Articles for the Healthcare, Wellbeing & Sport Sector
61 Articles Found.
Hear from Shona Keating a Social Care Leader
How does your day start? My day starts with checking my diary to see what appointments I have in for the day and checking any email/phone messages. I schedule my own appointments but I always need to be available to respond to anyone on my caseload that may need
Meet Speech and Language Therapist Aoibhinn Bannigan
How does your day start? I usually arrive in the office around 08:45, make myself a coffee and start reading through my emails and any administration work I need to catch up on. I have a look at my appointments that I have in for the day and plan
Hear from an Occupational Therapist - Catherine Healy
How does your day start? Usually, I arrive at the clinic and check emails/messages and my calendar for the days ahead. I could be involved in corresponding with colleagues or planning for 10 minutes or one or two hours. Other days, I could be heading directly to a home
Day in the Life of a Dietitian - Mairéad Doyle
How does your day start? I get to work within 30 minutes, greeted at reception by our front of house staff. I take some free coffee in case stats are being recorded and we lose our fancy coffee machine. I walk down the corridor always meeting a colleague or
Hear from James Quah - Nurse
How does your day start? My day begins by checking messages and emails. My appointments are mostly scheduled a week or so in advance meaning that on most days I will have a good idea of what it will entail. I try to have some time set aside for
Meet Kate McMahon - a Counselling Psychologist
How does your day start? I come in a little early to set up my desk and get my files ready for the day. I feel like this helps me land into work and then when my colleagues start to filter in I have time for morning catch-ups
Working as a Consultant Psychiatrist - Dr Tom Foley
How does your day start? I drop my kids off at school, then drive over the beautiful hills into our new office, just off the main street in Buncrana (Donegal). There are views of Lough Foyle, out to the Atlantic behind me and Lough Swilly in front. That’s
Hear from a Student Public Health Nurse - Clodagh Brackett
Clodagh Brackett is a Student Public Health Nurse based in Blackrock in Cork city and is attending UCC. Clodagh joined the Student PHN Sponsorship Postgraduate Programme in September and completed the course in June 2025. Clodagh gained experience of working in both the hospital environment and in the community
A day in the life of an Occupational Therapist
My name is Wendy Bates. I am a Senior Occupational Therapist who started working in Tusla six months ago. Working in Tusla is a new, exciting development for occupational therapists who are looking to grow their understanding and application of trauma informed practice. Tusla as an organisation encourages occupational therapists
A day in the life of a Senior Clinical Psychologist
My name is Dr Ronan Conway, Senior Clinical Psychologist, with Tusla. I am working with Tusla as part of a new multidisciplinary team in the Midlands called the Area Based Therapy Team. I work with children in care aged 0-18 years. I apply psychological thinking through assessment, formulation, and
Hear from recent graduate Niamh Walsh about her journey to pursue nursing!
For Niamh Walsh, the decision to pursue a nursing degree started at home. There wasn’t a strong nursing tradition in the family, but she always admired the way her mother and grandmother took care of others, especially when they were sick. Eight years ago, Niamh’s
Carlow College Graduate Launches Children's Residential Care Service
In 2023 Tracy Collins, a graduate of the BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) and the MA (Leadership in Therapeutic Child & Social Care) launched a new service in Carlow specialising in Residential Care Services for Separated Children seeking International Protection. Colden Care was the brainchild Collins
Cyber Security Officer for HSE - Jason Cooney
Background I work as a Cyber Security Officer in the Chief Information Security Office (CISO). I first joined the HSE in August 2022 as part of the National Service Desk (NSD) team. Big shout-out to the NSD Louth team—keep up the great work! In August 2024, I
Cloud Platform Engineer with HSE - James Hughes
Background: I have worked in many aspects of the IT sector for over 20yrs. I currently work as a Cloud Engineer with the Cloud Platform Team in Technology & Transformation. We work collaboratively with other Technology and Transformation teams, as well as external project teams to deliver HSE
Solution Architect with HSE - Barry Crosson
Background: I work as an Architecture Lead with the A2i-HIDs team. I joined the HSE in May 2023 and am in my current role since January 2024. I live in County Cavan with my base in Cavan Town. My commute to the office is approximately 30-35 minutes. My
Caoimhe - Athletic Therapy and Training student DCU
Rugby is at the fore of "most" Irish people's minds right now, and if you're a DCU student you probably feel surrounded by it. With the Six Nations coming to an end this weekend, and our DCU Ladies First Team securing their place in the Tier 1 All
