Clinic collaborators

Áine Cunningham, Diabetes Nurse Specialist

Áine has worked in the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Galway University Hospitals since 2005. She became a Diabetes Nurse Specialist in 2007, she has a Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes and is a Nurse Prescriber. At present, she is studying for her Masters in Advanced Nurse Practice in Diabetes. Her special interests include type 1 diabetes, inpatient care and structured education programmes for people who live with diabetes. She is currently the Lead DAFNE Educator for the Saolta University Health Care Group.

As a key member of the Type 1 Diabetes Young Adult Clinic team, Áine helps with recruiting young adults for both modelling and refining and pilot phases of the D1 Now Study. She will assists in its delivery, quality assurance and treatment fidelity assessment.

Aoife Ryan, Diabetes Nurse Specialist

Aoife has worked in the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Galway University Hospitals since 2014. She became a Diabetes Nurse Specialist in 2017, while she is also qualified as a Paediatric Nurse. Her special interests include type 1 diabetes, paediatrics and young people transiting from paediatrics to adult diabetes care.

As a key member of the Type 1 Diabetes Young Adult Clinic team, Aoife helps with recruiting young adults for both modelling and refining and pilot phases of the D1 Now Study. She also assists in its delivery, quality assurance and treatment fidelity assessment.

Dr Esther O'Sullivan, Consultant Endocrinologist

Since joining the diabetes team in the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Galway University Hospitals Dr O’Sullivan has led on the Intensive Insulin Management Clinic that include DAFNE, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring and other new technologies. Her areas of special interest include technology, exercise and type 1 diabetes, all of which are closely linked to young adults.

As the lead Consultant of the Intensive Insulin Management Team Dr O’Sullivan will advise on technology aspects of the D1 Now Study and how best to recruit and retain study participants.

Helen Burke, Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Helen has completed a Masters in Health Science from NUI Galway, Higher Diploma in Diabetes Nursing from Roehampton University, Surrey, a Higher Diploma in Health Service Management from the University of Limerick and The Certificate in Nurse Prescribing in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. She also holds a Certificate in Insulin Pump Therapy from Kings College, London. Helen is an honorary clinical fellow of National University of Galway and a member of the Irish Diabetes Nurse Specialist Association, West of Ireland Diabetes Services Implementation Group.

Helen’s interest focuses on the development and enhancement of diabetes services for paediatric, adolescent and young adult diabetes care. Helen has been involved in the development and implementation of many patient education programmes. Helen has organised many training programmes for visiting Medical and Nursing students She has won many awards for her work in Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes and has published and spoken extensively on this subject. She was one of the lead Investigators for the MIND Study which examined quality of life issues for people living with diabetes and how these may impact on metabolic outcomes in this cohort.

Mairead Smith, Senior Diabetes Dietitian

Mairead has worked in the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Galway University Hospitals. She provides an outpatient service and follow-up for patients referred with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She is an important member of both the Type 1 Diabetes Young Adult Clinic Team and Intensive Insulin Management Team. She is a DAFNE and DESMOND Educator.

As a key member of the Type 1 Diabetes Young Adult Clinic team, Mairead helps with recruiting young adults for the D1 Now Study and will advise on aspects of the study that require specialist dietetic input.