Scholarly Impact Report 2023

CATHERINE MCAULEY SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, UCC

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PART A: TEACHING, CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY AND PRACTICE, AWARDS

Professor Gerry Lee joined the School in November 2023 as a Professor of Nursing and Health Services Research. Originally from Dublin, she qualified as a nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, and she subsequently completed a BSc in Physiology and an MPhil in Health Psychology at University College London. In 2002, she moved to Australia and worked in Melbourne for 10 years. Following completion of her PhD at Monash University in 2011, she returned to the UK and worked for 11 years at King’s College London as programme lead for advanced practice. Her research spans many areas including cardiac, emergency care, hospital in the home and she has led projects in optimising health in long-term conditions using shared decision-making and digital technology. In 2018, she established a nurse-led rapid access clinic for patients at St Thomas’s Hospital, London with suspected atrial fibrillation with the aim of assessing patients for stroke and ensuring appropriate medication is prescribed and worked closely with a clinical pharmacist. Professor Gerry Lee joins the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Group, multidisciplinary teaching on the Neonatal Resuscitation Programme and PROMPT Obstetric Emergencies Programme, supported many colleagues through MSc, PG Dip, and PhD programmes”. One colleague praised Rhona for: “Dedication to Midwifery, your passion for the past number of decades that has led to many different and valuable PG programmes that would not be where they are now – were it not for you, and your enormous and tireless efforts”. Another colleague said: “Thank you for your approachability, wisdom, and insights on everything from curricular challenges, programme development and anything whatsoever midwifery related! In particular, thank you for your interest and engagement with our midwifery Erasmus students for so many years, who always commented on your expertise and willingness to help”. There were many more tributes to Rhona shared by colleagues across the School and the College of Medicine and Health. We hope that Rhona will stay in touch with us, and we wish her all the very best for a long and healthy retirement full of exciting activities and adventures. Many thanks to our social committee, especially Therese Ahern, for organising the flowers, gifts, and the lovely coffee morning.

Professor Lee said: “I am delighted to join the School of Nursing and Midwifery at UCC and have been made very welcome by my colleagues. I am looking forward to getting to know Cork.’’

Dr Rhona O’ Connell and Ms Therese Ahern

Dr Rhona O’ Connell and Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren