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Congratulations to Dr Caroline Joyce and Dr Laura Linehan
Our warmest congratulations to Dr Caroline Joyce and Dr Laura Linehan who were conferred with their PhDs during the UCC College of Medicine and Health Autumn Conferring Ceremony held at Devere Hall on 25 October 2024.
Caroline’s PhD titled “Evaluation of biomarkers for the diagnosis, management and follow-up of women with gestational trophoblastic disease” aimed to evaluate biomarkers for gestational trophoblastic disease to allow earlier detection of disease recurrence and progression to malignant disease. Dr Joyce is a Principal Biochemist at Cork University Hospital, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists London. Her PhD thesis was supervised by Professor Keelin O’Donoghue (PLRG) and Prof Tommie McCarthy (School of Biochemistry, UCC), with Dr John Coulter (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital and Clinical Lead of the National Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Centre) as External Advisor. Caroline successfully defended her thesis on Friday, 19 April. Her doctoral studies were funded through the Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme.
Through her PhD titled “Infertility and recurrent miscarriage: An examination of pregnancy outcomes, services and patient experience”, Dr Linehan investigated the dual experience of recurrent miscarriage and infertility to inform improvements in care. Her PhD was supervised by Professor Keelin O’Donoghue and Marita Hennessy PhD at the PLRG. Laura received the UCC College of Medicine and Health Postgraduate Researcher of the Year 2024 Award in recognition of the outstanding contributions she made during her PhD. Dr Linehan successfully defended her thesis on Thursday, 30 May and is currently an ASPIRE (Post CSCST) Fellow at Cork University Maternity Hospital.
Many thanks to Professor Helen Whelton (Head of the College of Medicine and Health and Chief Academic Officer to the HSE South South West Hospital Group) and Professor John O’Halloran (President of UCC) for officiating at the graduation ceremony, and to all involved at UCC for organising.
Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Dr Caroline Joyce and Professor Tommie McCarthy
Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Dr Laura Linehan and Marita Hennessy PhD
The College of Medicine and Health Graduates of 2024
Dr Caroline Joyce pictured with her daughter Rachel Moriarty who graduated with a MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences Operation and Management