Chief Academic Officer Conference 2025

8 Oct 2025

“Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Integrating Disability and Inclusion through Academic Health Science Practice.”

The third annual Chief Academic Officer (CAO) Conference took place on Friday, 3 October 2025, in the historic Exam Hall at Trinity College Dublin, bringing together leaders from across the health service, higher education, government, and industry to explore the theme “Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Integrating Disability and Inclusion through Academic Health Science Practice.”

Professor Helen Whelton, Chair of the Chief Academic Officer Group, Chief Academic Officer for the HSE SW, and Head of the College of Medicine and Health, UCC, opened the conference, emphasising the importance of linking universities and health services to ensure that research and innovation directly inform healthcare delivery. Professor Whelton reflected on the growing collaboration between the HSE, universities, the voluntary sector and industry through the Academic Health Science System (AHSS) approach, a model designed to align education, research, and clinical practice for greater impact and to improve patient outcomes. 

The conference featured an impressive line-up of national and international speakers, including:

• Professor Mary McCarron (Trinity College Dublin), sharing insights from the IDS-TILDA study on ageing and intellectual disability.
• Dr Niamh Lennox-Chhugani (International Foundation for Integrated Care), on defining the future of integrated care.
• Professor Mark Mon-Williams (University of Leeds), discussing intersectionality and health equity.
• Professor Louise Gallagher (University of Toronto and SickKids Hospital), on building inclusive and neuroaffirmative systems for young people.
• Lily Collison, author, advocate, and Programme Director at Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press, presenting on the Irish Cerebral Palsy Programme of Excellence.

The full conference Agenda can be found HERE 

The day concluded with an In Conversation feature with Kate Killeen White (HSE Dublin and Midlands), Dr Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, and Lily Collison, who underlined the need for protected time for healthcare staff to engage in research and for co-location of clinical and academic teams to truly realise research impact.

The annual CAO Conference reflects a shared national commitment to advancing education, research, and innovation across the whole of Ireland’s healthcare system, with UCC playing a key role in shaping this important national agenda.

For more information contact AHS@ucc.ie