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About
The Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine, the professional body representing medical scientists in Ireland. Medical science is a regulated and state registered profession
The Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU established its register on 31 March 2019. As and from this date the Medical Scientists Registration Board is designated as the Competent Authority for the profession of Medical Scientist under the relevant legislation.
The vision of the Academy is “To support excellence in clinical science and laboratory medicine, and in doing so, enhance patient outcomes”.
Laboratory medicine is a clinical service and the clinical sciences that underpin laboratory medicine are; Cellular Pathology (Histopathology), Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, POCT, Transfusion and Transplantation Science and Virology. Medical scientists are at the forefront not only in the provision of these services but in the management and delivery of the services.
ACSLM Staff, Council Members, Council Committees & Directors/Members
ACSLM Staff
Membership/Fellowship: Sinéad Wall – mail@acslm.ie
Accounts: accounts@acslm.ie
CPD Officer’s: Jemma Kehoe & Leo Mulvany – cpd@acslm.ie
Executive Officer: Helen Barry – ceo@acslm.ie
Council Members
Bernie Quirke – President of the Academy of Clinical Science
and Laboratory Medicine
ACSLM CEO, Helen Barry
Helen Barry MBA, MSc, FAMLS, HDip Healthcare RM, DipSHWWW.
Professional Qualifications
MBA in Healthcare Management – HETAC
HDip Healthcare Risk Management – UCD
Dip Safety Health and Welfare at Work – UCD
MSc Microbiology – UCD
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry – UCC
Additional Courses
Accounting for Non Financial Managers – UCD, 2002
Quality Management – Smurfit Business School, 2003
Six Sigma Green Belt – ASQ, 2006
Committees
I have served on a number of committees,.
HSA Advisory Committee H&S in Healthcare – 1999-2001
Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, Council Member – 2007 – 2010
Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Scientific Advisory Committee – 2004 – 2008
Women in Technology and Science (WITS) Ireland, Executive Member – 2005 – 2012
HSE Working Group, Centralisation of Virology Services – 2012 to 2014
HSE GC Control Group Resources Sub Committee – 2013 to 2017
Lectures
I have lectured at all the major third level colleges, NUIG, UCD, TCD, TU Dublin in general Microbiology, Biosafety, Health Care Management, clinical risk management, occupational health and safety.
I have presented at many conferences including LabCon, BioMedica and the Heath Summit.
Vice President: Bernadette Jackson
Treasurer: Brian O’Malley, Cavan General Hospital
Dr Irene Regan, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital
Marie Culliton, M.Sc., M.B.A., F.AC.S.L.M.,
Laboratory Manager, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin
Marie Culliton entered the profession of Medical Science in 1973, commencing the certificate in Medical Laboratory Sciences in Dublin, Ireland. In 1978, specialising in Microbiology, the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science was achieved. Marie then took a career change and opted for Clinical Chemistry. Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, London, was completed in 1980.
Marie has a specific interest in the disease Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. This formed the topic of her thesis while undertaking the MSc. in Clinical Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin which was completed in 1990. Predominant research work concerned examining the relationship of Androgens with 17α OH Progesterone in the treatment of this disease. In addition other research interests are the aetiology of the disease Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and the investigation of Androgen excess states.
Marie continued her academic studies with an MBA in Health Services Management, from University College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, awarded in 2001.With this additional qualification Marie moved into laboratory management, 1st as quality manager at St Vincent’s and now as Chief Medical Scientist and Laboratory Manager at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
At The National Maternity Hospital, Marie has developed and interest in monitoring of Fetal Wellbeing. This encompasses the management of Rhesus Disease and also the emerging area of 1st Trimester Screening. The Biochemistry 1st Trimester Screening service at the National Maternity Hospital is accredited to ISO 15189.
Marie has been a member of the Council of The Academy of Medical Laboratory Science since 1985 and has served 2 terms as President. Marie has been a delegate to the European Association for Professions in Biomedical Science (EPBS) since 2001. She was President of EPBS from 2004-2018.
Marie was appointed by the Minister for Health and Children to the Council of CORU, the Registration Council for Allied Health Professionals where she served 2 terms and was Deputy Chair of the Council. She was subsequently appointed to the Medical Scientists Registration Board where she serves as Chair.
