DrMichelle O'Connor

Dr Michelle O’Connor is an Assistant Professor in Diagnostic Imaging at the UCD School of Medicine and Programme Director for the BSc in Diagnostic Radiography (Graduate Entry). She joined UCD as a Graduate Demonstrator in 2012 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2014. She holds a PhD in Translational Medicine and a Professional Diploma in University Teaching and Learning from UCD.

Michelle has extensive experience in clinical education, practice-based learning and workplace-based assessment. She has worked in partnership with more than 40 Clinical Practice Educators across 36 hospitals to support the quality and delivery of clinical education across UCD’s undergraduate and graduate-entry radiography programmes. Her work includes developing clinical learning and assessment processes, educating and supporting staff involved in student supervision, strengthening feedback practices, and promoting fair, consistent and robust workplace-based assessment. As Programme Director, she leads programme development, curriculum coordination and initiatives to enhance the student learning experience.

Michelle contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate education in radiographic practice, clinical education, image interpretation, patient care, research methods and radiation safety. She teaches on the Professional Certificate in Referring for Radiological Procedures and previously contributed to the Professional Certificate in Radiation Safety. She supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research, supporting students to develop research literacy, critical appraisal skills and a commitment to evidence-informed practice. She also contributes to programme accreditation and quality assurance. In addition, she has designed and delivered aptitude assessments for CORU, Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator.

Her research focuses on radiography education, clinical placement and assessment, virtual-reality simulation, radiation protection, image interpretation, computed tomography and inclusive education. She has authored or co-authored 23 peer-reviewed publications and more than 20 national and international conference presentations, including invited presentations. Her work has been presented at the European Congress of Radiology, the Society for Paediatric Radiology Annual Meeting, the International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine, the ISRRT World Congress, the Irish Institute of Radiography and Radiation Therapy Annual Conference, and the Irish Association for Simulation Conference. Her research has examined areas including the clinical learning environment, clinical educator recruitment and retention, workplace-based assessment, reflective practice, virtual-reality education and CT optimisation. In 2025, two of her articles ranked fourth and fifth among *Radiography*’s ten most-cited articles published between January 2023 and December 2025.  Michelle’s research has received several awards, including Best Research Presentation Abstract in the Radiographers category at ECR 2023, the Society for Paediatric Radiology Radiographer Best Scientific Paper Award in 2016 and 2017, the ECR Invest in the Youth Award in 2016, the UCD Kate Matthews Award and the UCD O’Farrell Medal.

Internationally, Michelle has contributed to multidisciplinary education and research through the OPTIMAX Summer Research School, Erasmus+ initiatives, the Quinnipiac University exchange programme and the European Academy of English for Health Professionals. She served on the OPTIMAX Steering Committee for several years and led the programme when UCD hosted the Summer Research School in Ireland in 2018. At European level, she serves on the European Federation of Radiographer Societies Educational Wing Management Team and CPD Committee, helping to shape educational and continuing professional development initiatives for radiographers across Europe.

Alongside her academic role, Michelle has maintained an active connection with clinical practice as a locum radiographer with Medica Ireland. From 2017 to 2021, she served as Radiation Safety Officer across four clinical sites, supporting compliance with radiation protection legislation and local safety procedures, advising staff on safe practice, and contributing to radiation risk management, quality assurance and staff education. This experience continues to inform her teaching and research in radiation protection, clinical governance and evidence-informed radiographic practice.