University of Limerick

The University of Limerick welcomes the appointment of Professor Alison Perry as Foundation Chair of the Department of Clinical Therapies at the University of Limerick. The establishment of the Department of Clinical Therapies at UL is a milestone in the development of the professions of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy at UL. Professor Perry will be the first chair of the new department which offers the only postgraduate qualifications in the disciplines of Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy in Ireland.

Professor Mary O’Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences welcomed the appointment in saying; “The establishment of the Department of Clinical Therapies is testament to UL’s commitment to innovative healthcare education in Ireland. We are delighted to welcome our new Foundation Chair of the Department, Professor Alison Perry, whose experience in developing clinical therapies education at an international level will be vital in furthering UL’s reputation for innovation in the education of medical and health care professionals.”

With over 30 years experience as a Speech and Language Therapist in the UK and Australia, Professor Perry was the Foundation Chair and Head of School, Human Communication Sciences at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.  While in Melbourne, Professor Perry worked to establish the first Masters level entry course in speech pathology in  Australia delivered using a Problem Based Learning (PBL) integrated curriculum. Occupational and Physiotherapy courses followed, such that  Health Sciences at La Trobe is now renown across Australia and Asia for  its quality Allied Health education.

Professor Perry said "This is a new and exciting time for clinical therapies. The current emphasis is on multi-disciplinary practice and team-based rehabilitation in primary care, minimising impairment and enhancing activity and participation for adults and children with chronic disease, and keeping them out of hospital wherever possible. UL is committed to educating clinical therapy graduates who can focus on these opportunities and creatively change the way they practice.’

Professor Perry’ research interests include developing  multi-disciplinary intergrated care programmes for people living with chronic disease(s), and in measurement of therapy outcomes, Professor Perry was successful in attracting a very large Commonwealth Research Grant and led a team to develop the widely-used Australian Therapy Outcome Measures (AusTOMs).

Professor Perry has also published widely in her own sub-specialist area of head and neck cancer care – her clinical research has been directed at improving speech and swallowing outcomes after surgery and chemo-radiotherapy treatments. More recently, with the the prestigious Menzies Foundation, Professor Perry has been working to establish a Centre for Allied Health Research and Evidence, a focus which she wishes to develop at UL.

Reflecting the emerging emphasis on primary healthcare in Ireland, the Department of Clinical Therapies recently launched a suite of postgraduate certificates for clinical practice designed for working healthcare professionals. The postgraduate certificate programmes launched included; Musculoskeletal Therapy, Neuro-rehabilitation, Occupation and Well Being, Advanced Clinical Practice, Pain, Developmental Speech and Language Disorders. Dr Amanda Connell, Discipline Head of Physiotherapy, UL said; “The new health agenda is focused on addressing health needs in the community and primary care settings and reducing the need for hospital based services. These qualifications will assist senior and skilled healthcare practitioners in evaluating their practice and extending or refocusing their skills and knowledge to meet the new challenges of a different focus in healthcare provision.”