Professor Brian O’Connell, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, presented these awards to staff in recognition of their dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Distinguished Service to Health Sciences Award
Professor Mary McCarron was the inaugural recipient of this award for her long-standing commitment to the Faculty of Health Sciences through her roles as Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, founder and Principal Investigator of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA), Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID), and Executive Director of the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service.
Pictured: Prof Linda Hogan, Prof Mary McCarron and Prof Brian O'Connell.
Innovation in Teaching Award
Dr Jan De Vries and a project team which spans the Faculty of Health Sciences for their project ‘Development of integrated AV materials addressing people-, person-, and patient- centered (PCC) healthcare in an interprofessional context.’ This is the third time in four years that Jan and team have received funding to develop AV and simulation materials to innovate teaching and learning for students.
The team includes:
- School of Nursing and Midwifery - Team leader Prof Jan de Vries (Subject Leader Psychology, Mental Health Nursing Discipline) - Prof Damien Brennan (HoS, Subject Leader Sociology) - Prof Philip Hardie (General Nursing Discipline) - Prof Vivienne Brady (Midwifery, HoD) - Prof Sunita Panda (Midwifery) - Dr Sinead Impey (Clinical Tutor, Project Management) - Ms Freda Neill (Clinical Skills Manager);
- School of Medicine - Prof Catherine Darker (Professor in Health Services Research, FTCD, Public Health & Primary Care, Institute of Population Health) - Dr Emer McGowan (Interprofessional Education, Discipline of Medical Education)
- School of Dental Science - Prof Blánaid Daly (Dean of Dental Affairs/HoS, Division of Public & Child Dental Health) - Dr Sviatlana Anischuk (Dental Hygiene tutor, Division of Restorative Dentistry - Prof Peter Harrison (Director of Undergraduate Restorative Clinics, Division of Restorative Dentistry)
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - Prof Deirdre D’Arcy (DUTL, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology) - Prof Sheila Ryder (Pharmacy Practice)
Pictured: Dr Jan de Vries and Prof Brian O'Connell.
Professional & Support Staff Award for Innovations with Impact
Dr Luciana Lolich has played a key role as Research Impact Officer within the School of Nursing & Midwifery, where she has been pivotal in demonstrating the real-life impact of the School’s teaching, research and outreach activities in terms of people’s experiences of birth, death, health, illness and disability. She advises researchers on how to plan for impact throughout the lifecycle of research projects, pioneered a Research Impact Case Study Competition, and further developed capacity for research impact.
Pictured: Dr Luciana Lolich and Prof Brian O'Connell.
Outstanding Contribution to Teaching in Professional Practice Award
Sylvia Leahy is the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 in the Peri-Operative Directorate at Tallaght University Hospital, bringing 23 years of nursing experience. Sylvia has a special interest in clinical education that supports a positive learning environment, and a highest standard of nursing practice. Her innovative teaching methods, include simulation training, bedside teaching, reflective practice sessions and evidence-based learning which nurtures the professional growth and critical thinking skills of students and staff.
Pictured: Sylvia Leahy and Prof Brian O'Connell.
Prof Damien Brennan, Head of School, School of Nursing & Midwifery was in attendance at the Dean’s Awards ceremony and said:
“It fills me with great pride to see such exemplary colleagues recognised for their commitment to the mission of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
We deeply value the contributions that Prof McCarron has made in terms of her leadership of the School of Nursing & Midwifery, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability during her many years of service where she pioneered new approaches and oversaw advances in teaching, research and education.
I was also delighted to see Dr Jan de Vries and his project team (of which I am a proud member) once again receive the Dean’s Award for Innovation and Teaching. This important work on developing our AV and simulation resources will further enhance teaching and learning across the Faculty.
Dr Luciana Lolich is the deserving recipient of the Dean’s Award for Innovations with Impact. Luciana has changed how we prioritise and think about research impact within the School to bring impact to the forefront of our minds at all stages of the research journey. Her work has also had an enormously positive effect on our School’s reputation and rankings.
It was wonderful to see Sylvia Leahy from our partner health service provider, Tallaght University Hospital, awarded the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching in Professional Practice. Our students greatly benefit in receiving clinical education from experienced professionals such as Sylvia, who is committed to promoting excellence in practice, leadership, and continuous professional development.”