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Biography

Sinéad Creedon is an Infection Prevention and Control specialist who joined UCC’s School of Public Health in 2021 as a Lecturer. She is also a PhD scholar in the School of Public Health.

Research Interests:
Global pandemics and outbreak management 
Leadership, Behaviour & Management in Infection Prevention & Control
Positive organisational leadership in healthcare
Psychological support and resilience for frontline staff 
Positive Psychology Interventions
Metaphor Coaching
Sinéad has a varied background in nursing, infection prevention and control, law and applied psychology (positive and coaching psychology). Her main clinical background & experience lies in Infection Prevention & Control, Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine as well as childhood, travel and peer vaccination.

Sinéad held the post of Infection Prevention & Control Clinical Nurse Specialist with the HSE during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she was also instrumental in coordinating the Peer Vaccination Programmes for both Influenza and Covid19. 

She is also an applied psychological coach specialising in coaching frontline workers on burnout, relational and leadership issues.



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Research Interests

Global pandemics and outbreak management 
Infection Prevention & Control
Leadership, Behaviour & Management in Healthcare
Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare
Positive Organisational Leadership in Healthcare
Psychological support for frontline workers 
Positive Psychology Interventions for healthcare workers
Resilience
Flow State in the workplace
Coaching in Metaphors‍

Publications

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Conference Publications

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Conference Creedon, Sinead and Trace, Anna (2023) From Protection of Sacrificial Self, to Critical Turning Points and Growth: Nurses' Experiences of Caring for Patients on the Frontline in Ireland during the COVID-19 Pandemic Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Conference Dublin (Online),   [Details]

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Professional Activities

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Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2024	Awarded a certificate of completion for a Nature Masterclass - Focus on Peer Review	Nature
	2023	Awarded a certificate of completion for Sustainable Development Goals Summer School	Ignite: University College Cork
	2023	Teaching & Learning in Higher Education (for third-level teachers) (Online)	University College Cork
	2023	Awarded with " Best Presentation Award " by the Program Committee for the 'Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Conference' in Dublin	International Scientific Committee ICPPW 2023
	2022	Current Leaders Level 2	University College Cork
	2022	Digital Badge UCC: Brainpower - Harnessing the Power and Potential of Adolescent Brain and Behaviour for Enhanced Learning, Wellbeing and Student Success	University College Cork
	2022	Digital Badge: The Connected Curriculum and You	University College Cork
	2022	MSc Applied Psychology (Positive & Coaching Psychology) MAAPP. Grade: 1:1	University College Cork
	2022	Digital Badge: Teaching with Technology (Canvas)	University College Cork
	2021	Digital Badge: Staff SPEAK	University College Cork
	2000	LLB Honours Law Degree. Grade: 2:1	University of West London

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Conference Contributions

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	Safe Patient Conference, Ms Sinéad Creedon and Dr. Anna Trace (2023) “Assessing the Present and Planning for the Future” Risk and Infection Prevention and Control 2023. [Poster Presentation], Safe Patient Conference, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork , 24-AUG-23 - 24-AUG-23. [Details]

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Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	International Coaching Federation	A global organisation dedicated to excellence in coaching dedicated to promoting best practice and raising the awareness and standards of coaching, worldwide	/
	Q Member with The Health Foundation	I am a member of Q, a community of thousands of people across the UK and Ireland collaborating to improve the safety and quality of health and care.	19-JAN-23 /
	Infection Prevention Society - Ireland branch	An independent charity with a 2,000 strong member network dedicated to Infection Prevention & Control	01-AUG-20 /
	Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)	The regulatory body for nursing and midwifery in Ireland	01-APR-94 /

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Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Athena Swan Committee, School of Public Health	Active member of the student and staff data working group	/
	Teaching and Curriculum Committee - School of Public Health	Participating member as an academic programme director	/
	School Executive Committee - School of Public Health	Participating member as an programme director	/
	Health, Safety & Wellbeing Committee - School of Public Health	Chairperson	/