Tessa Kingston Adventure Therapist and Operations Manager with Sailing into Wellness
We recently chatted to Tessa Kingston who is an Adventure Therapist and operations manager with Sailing into Wellness who looks to provide a healthy natural solution for communities to look after their physical and mental well-being. Here’s the full interview: Thanks for joining me today Tessa. Tell
Interview with Donna Breen CBT & Online Counsellor
In episode 4 of the ICHAS Podcast, our guest is Donna Breen. Donna works as a CBT and EMDR Psychotherapist in the South of Ireland, heading a team of 6 therapists providing services to an array of clients struggling with a range of presenting issues, generally referred from local GPs
Paramedic Science at UU: Why I was 'Lucan' North for University
Hello! I’m Ben Malone, a lad from Lucan, and I’m a 1 st year student studying BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science at Ulster University’s Magee Campus in Derry City. So, I’m often asked; “Ben, why did you decide to #GoNorth for college
From Dublin to Derry - Medicine Student (Grad Entry) at Ulster University
Hello students! My name is Katie Foran, and I am originally from Whitehall, Dublin. This year, I graduated from Trinity College with a BA Science (Immunology), however seven weeks ago, I decided to #GoNorth and start a degree in Medicine at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry. Medicine
Health Informatics Lecturer at the University of Galway
My name is Siobhán O’Connor and I am a Lecturer at the University of Galway. My background includes degrees in information systems and nursing, with a PhD in health informatics. My job is lots of fun as I get to research new technologies nurses can use
A Degree in Social Science Can Open The Door To A World Of Opportunities
There are few areas of study that offer as broad a base as the Social Sciences. A good social science degree can be incredibly versatile and can offer students an impressive range of employment and further study options after graduation. Social sciences are concerned with how people behave and
From the office to the great outdoors with a PLC Course
Meet the celebrity lecturer at Dundrum College of Further Education , who at 26 quit her desk job to follow her heart to the great outdoors. Monica Alvarez is no ordinary horticultural lecturer. She has worked in and managed some of the most iconic gardens in the country
The FET Route to a Nursing Career
In 2016, Amie McNamara, from Listowel, Co. Kerry, sat her Leaving Cert, with the intention of studying nursing. She wasn’t 100% wasn’t sure that it would be for her, but she certainly had the idea that she wanted to go straight to university from school. However
SETU - Recreation and Sport Management Graduate
Craig Dunphy a former De La Salle college, Waterford student recently graduated from the rec man course in SETU in Waterford. During a time in SETU in Waterford Craig was a sport scholarship student and a member of the CFAI winning soccer club. Craig has used his experience in
Radiation Therapist - Hillman Cancer Centre
Alicia O’Leary is a Radiation Therapist (RT) and Medical Dosimetrist working in the UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, Waterford. As an Radiation Therapist she is responsible for the safe delivery of treatment to cancer patients using high-energy X-Ray beams on a machine known as a linear accelerator
Public Health Nurse - Michael Power
One of the main attractions of becoming a public health nurse for Micheal Power was the opportunity to look after patients in their own homes and communities. “Public health nursing gives you an opportunity to work as an autonomous practitioner with the support of your nursing colleagues and the
The use of STEM in Sport Science
Healthy foods, healthy bodies Whether you are an Olympic athlete or just going about your day-to-day life, feeding and using your muscles smartly can help you perform well and age healthily. At DCU, sports science researcher Dr Brendan Egan looks at how our muscles adapt to exercise and
Niamh Power: Psychiatric Nursing Graduate
Niamh Power, BSC in Psychiatric Nursing Founder and Director of Youth Release My name is Niamh Power. I graduated from DCU in 2008 with a degree in Psychiatric nursing. When I started in DCU, I was on the general nursing programme. I was also playing basketball for the DCU college
Rosin McGrath Personal Trainer
Roisin McGrath graduated from The Fitness Institute with an ITEC Level 3 Diploma In Personal Training and currently works as Personal Trainer with Evolution Fitness. Why Did You Choose The Fitness Institute? Before joining the Fitness Institute I spent some time researching other organisations. I spoke to a
Ruby Walsh - My Career as a Jockey
"I went straight from school into a man’s world. You have to grow up fast." - Jockey Ruby Walsh, Calverstown, Co Kildare. I don’t remember horses not being in my life. I got a pony, Pebbles, for my seventh birthday. I got a better pony, Flash, when
First Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Ennis Hospital
