancée, human rights lawyer Simone George, spoke at TED2018 in Vancouver. They speak about how to resolve the tension between acceptance and hope, something they had to try and figure out in the aftermath of Mark’s catastrophic spinal cord injury. They talk about why climbing into the raging river of grief when tragedy strikes can be the way to get to the next place; and how they are now catalysing collaborations to cure paralysis in our lifetime.

Social psychologist, Amy Cuddy, whose TED talk about power posing earned her worldwide recognition and has over 47 million views, described Simone and Mark’s talk as “the most powerful, moving talk I have ever seen at TED” while TED curator Helen Walters described their talk as a “love letter to science”.

Watch TED Talk

As the recipient of the 2015 RCSI honourary doctorate, awarded to an individual who has made an out-standing contribution worldwide, Mark spoke to 282 future doctors, from 24 different countries around the world about balancing competition and collaboration.

Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive, RCSI, who read the citation at the conferring ceremony said: “We make this award to individuals of out-standing merit, with an international perspective, who in addressing our students, on their day of embarking on a life as a doctor; will inspire them to also make a difference to the world with their talents and education. It is with great honour that we present Mark with an RCSI honorary doctorate.”

As part of the Fail Better exhibition at Science Gallery Dublin, award winning journalist,  Jonathan McCrea interviewed Mark and his scientific collaborators from the Frasier Institute in Kentucky and Ekso Bionics in San Francisco  as well as spinal research foundations Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation in the US and Wings for Life in Europe.