RGN, RM, Dip PHN, BSc Nursing, Dip Nursing Management, M Soc Science, MSc Quality in Healthcare. Adjunct Clinical Senior Lecturer, College of Medicine & Health, University College Cork. 

Carmel is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Public Health Nurse. She holds a Diploma in Nursing Management, a BSc in Nursing Studies and has completed a Master’s Degree in Social Policy, UCC and a Master’s Degree in Quality in Healthcare with the RCSI.  

Since qualifying as an RGN in the South Infirmary Hospital Carmel has held roles in both acute and community services in Ireland and in Australia. Additionally, she worked as a Registered Midwife in the Bons Secours Hospital, Cork. Carmel held the post of community nurse for 2 years before completing the Higher Diploma in Public Health Nursing in UCD in 1994. She has worked in a number of roles within community services as a Public Health Nurse (PHN), acute/community liaison nurse following up and supporting at-risk clients between the Erinville Maternity Hospital, CUH and community services and has also worked as Assistant Director PHN for a number of years.

On moving to the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit (NMPDU), Cork/Kerry, Carmel initially worked as a Practice Development Co-ordinator with community services. This role focused on enhancing clinical practice of community based nurses and developing policies, procedures and guidelines for the delivery of services.  As an NMPDU Officer she continued to develop and support the professional development of nurses and midwives, with a special emphasis on expanding nursing and midwifery practice, specifically with specialist and advanced practice role development. She worked in a national liaison role co-ordinating services for Survivors of Thalidomide, with the DoH and the Disability Services, HSE for 10 years. Carmel worked as Director NMPDU (Cork/Kerry) for five years before assuming the role of Area Director, Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD), HSE South.

In her current role as Area Director, ONMSD, HSE South, Carmel is working on a number of strategic nursing and midwifery roles and she works collaboratively with NMBI and the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer, Dept. of Health on competence and compliance for the professions of nursing and midwifery. She is committed to driving the quality & safety agenda for patients and their families. She has collaborated with the College of Medicine and Health, UCC on the development and assessment of undergraduate Integrated Professional Education (IPE) across the schools and is assessing the value of IPE to graduate healthcare professionals in the Sláintecare model of healthcare delivery. Her extensive clinical and leadership track record in the Health services is evidenced in the support she has provided as well as her contribution to service development and service improvement.