Emily O'Dowd

Dr. Emily O'Dowd is a Senior Lecturer in Surgical Education within Surgical Affairs at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin. She holds a PhD in Population Health and Health Services Research from the National University of Ireland Galway, an MSc in Psychological Research from the University of Edinburgh, and a BA in Applied Psychology from University College Cork. She is actively involved in teaching and research, with a focus on human factors in patient safety and healthcare quality improvement.

• PhD in Population Health and Health Services Research, National University of Ireland Galway (2018–2021)
• MSc in Psychological Research, University of Edinburgh (2016–2017)
• BA in Applied Psychology, University College Cork (2013–2016)

Her research centers on human factors in healthcare, patient safety, and healthcare quality, with a particular emphasis on analyzing patient complaints, gender equity in medical education, and the implementation of entrustable professional activities (EPAs). She has developed tools such as the adapted Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool for general practice and has led systematic reviews on safety climate measures and healthcare innovation impact.

Dr. O'Dowd’s recent publications (2021–2025) reflect a strong trajectory in medical education, patient safety, and health services research. These works frequently employ systematic review methodologies and co-design approaches, with recurring themes including gender equity, editorial training, autism and healthcare access, and patient complaint analysis. Her collaborative network includes frequent co-authors such as Lydon S, O’Connor P, and Madden C, indicating strong interdisciplinary research partnerships.

She is the academic lead for the PG Diploma and MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety at RCSI and has prior teaching experience in the Department of General Practice at the University of Galway. Her work contributes significantly to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

• Senior Lecturer, RCSI (current)
• Teaching experience, University of Galway

Dr. O'Dowd has been involved in multiple research projects analyzing patient complaints, healthcare innovation, and gender disparities in medical publishing. While specific grants are not listed, her extensive publication record in high-impact journals suggests active research funding. She mentors students through her program leadership and supervision roles, particularly in the MSc and PG Diploma programs.

She leads the PG Diploma and MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety at RCSI, indicating leadership in a specialized academic program focused on improving healthcare safety through human factors principles. This program serves as a hub for training future healthcare leaders in safety and quality improvement.