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Employment

	Employer	Position	From / To
	School of Public Health, University College Cork	Lecturer and Academic Coordinator PG Certificate in Infection prevention & Control	01-NOV-21 /
	Health Service executive (HSE)	Infection Prevention & Control Clinical Nurse Specialist	01-AUG-20 / 31-OCT-21
	Coaching Works, Cork	Director	01-SEP-19 /
	Apple European Medical Centre, Hollyhill, Cork	Clinical Manager	04-JAN-16 / 30-AUG-20
	Various General Practices in the Cork Metropolitan Area	GP Practice Nurse	05-MAY-14 / 04-JAN-16
	Mater Private Hospital Cork (formerly Shanakiel Hospital)	Senior Staff Nurse - Operating Theatre	03-OCT-11 / 26-APR-15
	Langford Hall medical centre, Cork City	CNM 2 GP Practice Nurse	01-SEP-06 / 01-OCT-11
	South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork	CNM 2 Infection Prevention & Control	02-SEP-02 / 11-JUN-06
	Regional Unit for Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine, North West London Hospital (Northwick Park)	Staff Nurse and Clinical Nurse Manager -Regional Unit for Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine	02-SEP-94 / 31-MAY-01

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Education

	Year	Institution	Qualification	Subject
	2023	University College Cork	Masters Applied Psychology Coaching	Applied Psychology: Positive & Coaching Psychology
	2023	University College Cork	Post Graduate Certificate Teaching & Learning	Teaching & Learning
	2022	University College Cork	CPD1678 - Research Skills Training Programme	UCC Research Skills Training Programme
	2019	Cork Chamber Skillnet	QQ1 Level 6 - Certificate in Leadership Coaching	Certificate in Leadership Coaching
	2014	Dundee University	Post Graduate Higher Certificate (Level 9) - Advanced Practice (Infection Prevention & Control)	Advanced Practice (Infection Prevention & Control)
	2000	University of West London	LLB Hons Law	Law
	1996	University of West London	ENB 501 -Infectious Disease & Tropical Medicine	Infectious Disease & Tropical Medicine
	1996	University of West London	ENB 998 - Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice	Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice
	1994	Cork Regional Hospital School of Nursing	Registered General Nurse	Nursing

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Outreach Activities

	Description
	Sinéad volunteered and coached frontline workers throughout the pandemic with Connect A Coach
	Active member of the Infection Prevention Society (IPS). Regularly attend branch meetings and attend webinars and seminars online.
	Continuous Improvement Action Network - UCC Details of Engagement: New action network group set up in UCC where people from all departments volunteer to come together regularly to generate ideas for innovative and improvements together as part of a supported environment. The group also seeks opportunities to see if there are potential efficiencies for cross-functional initiatives. For example, we are currently exploring ways to improving uptake of Outlook Calendar and the scheduling function to create efficiencies for end users (staff and students) Duration: Ongoing
	Q Community - The Health Foundation Active Member of SIG: Quality Improvement and the wellbeing of the workforce. A self organising space where members can post comments, ask for views on a piece of work, share links and resources which support wellbeing for individuals and teams working in health and social care. Duration - Ongoing Active Member of SIG: Coaching Improvement This groups aim is to support other Q members and organisations to embed a coaching model and approach to quality improvement at a local level. Duration - Ongoing

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Other Activities

	Description
	Co-awarded funding of €10,880 from Department of Public Health HSE South to co-create and facilitate the Safe Patient Care conference focussing on Risk Assessment in Infection Prevention - to be held 23rd June 2023
	Co-awarded €4,950 from Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet to conduct an evaluation of the PG Cert in Infection Prevention and Control 2023
	Sinead was invited to present two 2-hour workshops for Module AP6181 on 'The Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Frontline Workers in Ireland' at the School of Applied Psychology, UCC in February and March 2023.

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Teaching Activities

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Teaching Interests

Infection Prevention & Control in Practice
Pandemic Preparedness and Outbreak Management
Quality & Patient Safety
Psychological Support for Healthcare Workers During Crisis
Positive Organisational Leadership
Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare

Modules Co-ordinated

Module Coordinator EH6146: Principles and Clinical Practices of Infection Prevention and Control  
Module Coordinator EH6147: Infection Prevention and Control Quality Improvement] and Patient Safety

Module Coordinator, EH6148: Infection Prevention and Control in Practice, MSc Infection Prevention & Control (Online)
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Recent Postgraduates

	Graduation Year	Student Name	Institution	Degree Type	Thesis Title
	2022	Catherine Maher	University College Cork		The effectiveness of online psychoeducation for improving the mental health and resilience of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; a systematic review of quantitative studies
	2023	Pamela Landers	UCC		An exploration of perceived achievement of learning outcomes of the National Infection Prevention and Control Link Practitioner Programme within Older Persons Services in Ireland. A descriptive qualitative study
	2022	Aileen Ryan	University College Cork		A systematic review of qualitative studies of burnout in nurses during the Covid 19 Pandemic