Nursing and Midwifery

I am a Assistant Professor of Midwifery / Midwifery Lecturer at NUI Galway.  I have previously worked as a Midwifery Lecturer / Assistant professor of Midwifery and Director of  the Public Health Nursing at University College Dublin and Dundalk Institute of Technology. Achievements include establishing the first Midwifery Led units (MLU) in Ireland and introducing the first waterbirth and community postnatal services in Ireland (2004) as HSE manager for Midwifery Led Services for the RCSI hospital group. I implemented a national training programme for midwives to become competent practitioners for the Examination of the Newborn for the first time in Ireland.          I have worked as an expert midwife for the HSE developing audit tools / guidelines for community midwives to establish a national home birth service in Ireland. I have trained and worked in the UK within various community models which included a homebirth service, domino service and satellite antenatal clinics. I have a strong interest and focus on providing choice and women centered care, normal /active birth, evidence-based practice, critical thinking skills, change management and promotion of equality through team building.                                                                                                                              I have presented findings on my research nationally and internationally. In 2020 I received a National Innovation award for outstanding contribution to maternity and midwifery services. In  2019  TCD Bursary award for PhD scholarship for community led services. In 2018 I was published in Women and Birth journal - Irish and New Zealand Midwives' expertise at preserving the perineum intact - MEPPI study. In 2012 I received the Woman of worth award from Drogheda chamber of commerce for outstanding work and inspiring leadership for the development and advancement of Midwifery Led services acknowledging pioneering community midwifery and waterbirth services.       

Currently I am undertaking a PhD at University College Dublin (UCD)  focusing on Community midwifery in Ireland. Collaboration initiatives that I am involved in - DKIT/HSE to facilitate midwifery lecturers to work in hospital/satellite clinics with staff and students to maintain their clinical skills - first of its kind in HSE. Designing home from home birth rooms at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and Galway University Hospitals. NRP Instructor and assessor. I continue to work in clinical practice.
I strongly believe that one person can make a difference !                                                                 RN, ITU, RM, MSc Midwifery Education, RT