MrsEmmelise Barnard

Emmelise Barnard is a Lecturer in Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging at University College Dublin, a Clinical Specialist Sonographer at Beacon Hospital, and the founder and President of the Irish Medical Ultrasound Society (IMUS). She began her ultrasound career in 2013 and holds an MSc in Diagnostic Ultrasound from Ulster University. She has a particular passion for musculoskeletal ultrasound, reflected in her clinical practice, teaching and research.

Since her appointment as Ultrasound Clinical Specialist at Beacon Hospital in 2019, Emmelise has focused on developing ultrasound services and advancing clinical practice. She established and led a musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging unit within the Centre for Orthopaedics, supporting the integration of ultrasound into orthopaedic assessment. Her clinical interests include implementing contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography to expand ultrasound applications and support patient care. She maintains an active clinical practice alongside her academic and research commitments.

Since joining UCD in 2024, Emmelise has contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate ultrasound education, with a focus on improving teaching, practical training and curriculum development. She is committed to helping students connect ultrasound physics, image interpretation and scanning skills with clinical decision-making and safe professional practice. Her conference contributions, including at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR), reflect her commitment to sharing knowledge and advancing ultrasound education and practice.

Emmelise is undertaking a Professional Doctorate at UCD, focusing on hamstring muscle–tendon ultrasound and its application to injury-risk and return-to-play assessment. Her research combines her clinical expertise and passion for musculoskeletal imaging to investigate ultrasound measurement methods and their potential role in sports medicine.

As founder and President of IMUS, she led the establishment of the society and continues to guide its development, promoting ultrasound education, professional standards, research and collaboration across disciplines in Ireland.