Biography
I am an Associate Professor on the the MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification) programme at UL. I lead and teach modules in Linguistics, Anatomy & Physiology and acquired communication disorders of neurogenic origin in adult populations (e.g., aphasia, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, cognitive-communication disorder and others secondary to stroke, traumatic brain injury, progressive neurological diseases, dementias).I am interested in participatory implementation methologies in health research and am an active member of the Public & Patient Involvement Research Unit and the Ageing Research Centre at the UL Health Research Institute.
My key research focus is in the area of coordinated, interdisiplinary aphasia psychosocial care (APC). I am co-lead and co-founder of an international APC network of 50+ researchers across 5 continents. I am additionally co-lead and co-founder of a national, 200+ strong interdisiplinary community of practice on behalf of Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists (SEA, Supporting Emotions with Aphasia), which aims to connect aphasia clinicians with networking, research, and educational opportunities. I am running participatory co-design research projects with clinicians and with people living with aphasia to progress APC implementation in Ireland and beyond. My work has influenced the Irish National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 through my role as an IASLT representative on the Irish Heart Foundation's Council on Stroke. I have similarly inputted into the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke UK and Ireland 2023.
With the PPI Research Unit, I am involved in the Language & Culture strand of RIMPAP, a migrant health research prioritisation programme of work in collaboration with Doras, Limerick. I am co-leading mixed methods participatory implementation research examining access to qualified health interpreters, and the provision of culturally responsive Speech and Language Therapy and General Practice Nursing in Ireland. I recently contributed to a World Health Organisation compendium of exemplar projects in the area of refugee and migrant health and represented the Unit at an in-person consultation on the WHO Regional Office for Europe Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in Cyprus, 2023. This work influences my teaching in socio-linguistics and Speech & Language Therapy, and is feeding into work updating the IASLT guidelines on working with diverse communities as part of my secretarial role in the Multilingualism & Multiculturalism Special Interest Group.
More broadly, as a SPHeRE-trained health services researcher, I am co-supervising PhD projects in the area of integrated pathways of care for older adults in Ireland. I additionally work with Speech & Language Therapists in HSE Mid-West on an innovative clinical research project that is introducing a gold-standard, mobile community-based dysphagia intervention that advances the cost- and clinical-effectiveness of diagnoses and intervention for a range of populations affected by swallowing disorders secondary to oncology, frailty and other conditions.
Research Interests
I am interested in participatory implementation methologies in health research and am an active member of the Public & Patient Involvement Research Unit and the Ageing Research Centre at the UL Health Research Institute.My key research focus is in the area of coordinated, interdisiplinary aphasia psychosocial care (APC). I am co-lead and co-founder of an international APC network of 50+ researchers across 5 continents. I am additionally co-lead and co-founder of a national, 200+ strong interdisiplinary community of practice on behalf of Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists (SEA, Supporting Emotions with Aphasia), which aims to connect aphasia clinicians with networking, research, and educational opportunities. I am running participatory co-design research projects with clinicians and with people living with aphasia to progress APC implementation in Ireland and beyond. My work has influenced the Irish National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 through my role as an IASLT representative on the Irish Heart Foundation's Council on Stroke. I have similarly inputted into the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke UK and Ireland 2023.
With the PPI Unit, I am involved in the Language & Culture strand of RIMPAP, a migrant health research prioritisation programme of work in collaboration with Doras, Limerick. I am co-leading mixed methods participatory implementation research examining access to qualified health interpreters, and the provision of culturally responsive Speech and Language Therapy and General Practice Nursing in Ireland. I recently contributed to a World Health Organisation compendium of exemplar projects in the area of refugee and migrant health and represented the Unit at an in-person consultation on the WHO Regional Office for Europe Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in Cyprus, 2023. This work influences my teaching in socio-linguistics and Speech & Language Therapy, and is feeding into work updating the IASLT guidelines on working with diverse communities as part of my secretarial role in the Multilingualism & Multiculturalism Special Interest Group.
Professional Activities
Committee
- 2023 Faculty of Education & Health Sciences Seed Funding Award Reviewer,
- 2022 International Aphasia Psychological Care Research Network,
- 2022 SLT Curriculum Planning,
- 2022 SAH Website Committee,
- 2022 Collaborators of Aphasia Triallists - Implementation Science working group,
- 2022 PPI Ignite Values and Principles,
- 2021 Supporting Emotions with Aphasia (SEA),
- 2021 IASLT Multilingualism & Multiculturalism SIG,
- 2021 Equality & Diversity Committee,
- 2021 Irish Heart Foundation Annual Stroke Conference,
- 2021 IASLT Biannual Conference 2021,
- 2021 Irish Network of Health Educators (INHED) Conference Committee member,
- 2021 International Planning Committee, 14th Biennial World Congress on Brain Injury 2023,
- 2020 Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke ,
- 2020 AHSS Faculty Board,
- 2020 Collaborators of Aphasia Triallists - Societal Reintegration working group,
Education
- 2020 University of Limerick (SPHeRE) - PhD
- 2013 University of Limerick - MSc (Honours)
- 2009 Trinity College Dublin - MPhil
- 2004 NUI Galway - BSc (Hons)
Association
- 2014 Registrant, CORU SLT Register
- 2013 Full member , Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)