Sheena McHugh

Dr. Sheena McHugh is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University College Cork (UCC). Her research focuses on implementation science, particularly improving the integration of evidence-based interventions into healthcare systems, with a focus on diabetes management in primary care. She leads the Health Implementation Research Hub and the Irish Implementation Science Training Institute. She has held a prestigious Health Research Board Research Leader Award (2020), awarded for her work in building capacity in implementation science.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (University College Dublin)
• MSc in Health Psychology (University College London)
• PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health (University College Cork)
• Postgraduate Certificates in Implementation Science (Trinity College Dublin) and Digital Education (UCC)

Research & Professional Roles:

• Associate Editor of BMJ Quality and Safety
• Member of editorial board of Implementation Research and Practice
• Fulbright Scholar (2018) and current Fulbright Ambassador at UCC
• Collaborates with the National Clinical Programme for Diabetes and the HSE Research and Development

Key Research Interests:

• Barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based interventions
• Designing tailored implementation strategies
• Health service evaluation, qualitative methods, and policy analysis

Grants & Awards:

• Over €2 million in research funding from the Health Research Board (HRB), Irish Research Council, and other bodies
• Awards include HRB Research Leader Award, Fulbright Scholar, and multiple leadership fellowships

Teaching & Outreach:

• Teaches Health Services Research, Qualitative Methods, and Policy Analysis
• Mentor in the SPHeRE PhD Programme Alumni-Scholar Coaching Panel

Lab & Collaborations:

• Leadership in the Health Implementation Research Hub
• Cross-border collaborations with institutions like the Gillings School of Public Health (UNC) and Trinity College Dublin