Along with other members of the profession Marie has been raising our profile in the media through appearances at the Oireachtas Health Committee, interviews on RTE and Newstalk radio, podcasts with Susan Mitchell and more recently on television.
Marie has been a delegate to the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) on several occasions and has now been elected to its Board as President Elect.
Sinéad Creagh, Cork University Hospital
Sinead is a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, she is currently Laboratory Manager at Cork University Hospital. Her academic background includes BSc in Biomedical Sciences from CIT/UCC, MSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ulster, Diplomas in Quality Management and Leadership. She has completed FRCPath Part 1 in Medical Microbiology and is currently her second year of Leading Care MSc as part of the HSE Leadership Academy awarded by UCC.
Sinead was a Medical Scientist in the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Cork University Hospital for seventeen years, seven of which were at a senior grade. As the Laboratory Manager, she oversees CUH’s Laboratory, Phlebotomy and Post Mortem departments. Sinead represents the laboratory at a number of collaborative groups at local, regional and national levels.
Following graduation from the BSc in Medical Science programme, Dublin Institute of Technology (now TU Dublin), Claire spent some time working in a diagnostic Haematology laboratory before carrying out research work in Baylor College of Medicine, Texas. She was awarded an MPhil from TU Dublin for this work and went on to become one of the Health Research Board PhD Scholars in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). After spending time in research laboratories in Brown University, Providence, Claire worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the RCSI. She returned to TU Dublin in 2013 to take up her current position and graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Third Level Learning and Teaching in 2015.
Claire coordinates and lectures on all undergraduate and postgraduate Haematology related modules and organises outreach opportunities for the BSc in Medical Science students and others. She is also involved in the design and delivery of Professional Practice modules and is academic mentor for various undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. She is a certified phlebotomist and an active researcher within the School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences, currently supervising two PhD students. Claire was nominated onto the Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences executive committee this year and is involved in various committees at both school and university level. She has been a member of the Haematology Advisory Body of the ACLSM since 2013 and has been chair since 2020.
Cían Ryan – Lancaster Medical School, UK
Cían graduated from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (Atlantic Technological University) in 2013, with a B.Sc. in Medical Science. He has 8 years of experience in Irish public hospital laboratories, working across the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin. During his time in Irish hospitals, he specialised in the monitoring of monoclonal gammopathies and HIV in the clinical immunology laboratory, as well as routine haematology. In 2021, Cían received an M.Sc. in Epidemiology as well as an M.Res. in Global Health – Quantitative and Translational Methods. Prior to commencing his PhD in 2022, Cían was seconded to the UK Health Security Agency where he spent 7 months working as a surveillance scientist responding to the COVID-19 omicron emergency as well as the Monkeypox pandemic. Cían is currently completing a PhD at Lancaster Medical School investigating how social networks and vaccine assortative mixing translates on the transmission of communicable disease. Prior to joining counsel, Cían sat on the immunology advisory body, before becoming chair between 2017-2020. Cían also currently sits on the engagement and advancement advisory body.
Dermot McBrierty, Beaumont Hospital
Dermot has worked for twenty years in Beaumont hospital, at every level. Currently he holds the post of chief medical scientist in NPT (near patient testing) and also works in the Biochemistry Department. Interests include NPT, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Forensic, CSF Xxanthachromia for subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis, strategy and management.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wife and two daughters, socialising with friends, travel, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fitness, cooking, and photography.
Alison Malkin, TU Dublin
Dr Fiona O’Halloran, Munster Technological University
Fiona graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Science (1996) from the joint CIT/UCC programme and has a PhD in Biomedical Science and an MA in Teaching and Learning. Following her PhD Fiona did a number of locum positions as a medical scientist, then went back to research, completing a three-year postdoc that focused on antimicrobial resistant mechanisms. She then worked as a research officer with Teagasc, exploring how food-derived bioactives impact human health. In 2012 Fiona took up a lecturing position in the Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University (MTU), and in addition to teaching on the Biomedical Science programme she is a member of the MTU/UCC board of studies, which is responsible for the development of the joint Biomedical Science programme. Fiona is a principle investigator in both BioExplore and NutRI research groups, and actively involved in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. As a co-ordinator of the MTU CellEXPLORERS team Fiona also helps to promote science in schools and local communities through this outreach initiative.
