Norelee Kennedy

Norelee Kennedy is a Full Professor of Physiotherapy at the School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Ireland. She holds a Personal Chair in Rheumatological Physiotherapy and leads a nationally and internationally recognized research program focusing on exercise, physical activity, lifestyle, and digital health interventions for people with inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

Her educational background includes a BSc in Physiotherapy (1999), a Graduate Diploma in Statistics (2000), a PhD (2004), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2008), all from prestigious Irish institutions. She has held key leadership roles, including Former Vice President for Research (2000–2005) and Former Head of the School of Allied Health (2014–2019).

Her research interests span exercise interventions, behavior change, digital health, and implementation science in the context of chronic rheumatic conditions. She is actively involved in shaping clinical guidelines through her membership in the EULAR Research Committee and the FOREUM Scientific Advisory Board, and has contributed to EULAR task forces developing recommendations for clinical practice.

Recent publications (2023–2024) demonstrate a strong focus on evaluating the implementation of structured programs like GLA:D® for osteoarthritis, exploring barriers and facilitators to exercise adoption, and testing innovative telehealth-based dietary interventions for rheumatoid arthritis. These works utilize diverse methodologies, including mixed methods, qualitative studies, and randomized controlled trials, reflecting a robust and multidisciplinary research program.

Her scientific contributions have been supported by competitive funding from the Irish Research Council, Health Research Board, and European funders. She is actively mentoring the next generation of researchers and is currently accepting PhD students.

• Member, EULAR Research Committee
• Member, FOREUM Scientific Advisory Board
• Contributor to EULAR task forces on clinical practice guidelines
• Active research in implementation science and digital health

Prof. Kennedy’s work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through advancing health and well-being and promoting quality education in healthcare. Her research continues to influence clinical practice and health policy in rheumatology and physiotherapy.