About us
The Research and Guideline Development Unit (RGDU) team is comprised of a wealth of expertise and experience in public health, research and methodology.
Organogram
Dr Keith Ian Quintyne
MBBS MD MPH PgCertMedE AdDipMedL FRCPI FFPHMI FFPH (UK) MCRN: 239386 | UCCDL: 239386
Consultant in Public Health Medicine; Lead for Evidence Based Medicine, Research & Quality Improvement
Dr Keith Ian Quintyne is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine sí Health Protection with HSE Public Health: National Health Protection Office, and previously worked as a CPHM in the Public Health, HSE Dublin and North-East since 2022. He is currently the Air-Quality Lead in the National Health Protection Office Environment & Health Special Interest Group (SIG) and a member of the Air Quality Information Working Group. A medical graduate of the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill), he completed his MD at the University of Limerick then his MPH at the University of Manchester. In addition, he holds Postgraduate Certificate of Medical Education from the University of Dundee, Diploma in Leadership and Quality in Healthcare from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Advanced Diploma in Medical Law from the Kings’ Inns. He holds professional Fellowships with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Faculty of Public Health Medicine of Ireland, and Faculty of Public Health (UK). In his previous roles, he has supported guideline development within Public Health (i.e. infectious diseases, environment & health, and non-communicable diseases) and wider health sector (i.e. National Cancer Control Programme). He is Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He also has several peer-reviewed publications in the areas of infectious diseases and environmental health. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7519-0000
Dr Randal Parlour
PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RMN, RGN
Research & Guideline Development Unit Coordinator
Randal trained as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in Derry. Subsequently, he completed Registered General Nurse training at St. George’s Hospital in London. He graduated from City University London with a BSc (Hons) degree in Nursing/Sexual Health in 1995. In 2000 he obtained an MSc in Health & Social Services Management from Ulster University. He completed a PhD study in 2010, via Ulster University, that extended existing knowledge about realistic evaluation, practice development and the application of critical methods in facilitating the development of evidence-informed and person-centred workplace cultures. In 2018 Randal received both the Graduate Award in Executive Healthcare Leadership from the Irish Management Institute and the Health Service Leadership Academy Leading Care 1 Award. Randal is a former Director of Research at Letterkenny University Hospital. In previous roles he has developed considerable expertise in managing transformational change programmes. He has made a significant contribution in shaping how this kind of development and research is undertaken in the Irish health and social care system and has influenced strategically to ensure these ways of working are embedded in the system as a whole. As Principal Investigator, Randal has led a significant number of national and regional research programmes that have been undertaken across a diverse range of health & social care settings. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6893-609X
Dr Michelle Williams
PhD, MSc Immunology, BSc (Hons) Microbiology
Senior Researcher and Project Manager
Michelle trained as a microbiologist before entering a career in the Irish public sector. With a longstanding interest in infectious disease and health protection, Michelle achieved an honours Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from University College Cork in 2014, and a Masters in Immunology from Trinity College Dublin in 2015. From 2015-2018, Michelle completed a PhD at the Moyne Institute for Preventative Medicine in Trinity College Dublin, and was awarded her doctorate in 2019. After a year at the Research, Strategy and Funding Directorate, Health Research Board (HRB), Michelle joined the HRB Evidence Unit and completed a systematic review on international infectious disease legislation and the lessons learned from implementing the WHO International Health Regulations. From early 2020-mid 2022, Michelle worked as a Standards Development Officer at the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). In her role at HIQA, she worked on development and implementation of a prioritisation process, a principles-based framework for health and social care standards, and primary and secondary research to inform upcoming National Standards in Homecare and support services. She is experienced in quantitative and qualitative research methods, evidence synthesis, and implementation science and practice. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5849-3088
Dr Rachel Kiersey
PhD, BSocSc (Hons)
Knowledge Management Officer
Rachel is a researcher, librarian and social scientist. Her doctoral research undertaken in TU Dublin (formerly DIT) produced a final PhD thesis The Discursive Construction of Irish Early Childhood Education and Care Policy: a Critical Discourse Analysis (2011) which explored the language and communication of Irish ECEC policy. This research was undertaken using critical discourse analysis methodology, including Foucauldian discourse theory, to help understand sense making and meaning in policy discourse.
Rachel has worked as a researcher, information specialist and policy consultant, in both the health and education sectors, focusing on qualitative methodologies, discourse analysis, publication writing, and systematic reviews for evidence-based research. Rachel is an experienced librarian and information specialist with a strong foundation in systematic information search, retrieval, quality appraisal and evidence synthesis. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6541-6734
Ms. Claire Gilbourne
MScPH, MTech, BSc (Hons)
Health Protection Researcher
Claire’s academic qualifications include a BSc. Environmental Science (Hons) (1998), First-Class Honours Masters of Technology in Safety and Ergonomics (2012) and most recently a First-Class Honours Master’s of Science in Public Health (2021) with the Graduate Medical School at the University of Limerick. Claire has significant experience as a Regional Health and Safety Officer and Consultant, and was responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of a nationally accredited health and safety management system (OHSAS 18001/ISO45001). Claire has extensive experience in undertaking qualitative, quantitative health research and secondary data analysis on a wide range of topics. Throughout her academic and professional roles, Claire has gained significant experience in conducting literature searches and synthesising evidence and has utilised these skills in conducting evidence reviews for the RGDU.
In partnership with the Department of Biological Sciences (University of Limerick), Claire has recently submitted a systematic review for publication. Claire is also a named author on a “Scoping Review on the Efficacy of Face Masks in Preventing Transmission of COVID-19 among adults in Non-Healthcare settings” which has also been submitted for publication. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5495-1192
For further information please contact the Research and Guideline Development Unit at: rgdu@hpsc.ie