Greta Domarkaite – Senior Medical Scientist – Green Laboratory Ambassador
Virology Laboratory I, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James’s Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R
Isabelle O’Callaghan, Specialist Medical Scientist, Cork University Hospital
Isabelle O’Callaghan is a Specialist Medical Scientist with responsibility for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. She has worked for 18 years in Clinical Microbiology and currently works in the Microbiology Department at Cork University Hospital. Isabelle has extensive experience in the various aspects of the Microbiology laboratory. Isabelle holds a degree in Biomedical Science from Dublin Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Biomedical Science from University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology. She is on the ISCM EUCAST sub-group and the ACSLM EUCAST discussion group.
Dr Jacqui Clarke, Letterkenny University Hospital
My name is Jacqui Clarke, I am currently the Pathology manager at Letterkenny University Hospital. I began my studies in ATU Galway and then went to the University of Ulster, Coleraine where I completed my PhD through a Wellcome Trust Prize Studentship. I remained in academia for a few years before returning to Letterkenny in 1997 to the Biochemistry Dept.
I progressed through the ranks of Biochemistry and became Pathology manager in May 2018. I love the field of medical science and am very proud of the important work we do every day. I am looking forward to my time on council and hope to influence the advancement of IT in our service delivery, promote our presence in primary care initiatives and ensure that our profession remains a highly educated workforce with excellent professional standards.
Dr. Joan O’Keeffe: Lecturer in Medical Science in the Department of Biopharmaceutical & Medical Science at ATU Galway
Dr. Joan O’Keeffe
Lecturer in Medical Science in the Department of Biopharmaceutical & Medical Science at ATU Galway
Joan is a lecturer in Medical Science at ATU in Galway since 2008, having graduated from TUD with a B.Sc in Biomedical Science and a PhD (Immunology) from TCD. After post-doctoral research into innate immune mechanisms in colon cancer in the Education & Research Centre at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, she was employed as a lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Galway in 2006 before joining the Medical Science team at ATU. At ATU she lectured on the undergraduate Medical Science degree program in Immunology and Cell Pathology, and was also a module leader on the M.Sc in Medical Science and the Higher Diploma in Medical Science programs. Joan currently is the co-chair of year 4 in Medical Science and has in the past been placement co-ordinator in year 3. She is co-supervisor of two postgraduate students at the MFRC at ATU (Dr Joan O’Keeffe – ATU Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (mfrc-atu.ie)), where her research interests are in innate immunity, antimicrobial peptides, salmon fish health, and bioactivity in seaweeds. Joan is passionate about sustainable science and have been part of a team at ATU involved in achieving certification for greener labs in science teaching recently.
Mr. John Crumlish, Laboratory Manager at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
- Over 30 years experience as a Medical Scientist.
- Laboratory manager @ Beaumont Hospital since August 2021
- Formerly Chief Medical Scientist Blood Transfusion and subsequently laboratory Manager @ Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
- Over 20 years working in IBTS in a number of departments including Senior Medical Scientist in Virology and Chief Medical Scientist in Crossmatch/Diagnostics.
Karen McGibney – UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory
Following graduation from UCD, I trained as a biomedical scientist in the UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital, a busy tertiary referral hospital for children and major transplant centre, and St Elizabeths Childrens Hospital, a London community hospital. Study at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, led to an MSc in Medical Virology awarded by University of London, and Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences.
With further training in microbiology, with the intention of returning to Ireland, I was delighted to find a centre of excellence at the National Virus Reference Laboratory and I have practised clinical diagnostic virology there for over 28 years.
I am currently in an Education and Development role within the NVRL, with a passionate interest in clinical virology, and support that learning NVRL staff and visitors. I would like to see broader entry pathways to the Medical Scientist profession, particularly more post-graduate training options.
