Miriam commenced in her role as Health Sciences Academy Manager in October 2019, working across University of Limerick, UL Hospitals Group and Mid-West Community Healthcare. The main objective of the Academy is to build on the expertise in the organisations to bring research, education and innovation closer together, leading to high-level educational experience, career development opportunities and ultimately, enhanced patient outcomes. There have been many successes since the Health Science’s Academy was established including securing a funding award from Q Exchange, one of only two awarded in Ireland, winner at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awardees 2023 for its works in equality and inclusion, and securing submissions at the annual HSE SPARK conference. She sits in the national Chief Academy Officer Forum and plays a critical role in the development of an academic health sciences system in the Midwest.
Miriam graduated with a primary degree in physiotherapy from University College Dublin and gained experience in a wide variety of specialities during her early career working in Ireland, both public and private sector, and Australia. As a Senior Physiotherapist, she established physiotherapy services in Adult Cystic Fibrosis in University Hospital Limerick before moving to primary care, again establishing and delivering physiotherapy services in the west and south county Limerick areas, supporting a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
In 2010, she completed her Masters in Healthcare Management and shortly after, successfully transitioned to her first non-clinical role with the Irish Hospice Foundation as Programme Coordinator for the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme in the Midwest. She subsequently commenced as Patient Advocacy and Liaison Services (PALS) Manager in UL Hospitals Group. This was a new position, the purpose of which was to develop and implement a PALS service that was responsive to patients’ needs, working to strengthen the voice of the patient and public in planning and delivering health services and having a strong focus on quality improvement.
In addition, Miriam holds a Diploma in Quality Improvement and Leadership and has been a faculty member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. She was involved in delivering the National COPD Collaborative (2018-2019). Most recently, she has secured her ACC credential with the International Coaching Federation and is currently undertaking an EMBA at Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick.