معرفی
Maria Dempsey is a Lecturer in Applied Psychology at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. She holds roles such as Assistant Dean (Student Affairs, 2003–2006) and has served on numerous committees, including UCC’s Academic Council and Psychological Society of Ireland Council. Her research focuses on reflective teaching, mental health, reproductive health, and pluralistic methodology, with a strong emphasis on translating research into practice.
Education: BA Psychology (NUI Galway, 1992), MA Counselling Psychology (UCC, 1994), PhD Applied Psychology (UCC, 2011), and Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice & Reflective Leadership (UCC, 2022).
Research Interests: Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing topics like reflective teaching strategies, teenage pregnancy support (e.g., the 'Slouchy Couch' initiative), and healthcare access for marginalized groups. She pioneered studies on transgender healthcare avoidance and endometriosis patient experiences. Her methods emphasize pluralistic qualitative approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Grants: Secured funding for projects such as 'Advancing Recovery: Implementation of Open Dialogue in HSE' (€18,495) and 'Irish transsexual experience of accessing healthcare' (€96,000). Collaborations include partnerships with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Trinity College Dublin.
Awards: Recognized for innovative teaching (UCC President’s Award, 2002) and impactful research (UCC Impact Award, 2017). She has supervised over 15 postgraduate students, focusing on topics like perinatal mental health and caregiver well-being.
Labs/Teams: Active in the Ireland Network for Pluralism in Qualitative Research and contributed to Open Dialogue mental health initiatives. External roles include Board member of MTAS Ltd., a youth substance misuse treatment service.
