Dr Patricia Sheehan

Dr Patricia Sheehan is a lecturer and work placement coordinator in the Department of Sport & Exercise Science at Waterford Institute of Technology. She completed her PhD in 2018/2019 entitled: An Exercise Intervention for Cancer Fatigue under the supervision of Prof Michael Harrison (WIT), Dr Suzanne Denieffe (WIT), and Prof Niamh Murphy (WIT). This work has been presented at conferences such as the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference in the USA and the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons, 14th Annual Scientific Conference, in addition to publications. The work has also been transferred into practice in the form of the ExWell Medical MoveOn Programme which is run at WIT Arena and is benefiting copious cancer patients in the South East.

In her current role, she takes great pride in teaching and inspiring students to believe in themselves and support them in whatever way she can to ensure they reach their full potential. At the end of the day, she wants students to succeed and she will support them and do everything she possibly can to make this happen.

With regard to assisting in the development and delivery of department outreach programmes, she has helped in the development and implementation of the MedEx at WIT programme (now known as the ExWell at WIT Programme) and she is a member of its steering committee. she has also helped with the delivery of outreach programmes at Mount Sion School, and other outreach programmes ran in conjunction with WIT and numerous primary and secondary schools. 

She is heavily involved in various research projects, and is part of the: Biomedical Research Team, Health Behaviour Research Group at the School of Health Sciences Waterford Institute of Technology, CRF-C HRB Clinical Research Facility Cork and UHW, and American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise Oncology Specific Interest Group she has created strong links with key individuals and institutions at both national and international levels. She has a good record of research collaborations with key stakeholders within the wider community such as University Hospital Waterford, UPMC Whitfield Cancer Centre, Irish Men’s Shed Association, HSE, the Irish Heart Foundation, the Solas Cancer Support Centre, and the Irish Cancer Society.