Assoc ProfessorCarla Perrotta

I am currently an Associate Professor and the Head of Subject for Public Health.  I am a Medical Doctor trained in Internal Medicine, General Practice and Clinical Effectiveness. At UCD, I teach Clinical Epidemiology, Evidence Synthesis, Patient-Reported Outcomes, and Health Economics courses. My goal is to support data-savvy learning for healthcare professionals.

With over thirty years of medical experience, I am deeply passionate about understanding the clinical and policy decision-making process and how evidence and context inform our practice. As a Cochrane Author for twenty years, I have co-authored or led more than twenty systematic reviews that continue to inform clinical guidelines and public health policy. Notable contributions include systematic reviews on the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy in bronchiolitis, the use of antibiotics for non-pregnant women to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, LMWH for thrombosis prevention in arthroscopy patients, healthcare needs of people sleeping rough, and interventions to improve fitness in women living with obesity. My interest lies in ensuring systematic reviews inform decision-making or future research.  Currently, I am working on an AI-powered platform to help researchers and students complete evidence synthesis projects efficiently, without losing human oversight or traceability. 

My research portfolio mirrors my enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative problem-solving. During the COVID-19 crisis, I led a multidisciplinary research team investigating workplace pandemic preparedness, examining safety perceptions in occupational settings, and evaluating the predictive value of using community viral circulation to anticipate workplace outbreaks. Because my professional identity is still rooted in clinical medicine, my research places the individual at the centre and uses methods that amplify their voices.
I am involved in several evidence synthesis projects, health inequality studies in primary care, and research impact methodologies. I collaborate with colleagues to address conditions commonly seen in general practice, such as pelvic floor health, malnutrition, and trauma-informed care.

I have a special interest in understanding clinical reasoning—particularly how probabilities are processed during clinical encounters—whether to decide on the mode of birth or to make daily clinical decisions.

 

I ​favour working environments where individuals, regardless of professional background, hierarchy, accent, or identity, can freely express their ideas and are encouraged to challenge preconceived or imposed narratives; academic excellence and innovation can only thrive where all voices are heard, respected, and valued.