Brenda Bleach, a native of Tuamgraney, Co. Clare working in the Local Injuries Unit (LIU) at Ennis Hospital, is the first nurse in Ennis to achieve Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) status. RANPs are the highest level of clinical experts in the nursing profession in Ireland today. LIUs are locally
A Week in My Dermatology Clinic
Dr Gillian Murphy is a consultant dermatologist and director of the national photobiology unit at Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital in Dublin. When I was at school I wanted to be an artist. However, my father, who was a surgeon, said “no, you will do medicine,&rdquo
A Week on My Medical Oncology Ward
Derek Power is a consultant oncologist, at Mercy University Hospital Cork and Cork University Hospital. My route into medicine was not the typical one because I started my career as a pharmacist. I was always fascinated with how drugs can be used to change the biology of disease and
Career Profile: IT Project Manager - Olympic Games
Travel, money, meeting new people and living in new cultures... and a whole lot of sport! That is where maths has lead Jamie Clarke, an IT project manager who specialises in international sport projects such as the recent winter Olympics in Torino.Jamie tells Plus Magazine how he went from
Looking back on the Leaving Cert: How it affected my Career
Some 56,000 students sat the 2015 Leaving Certificate. On Wednesday they will go to their schools or log in online to check how they fared. Every year we see photos in the paper of delighted students, results sheets in hand. But what happens to them after results day? The
A Day in the Life of an Acupuncturist
Caitlin Allen qualified in Acupressure Massage from the Northern College of Acupuncture, York in 2003 and obtained her BSc in acupuncture in 2005. Below she documents a typical day in her accupunture clinic. Today a patient asked me what my day was like as she was interested in the variety
A Week in My Family Therapy Practice
"The challenge is to make the work applicable and to make the environment conducive to discussion." I lecture full-time at Athlone Institute of Technology, educating future careworkers to work with families, young people and service users such as people with disabilities. And there’s a focus on
Sinead McCool - Product Innovation Officer
Sinead McCool, a qualified pharmacist, talks to Smart Futures about her diverse career. What is Pharmapod? Pharmapod is a cloud-based platform that allows you to document any error or near miss that occurs during dispensing and preparation in a pharmacy, such as misreading a doctor’s handwriting or
Siobhan O'Connor - Researcher in Health Formatics
Siobhán O’Connor talks to Smart Futures about her career as a researcher in health informatics. Your job title? PhD/Doctoral candidate studying in the area of health informatics at the University of Glasgow. What are the main tasks, responsibilities and skills required? As a PhD student
A Week in My Community Midwife Role
"I have run out of restaurants on many occasions when the main course has just arrived." Mary Cronin, Community Midwife My job is to attend mothers who choose to have their babies at home. This involves antenatal care, attendance at the birth and postnatal care for up to two
A Week in my Medical Social Work Practice
'Having a baby is a unique time in people’s lives and it’s such a privilege to play a small role, to help them cope with any difficulties they face.’ Pauline Foster social worker at the Rotunda hospital. There are six social workers in the
Shane O'Donnell - Genetics Student at UCC
Shane O’Donnell, the Clare County hurling champion and Smart Futures Ambassador is currently studying Genetics in University College Cork. Here he talks about how he made his choices for the CAO and how he manages to balance his sporting life with his studies. Can you tell us
James Corcoran - Pharmacologist and Writer
James Corcoran talks to Smart Futures about his career as a medical writer/pharmacologist. Your job title? Medical Writer/Pharmacologist at Firecrest Clinical, Limerick. What are the main tasks, responsibilities and skills required? I work as part of a team who create videos that explain diseases and show how drugs
Steve Elliman - Research Scientist
Describe your typical day Dr Steve Elliman, head of research at Orbsen Therapeutics, says no two days are the same at his Galway start-up. My chief function is to manage 11 research scientists in the lab. Another role is grant writing. We’re a start-up so we
Julie Doyle - Researcher in Health and Wellness Technologies
Dr Julie Doyle, a research fellow at CASALA, is coming up with ways of making life better for older people. What is CASALA and what is your role? CASALA is an applied research centre based in Dundalk IT. We look at enhanced aging using technology. Our aim is to
Grainne Dunne - Pharmacist
Grainne Dunne an ODP Pharmacist at AbbVie talks to Smart Futures about her career. What are the main tasks, responsibilities and skills required? I joined AbbVie in 2013 as a Pharmacist on the Operations Development Program (ODP). The ODP is a two-year training program offered by the company with