Dr. Niamh Cummins is the Chairperson of the Irish Paramedicine Education and Research Network (IPERN). She is an Associate Professor in Public Health at the University of Limerick and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Paramedicine at Monash University. Niamh is particularly interested in research on the integration of health services, mental health and clinical screening tools. Her speciality is in collaboratively fostering a research culture and building research capacity through networking, mentorship and peer-assisted learning. She is a member of the UK College of Paramedics Public Health Special Interest Group, the International Advisory Board for the PRIME Centre in Wales and she is an Associate Editor for the journal Paramedicine.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7118-9563 

Michelle O’Toole leads the Paediatrics Special Interest Group at IPERN. Michelle is a Researcher in RCSI SIM, Centre for Simulation Education and Research in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), Dublin (Founder of Hugs@Home) and an Educator in University College Cork (UCC). She is registered as an Advanced Paramedic, a Paramedic Tutor and Examiner with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), and an approved Instructor in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Her research interests include wellbeing, peer support, post-traumatic growth following adversity and the use of simulation to prepare learners for real world experiences.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9193-5933 

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9193-593

Shane Devlin is an Advanced Paramedic and he leads the Human Factors Special Interest group at IPERN. From Donegal now living in Galway, Shane originally completed a science degree in University of Galway, and was then drawn to the variety of EMS work training first as an EMT, then progressing to Paramedic and then Advanced Paramedic with the National Ambulance Service. Shane has published articles in the British Paramedic Journal, Paramedic Insight and the Journal of Paramedic Practice. Shane’s research topic for his MSc in EMS from University College Dublin was paramedic identification of posterior circulation stroke. He also sits on the NAS research committee. In his spare time, Shane plays traditional music and is entertained by his Corgi, Cooper (who is the unofficial IPERN mascot!)

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3528-769X 

Dr. Ann-Marie Bright is an Associate Professor in Mental Health at the University of Limerick (UL) and she leads the Mental Health Special Interest Group at IPERN. Ann-Marie holds a First Class B.Sc. (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing from the Institute of Technology, Tralee and an M.Sc. in Perinatal Mental Health from UL. Ann-Marie was conferred with a Ph.D. from UL in 2024 for her research on the experiences of women prisoners in the context of mental healthcare in Irish prisons. She has extensive experience of clinical practice and education in Mental Health. She worked in a number of clinical settings including; acute in-patient care, rehabilitation, perinatal mental health and psychosocial interventions. 

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1125-5941 

Dr. Lisa McNamee leads IPERN’s Medical Logistics Special Interest Group. She specialises in general practice and military medicine in her role as a serving army Captain with the Irish Defence Forces. Lisa holds honours degrees from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and an MSc in Immediate Care EMS from University College Dublin. She is the co-founder of Space Medicine Ireland, an aerospace medicine research and education committee.

Gráinne leads the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Special Interest Group at IPERN. She is the Health and Safety & Emergency Planning manager in St Lukes General Hospital, Kilkenny. Formerly an Advanced Paramedic with the National Ambulance Service she still practices clinically through her role with the South-Eastern Mountain Rescue Team Member (SEMRA). Gráinne was the 2018 recipient of the 30% Club scholarship award for her MSc in DCU Business School. She also led research on the “Listen” Project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gráinne loves her work, her family, her mountains & continuous learning. 

Brian is a Research Assistant in RCSI SIM, Centre for Simulation Education and Research in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), Dublin. He is a retired firefighter/paramedic with over 28 years experience with Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). Brian graduated with a Master’s in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin in 2018. He is an accredited instructor in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and is an experienced CISM peer supporter, mentor and team coordinator. His research interests include first responder wellbeing, peer support, post-traumatic growth/stress within the emergency services and the use of simulation to prepare learners for real world experiences. When Brian isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his family, daily dog walks beside the sea and is a year round sea swimmer.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9106-9526 

Damien began his career in the Emergency Services as a First Aider, firefighter and volunteer in the Civil Defence, before commencing work as an EMT with the Mid-Western Health Board in 2000. In 2006 he progressed to becoming one of the first Advanced Paramedics nationally and in 2011 he was selected as a member of the inaugural team of Flight Paramedics with the Emergency Aeromedical Service (Medevac 112) More recently Damien qualified with a MSc from University College Dublin and has continued to trailblaze by becoming one of the first Critical Care Paramedics in Ireland (Critical Care Retrieval Services Project 2019). Damien is still active in his local Limerick station on the Emergency ambulance, the Rapid Response Vehicle, the Special Incident Unit and with the Pathfinder Team. He is available as a peer support worker through the CISM network. Damien is well published and has acted as a Co-Investigator and Principal Investigator on various research projects with the University of Limerick.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2894-0999 

Ivan McCann is a Critical Care Paramedic and certified Flight Paramedic with over a decade of clinical, educational and patient safety experience. He has practiced paramedicine in various locations and systems across the globe including urban, rural, conflict and low resource environments as well as in public and private services. His research interests include human factors in paramedicine, restorative just culture in paramedicine, paramedic led public and global health, and low resource and austere medicine. He is currently completing a MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9733-7185

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