Christopher Gerard McCusker

Christopher Gerard McCusker is a Senior Lecturer, Head of School, and Director of the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program at University College Cork (UCC). He holds a joint academic-clinical background, previously serving at Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. His primary roles include pediatric psychology, neuropsychology, and clinical training leadership.

Education: B.A. (Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast), Ph.D. (Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast), M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London).

Research Focus: Neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease (CHD), family-centered interventions, and psychological processes in chronic childhood illnesses. His work spans 30+ years, with major contributions to the Congenital Heart Disease Intervention Programme (CHIP), evaluating interventions for children with CHD and their families.

Grants: Over €1 million in grants, including €300k for the Family First intervention for brain injury recovery and €60k for longitudinal CHD outcomes research (CHIP III).

Awards: 2016 British Psychological Society awards for Clinical Psychology Team of the Year and Outstanding Contribution, plus the Judith Houghton Award for pediatric psychology.

Teaching & Leadership: Director of Clinical Psychology training programs at UCC and Queen’s University Belfast. Active in professional bodies, including the British Psychological Society’s Clinical Psychology Division and Northern Ireland health policy advisory roles.

Key Collaborations: Partnerships with global institutions (e.g., University of Gothenburg, Erasmus University Rotterdam) and clinicians addressing CHD, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental disorders.