Maria Healy

Dr. Maria Healy is a Senior Lecturer (Education) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), with roles including module coordinator, PhD supervisor, and Athena Swan Champion. She previously led midwifery education at University College Dublin (UCD) and has extensive clinical experience as a Registered Midwife and Nurse.

Her research focuses on midwifery practice guidelines (e.g., RQIA admission criteria for midwife-led units), women’s childbirth experiences, and midwifery pedagogy. Key achievements include developing internationally adopted guidelines presented at the WHO, co-leading the ‘Planning Birth at Home’ guideline, and advancing midwifery education through Universal Design for Learning frameworks.

She has supervised 2 PhD students and actively contributes to national and EU initiatives like the European Midwifery-Unit Standards and the COST Action on Perinatal Mental Health. Awards include the 2023 Best Overall Stand at Balmoral Show and 2021 Staff Recognition Award.

Dr. Healy’s teaching expertise spans midwifery physiology, leadership, and professionalism, with a focus on student engagement and knowledge translation. She also chairs committees on women’s health policy and maternal care reviews.