HIHI Team

Professor John R. Higgins

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Chief Executive Officer, South / South West Hospital Group, National Principal Investigator, Health Innovation Hub Ireland.
| UCC

Professor John R. Higgins commenced as Principal Investigator of HIHI in 2016. In this role he is the holder of the EI grant for HIHI and responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of the research grant, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and institutional policy governing the conduct of sponsored research. He is responsible for the budget and all progress reporting in relation to the grant. He also chairs the Steering Committee and sits on the board of the National Oversight Group. From 2012 to 2016 he was PI of the Demonstrator Hub, which preceded Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

John is the UCC Professor and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a practising consultant based at Cork University Maternity Hospital and Clinical Director for Maternity Services in South/South West Hospital Group.  He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.  He trained in Internal Medicine and in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Dublin and Melbourne and returned to Ireland to take up the UCC Chair in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in 2001.   John gained unique experience from leading the 2009 amalgamation of three maternity hospitals to form the state-of-the art Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).

In April 2011 he was appointed Head of the College of Medicine and Health in University College Cork where he served until January of 2017. John returned full time to CUMH in the role of Clinical Director for Maternity Services in February 2017. He is responsible for the four maternity units in the South/Southwest which deliver one fifth of the babies born in Ireland.  This role is the first of its kind to receive clinical and executive authority over a service under the Health Service Executive.

Team Members

Mr Dave Shanahan
Chair of the National Oversight Group of Health Innovation Hub Ireland
Professor John R. Higgins
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Chief Executive Officer, South / South West Hospital Group, National Principal Investigator, Health Innovation Hub Ireland.
Professor Martin O’ Donnell, HIHI Academic Advisor, HIHI PI
Executive Dean CMNHS, University of Galway.
Professor of Neurovascular Medicine at NUI Galway.
Consultant Geriatrician at University Hospital Galway, Ireland.
Professor Martin O’Halloran, HIHI PI
Professor in Medical Electronics University of Galway.
Director Translational Medical Device Lab, Lambe Institute
Professor Seamas Donnelly
HIHI PI, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Matt Cotterell, HIHI PI
Head of School of Mechanical, Electrical and Process Engineering, Munster Technological Institute
Dr Tanya Mulcahy
HIHI Director, based at University College Cork
Jane O’Flynn
HIHI National Operations Manager, based at Munster Technological University, Cork
Eimear Galvin
HIHI Regional Manager (Dublin), based at Trinity College Dublin
Geraldine O’Flynn
HIHI Manager based at the University of Galway
Dr Michael Twomey
HIHI Senior Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Evaluation Lead based at University College Cork
Caroline McGarry
HIHI Communications & PR Lead, based at University College Cork
Eimer O’Connell
HIHI Project Manager, based at University of Galway
Laura Caden
HIHI Heath Technology Innovation Specialist, based at Mater Misericordiae​ University Hospital
Dr Jonathan Moran
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at Trinity College Dublin & St James’s Hospital
Noel Murphy
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at University College Cork & Cork University Hospital
Niamh Allen
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at University College Cork & South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
Noreen Lynch
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at University College Cork & Bantry General Hospital
Michael Duane
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at University of Galway & Galway University Hospital
Neil Tilley
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at Trinity College Dublin & Tallaght University Hospital
Maria Kelly
HIHI Clinical Liaison, based at University of Galway & Galway University Hospital
Joann Kelleher
HIHI Research Support Officer, based at University College Cork