Dr. Hazel Ní Chonchubhair
Dr Hazel Ní Chonchubhair is an Assistant Professor of General Nursing in the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at Dublin City University. She is a registered general nurse and holds a BSc and MSc in Nursing, specialising in perioperative care, as well as a PhD in Surgery from Trinity College Dublin.
Dr Ní Chonchubhair’s professional background spans clinical practice, academic teaching, and applied health research. Her doctoral research examined chronic pancreatitis — a complex, underdiagnosed condition with significant community health implications. Her work has informed national policy through contributions to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) primary care guidelines and continues to shape international evidence bases, including the WHO Global Diabetes Compact.
Her teaching and research interests include chronic disease management, community and population health, inclusion health, and evidence synthesis. She has designed, taught, and coordinated undergraduate and postgraduate modules at both Dublin City University and University College Dublin, and supervises student research at BSc and MSc levels.
Dr Ní Chonchubhair has published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Pancreatology and HPB Oxford and contributes actively to research grant development and public engagement. She is currently an Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellow and co-leads a WHO-aligned systematic review on diabetes metrics.
She serves on the School’s Ethics Research Committee and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and previously contributed to the Athena SWAN Committee at University College Dublin. Her work is underpinned by a commitment to health equity, translational research, and innovation in healthcare education.
Research Interests
My research programme is driven by a commitment to improving chronic disease management and health equity. To date, my work has focused primarily on chronic pancreatitis, complemented by contributions to cardiovascular nursing simulation. I have published 12 peer-reviewed papers (five as first author) and co-developed national clinical guidelines with the Irish College of General Practitioners, directly influencing clinical practice.
My research seeks to address persistent gaps in early diagnosis, coordinated care, and long-term support. Key interests include prevention and early detection, empowering self-management to reduce disease burden, and strengthening nursing capacity to lead and deliver chronic disease care. I am also interested in health services evaluation, rare diseases, quality of life in chronic illness, primary care organisation, health policy, and the impacts of demographic ageing.
As an Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellow, I am currently conducting a systematic review for the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, demonstrating my ability to contribute to global health priorities.
Going forward, I aim to build a programme of research focused on integrated care across community and hospital settings, advancing nurse-led and interdisciplinary models, and ensuring equitable access to chronic disease prevention, diagnosis, and management.
Teaching Interests
My teaching practice is grounded in constructivist and student-centred pedagogy. I strive to create inclusive, engaging learning environments that empower students to connect theory with practice through simulation, blended learning, and reflective inquiry. As module coordinator for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, I have designed and led modules in areas including nursing informatics, chronic disease management, community health, neurological & musculoskeletal nursing, ageing & health, cardiovascular/respiratory/lymphatic disorders, and practice placement.
I integrate evidence-based practice and my own research findings into lectures, creating a dynamic interface between emerging knowledge and professional practice. My experience as a personal tutor and dissertation supervisor has reinforced the importance of mentorship and formative feedback in promoting learner agency and academic development.
In line with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, I adapt teaching strategies to support diverse learners, embedding inclusive approaches throughout curriculum design and assessment. My goal is to produce nurses who are not only clinically competent but also ethically grounded, analytically skilled, and community minded.
CV
Academic Qualifications
- PhD, Trinity College DublinField of study: Medical health and life sciences01/03/2014 – 26/07/2018Project: The Epidemiological, Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Chronic Pancreatitis in IrelandAward date: 26/07/2018
- Master's Degree, Trinity College DublinField of study: Medical health and life sciencesProject: MSc in Specialist Perioperative NursingAward date: 06/12/2013
- Bachelor's Degree, Trinity College DublinField of study: Medical health and life sciencesProject: BSc in General NursingAward date: 05/12/2008