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ProfessorEmma J. O'Neill

Professor

School of Veterinary Medicine

Orcid identifier0000-0001-5882-7797 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Professor
    School of Veterinary Medicine
  • 01 716 6025
  • University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Hospital Belfield Dublin 4

BIO

Emma is a graduate of the University of Bristol, UK. She graduated in 1992 with a BSc(Hons) in Physiology following an intercalated year and then in 1994 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree. Following a year in small animal practice, Emma returned to the University of Bristol to complete a three-year residency in Small Animal Medicine. She was then awarded a Wellcome Trust Veterinary PhD Studentship to study Immunotherapy in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, a model of Multiple Sclerosis, at Bristol Medical School, gaining her PhD in 2003 from the University of Bristol.

Emma joined UCD in 2002 as a Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine. In 2004 she gained the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine and the European Diploma in Small Animal Medicine (Companion Animals). Her primary areas of interest are active learning and metacognition, canine liver disease, gastroenterology and neurology. Emma gained the Post Graduate Diploma in University Teaching and Learning from UCD in 2015 and the Post Graduate Diploma for Entrepreneurial Educators in 2019. She is the Programme Director for the UCD Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine, an on-line post graduate programme for Veterinarians, and was a Fellow in Teaching and Academic Development (2019 - 2021) involved in a research project exploring ways to develop metacognitive skills in students supported by the VLE. Emma is currently Acting Director of the UCD Innovation Academy.

A recipient of a 2021-22 University Teaching Excellence Award, Emma is passionate about teaching and equipping students with the appropriate skills to help them realise their full potential. Recognising the fundamental importance of EBP for effective, safe, high-quality healthcare, she champions evidence-based practice in both her teaching and clinical practice. This reflects her view that effective EBP skills are essential to all healthcare students for their future professional lives, playing a key role in effective lifelong learning and the translation of research into practice. In July 2023, Emma was awarded the honour of becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN APPOINTMENTS

  • Fellow in Teaching and Academic Development
    University College Dublin, IrelandJan 2019 - 24 Dec 2021
  • Acting Director
    UCD, Innovation Academy, Dublin, Ireland1 Sep 2026 - 1 Sep 2027

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Resident in Small Animal Medicine
    University of Bristol2 Jul 1995 - 30 Sep 1998
  • Waltham / Royal Canin Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine
    University College Dublin4 Jan 2002 - 30 Sep 2005
  • Assistant Professor in Small Animal Medicine
    University College Dublin, Ireland3 Oct 2005 - 19 Feb 2018
  • Associate Professor in Small Animal Medicine
    University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland19 Feb 2018

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon
    The Veterinary Hospital Plymouth1 Sep 1994 - 1 Jul 1995
  • Locum Clinical Pathologist
    Idexx Veterinary Laboratories1 Sep 1998 - 4 Dec 1998

DEGREES

  • BSc
    University of Bristol
  • BVSc
    University of Bristol
  • Certificate of CPD -Teaching & Learning, Cert of CPD Univ Teaching & Learning
    University College Dublin
  • DECVIM-CA, Diploma in Small Animal Medicine
    European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - CA
  • DSAM, Diploma in Small Animal Medicine
    Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons UK
  • PhD
    University of Bristol
  • Prof Dip University Teaching & Learning, Prof Dip University Teaching & Learning
    University College Dublin
  • Professional Diploma (Level 9)
    University College Dublin

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Professional Diploma for Entrepreneurial Educators
    University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland18 Feb 2019
    This Level 9 Professional Diploma course has two 5 ECTS modules and an additional project-based component actioning change within a practice setting. Modules include: Creative Thinking and Innovation for Entrepreneurial Educators and Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovation for Entrepreneurial Educators.
  • ESMEA Certificate in Medical Education Assessment
    An International Association for Medical Education (AMEE), Dundee, Scotland, UK12 Mar 2019
    Essential Skills in Medical Education Assessment is an online course for teachers in the healthcare professions. It is a self-paced, introductory level course, aimed at those new to teaching, and at teachers with years of experience who would like to deepen their understanding of educational principles and practices. Throughout the course, participants are encouraged to draw on their own experiences as a teacher and a learner, with the assessment focusing on the demonstration of their understanding how to apply the concepts and ideas presented in their own practice.
  • Programme-Focussed Assessment
    National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Dublin, Ireland10 Apr 2019
    This National Digital Badge in Programme Focused Assessment was jointly developed for the National Forum by UCD and Trinity College Dublin (TCD). It was developed for Faculty, or key programme staff, with an interest in programmatic assessment approaches. https://openbadgepassport.com/app/badge/info/132898
  • RESME Certificate
    An International Association for Medical Education (AMEE), Dundee, Scotland, UK22 Aug 2019
    Research Essential Skills in Medical Education (RESME) course introduces participants to essential principles and methods of research in medical education. The curriculum is designed to develop an understanding of the fundamentals concerning research in medical education.
  • Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching and Learning
    National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Dublin, Ireland1 Feb 2023
    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) refers to a set of principles for curriculum design and development that provide all individuals with an equal opportunity to learn, including students with disabilities. The overall aims is to improve the educational experience for all students by introducing more flexible methods of teaching, assessment and service provision to cater for different styles and abilities of learners. This approach is underpinned by research in the field of neuroscience and has been designed to improve the overall learning experience and outcomes for all students. AHEAD and UCD Access & Lifelong Learning worked together in partnership with the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to facilitate this Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching and Learning in a fully online format.
  • Digital Badge as UDL Course Facilitator
    National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Dublin, Ireland1 Feb 2023
    This badge is aimed at people wishing to act as a future UDL course coordinators. Participants are encouraged to explore the challenges and opportunities for a local UDL rollout in their area of education. The aim is to deepen their understanding and lay the groundwork for their future involvement in the process of wider roll out and embedding UDL in their institutions.
  • Certificate of Continuing Professional Development: Getting Published in Teaching
    University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
    This level 9 module run by UCD T&L builds on a student’s design work of a teaching initiative as a starting point for further research and writing a paper on a chosen topic. The module focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning and appraises a range of educational frameworks and concepts, approaches to identifying and analysing data, paper formats and publication opportunities. It is designed to equip students to engage in further pedagogical research.