DrSean Paul Teeling

Seán Paul’s research sits at the intersection of improvement science and person-centred practice.

His first area of focus is process improvement methodologies, including Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, and Agile, and their application across healthcare systems. He has worked with staff at every level, from frontline clinicians to senior managers, in more than 50 hospitals and Community Healthcare Organisations across Ireland, in both public and private sectors. This work has led to the development of new models for improvement tailored to the Irish healthcare context, while also shaping collaborative projects with colleagues in the UK, Europe, the USA, and Canada.

His second area of focus is person-centred care and cultures, developed through close collaboration with the Centre for Person-Centred Practice Research at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. An accredited facilitator of person-centred cultures, he explores how improvement methodologies can contribute to cultures that honour dignity, compassion, and partnership. His research in this field is underpinned by Critical Realism and employs Realist Synthesis and Realist Evaluation to understand what works, for whom, and in what circumstances.

At the heart of both strands is his leadership of the Person-centred Lean Six Sigma (PCLSS) model, which brings together technical excellence and relational values. Widely adopted and translated, the PCLSS model illustrates his conviction that healthcare improvement should never be only about processes, but always about people.