Helen Barry, ACSLM CEO and Secretary to Council
Helen Barry MBA, MSc, FAMLS, HDip Healthcare RM, DipSHWWW.
Professional Qualifications
MBA in Healthcare Management – HETAC
HDip Healthcare Risk Management – UCD
Dip Safety Health and Welfare at Work – UCD
MSc Microbiology – UCD
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry – UCC
Additional Courses
Accounting for Non Financial Managers – UCD, 2002
Quality Management – Smurfit Business School, 2003
Six Sigma Green Belt – ASQ, 2006
Committees
I have served on a number of committees,.
HSA Advisory Committee H&S in Healthcare – 1999-2001
Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, Council Member – 2007 – 2010
Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Scientific Advisory Committee – 2004 – 2008
Women in Technology and Science (WITS) Ireland, Executive Member – 2005 – 2012
HSE Working Group, Centralisation of Virology Services – 2012 to 2014
HSE GC Control Group Resources Sub Committee – 2013 to 2017
Lectures
I have lectured at all the major third level colleges, NUIG, UCD, TCD, TU Dublin in general Microbiology, Biosafety, Health Care Management, clinical risk management, occupational health and safety.
I have presented at many conferences including LabCon, BioMedica and the Heath Summit.
Council Committees
Council has fifteen Committees. Each Committee has a Director and team members. Committees are grouped based on function. The President and Vice-President are ‘ex-officio’ members of all groups/Committees. Where necessary a member of the office team provides support.
Council Committees
Strategic Planning
This group examines strategic options and decisions that need to be taken by the Academy, to ensure its future advancement and the best interests of the profession, and management of Public Relations.
Education
This group is responsible for all educational matters. It is divided into 3 committees with designated responsibilities.
Programmes: Coordination of and responsibility for educational programmes of the Academy
Scientific Development: Exploring opportunities for the scientific development of Academy Members to achieve their full potential.
Validation: Review of courses offered by academic institutions submitted for approval by the Academy.
Organisation
This group is responsible for all events organised by the Academy and services to members
Events: Management of Conference, BioMedica and other Academy functions.
Advisory Bodies: Coordination of the discipline specific Advisory Bodies and their activities
CPD: Management and oversight of the CPD programme of the Academy
Management
Finance: Financial Directors overseeing the income/expenditure activities of AMLS operations.
Membership: Examination of qualifications submitted by candidates, with a view to granting eligibility for Membership of the Academy.
House / Office: Management of the Academy office premises staff and facilities
Communications
Converse / Publications: Responsible for the production of Converse and monitoring the Academy’s interests in the Journal of Biomedical Science
Web Site: Development and use of the website as a communication tool for the Academy
Regulation
Statutory Registration: Responsible for monitoring and advising on the implementation of Statutory Registration of Medical Scientists.
Accreditation: Responsible for development of policies for the Academy pertaining to accreditation. Promotion of Accreditation of Clinical Medical Laboratories in Ireland.
International Affairs: Academy liaison with International Organisations representing and concerned with Biomedical Laboratory Science issues.
Committee | Director | Members |
Strategic Planning | ||
Strategic Planning | R. McCafferty | M. Culliton, B. Jackson, P. Mulhare, I. Regan, |
Education | ||
Research | H. Lambkin | |
Scientific Education Development | H. Lambkin | M. Culliton,B O’Malley, |
Course Validation | J. Williams | F. Mendes, B. Murphy |
CPD Officers | J. Kehoe & L. Mulvany | J. Mulvany, M. Culliton, F. Guilfoyle |
Organisation | ||
Advisory Bodies | ||
Events | ||
Management | ||
Finance | B. O’Malley | J. Carey, M. Culliton, P. Mulhare, |
Membership | F. Guilfoyle | S. Wall |
House / Office | P. Mulhare, | I. Regan, H. Barry |
Communications | ||
Converse / Publications | H. Barry | A MacLellan |
Website | N. Stynes | L. Mulvany, S. Wall |
Regulation | ||
Statutory Registration | M. Culliton | |
Laboratory Accreditation | M. Culliton, B. Jackson | |
International Affairs | M. Culliton | P. Mulhare, I. Regan |
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