Julie Arnott is a public health epidemiologist with over 15 years experience in the health service as a public health epidemiologist.
Joining UCC in November 2021 as Lecturer in Health Protection and Infection Prevention and Control to offer her expertise gained in various jurisdictions in England, Wales and Ireland when working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Public Health Wales, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), and the HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Additionally, Julie has gained experience in global health with the Malaria Consortium in Uganda, and Infection Prevention and Control with the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork. 
Julie graduated from University College Cork with a BSc in Public Health and Health Promotion, a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection, and a Master’s in Public Health specialising in advanced epidemiology and biostatistics. Julie is currently registered with UCC as a full-time PhD student.

Professional experience:

I have a proven track record in health service epidemiology and healthcare quality improvement; working effectively in different healthcare jurisdictions including England, Wales, Ireland and Uganda. 
I have 15+ years post-qualification experience on public health programmes focusing on community, vaccine-preventable, healthcare-associated and antimicrobial-resistant infectious disease.
I have gained specialist skills in infectious disease surveillance, applying epidemiological methods, outbreak investigation, root-cause analysis, quality improvement, policy change and innovation projects. 
With thanks to my previous employers: The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Public Health Wales (PHW), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Health Service Executive – Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC).
Additionally I have gained experience through internships: in global health with the malaria consortium in Uganda, and infection prevention and control with the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, and I continue to be an active member with the Development Studies Association of Ireland (DSAI).

Professional development:

I continue to develop my specialist skillset in applying epidemiological methods with intensive postgraduate courses including;

• STATA (Bristol University)
• Linked Health Data Analysis, Introductory & Advanced courses (University of Western Australia/ Swansea University)
• Multivariate regression analysis (EpiConcept)
• Causal Inference (Harvard)
• Infodemic management (World Health Organisation)

Previous research (please see publications for further information):

• Coronaviruses – COVID-19 and MERS-CoV (HPSC)
• Influenza vaccination (HPSC and PHW)
• Outbreak investigations (HPSC & PHW)
• E. coli bacteraemia Root Cause Analysis (PHW)
• National Guidance publication (HIQA)
• Antimicrobial Consumption Community Surveillance, Minor Thesis in Epidemiology (UCC)
• Pharmacoepidemiology (LSHTM)

Current research:

• Mental health        
• Maternal health
• Perinatal health
• COVID-19 pandemic outcomes, physical and mental health.

Current research studies:

• Tanzanian study: ULTRA project on maternal health in Tanzania with funding from the Global Pregnancy Collaboration (CoLab), the Irish Research Council (IRC) and the Health Research Board (HRB).   
• European study: COVIDCAT study funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Covid19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy: An Irish cohort study and European ecological study to assess risks of congenital anomalies.   
• Irish Study: COVID-19 outcomes study funded by Health Research Board (HRB). Estimating the burden of symptomatic disease in the community and the impact of public health measures on physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Current research collaborators:

National

• The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT) is Ireland’s first translational research centre committed to improving maternal and child health through world-class clinical research during pregnancy, birth and early childhood. 
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC) based in the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital. NPEC’s objective is to collaborate with Irish maternity services to translate clinical audit data and epidemiological evidence into improved maternity care for families in Ireland. 
• National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) is an independent registered charity (CHY11351) undertaking multi-disciplinary research investigating suicide and self-harm in Ireland. 
• National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) of University College Dublin is Ireland’s provider of diagnostic and reference services for clinicians investigating viral infections. 
• The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is Ireland's specialist agency for the surveillance of communicable diseases part of Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE). HPSC strives to protect and improve the health of the Irish population by providing timely information and independent advice, and by carrying out disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation and related research and training to control and prevent infectious disease.   

International

• COVIDCAT study: North/ South Ireland research consortium: Dr Mary O'Mahony (Department of Public Health, HSE South and University College Cork), Professor Helen Dolk (University of Ulster), Dr Heather Reid and Dr Alison Little (Northern Ireland Public Health Agency) and the European congenital anomaly surveillance (EUROCAT) network: 
• EUROCAT central database which is derived from population-based congenital anomaly registries in 19 countries of Europe, including Ireland. 
• ULTRA study: Colleagues in the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Tanzania and the Global Pregnancy Collaboration (COLAB).

Teaching roles:
I am the Programme Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection, I teach the health protection specialisation on the Masters of Public Health (online) and Masters of Public Health (campus). I also teach BSc Public Health Sciences and Graduate-entry Medicine students. 

Course co-ordinator for modules;
EH4003 - Health Protection
EH6150 - Introduction to Health Protection
EH6151 - Advanced Health Protection
EH6101 - Microbiology, the Environment and Infectious Disease

Additionally I teach on;
EH6019 - The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection
EH6046 - Global and Environmental Health

GM1020 - Health and Disease in Society I

Curriculum design:
Since 2021, when I became Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection/ online MPH pathway in health protection, I conducted an evaluation of the curriculum to identify gaps between education and practice.

• I surveyed new entrants in the Health Protection workforce and interviewed multidisciplinary experts in health, environment, security and infection prevention and control.
• To bridge the gaps identified by students and experts, I developed practical content, case studies and scenario-based assignments to enhance applied learning, practical skill development and graduate attributes.

Engaging stakeholders both inter- and trans-disciplinary ensures graduates are fit-for-purpose for the health protection workforce.

External examiner feedback:

“As an external examiner for the post graduate Public Health Program for the past three years, my observations are that under Julie’s leadership, it is going from strength to strength. This program incorporates a range of disciplines vital to public health professionals such as epidemiology, health promotion, environmental health and social determinants of health which ensures that it is current, up-to-date, has practical and technical applications, and engages each student from start to finish. The range of teaching and learning approaches are innovative, interesting, and engaging which provided the students with a hugely positive, immersive learning experience. Julie’s engagement with the students is exceptional. Feedback provided by Julie on student discussions and assessments not only identifies areas for improvement, but also congratulates students on excellent work. I can clearly see Julie’s passion and commitment to student learning. I would love to undertake this course myself!”