Professor Stephen Byrne
Biography
Professor Byrne graduated from the University of Sunderland (UK) in 1996 with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Pharmacy, before embarking on his clinical training in Scotland, Dublin and Limerick. In 2002, he graduated from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, having completed his PhD in the area of artificial intelligence and its role in the management of oral anticoagulant therapy.
Professor Byrne joined UCC in 2004 and was subsequently appointed to the Chair of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Head of the School of Pharmacy in October 2013. During his time as Head of the School of Pharmacy, he led the educational reform of the Pharmacy degree in UCC and nationally, which resulted in the implementation of a 5-year integrated Masters degree. Stephen has expanded UCC's international agenda through his collaborations with Future University in Egypt.
Professor Byrne has published over 110 peer reviewed papers and has supervised 22 PhD students during his time in UCC. He has been co-investigator on three EU research projects and has developed a wide network of international collaborators. Among his many research achievements, he is part of a UCC team that developed the STOPP/START criteria which has been endorsed internationally and adapted into treatment pathways for older persons worldwide. His research team have also worked in the field of antimicrobial usage patterns and he was part of a multidisciplinary team to publish the first set of national antimicrobial guidelines for use in primary care in 2011. Stephen has co-chaired a National Guideline development group, he has acted has conference host/chairperson for international conferences and has actively participated in national meetings and policy development groups.
Professor Byrne held the role of Interim Registrar from November 2020 - 15th March 2022. In that time, he has led on the delivery of a number of actions in the Academic Strategy as well as leading on Pillar One of UCC 2022. He is project sponsor for the MC2 project on microcredentials and led the establishment of the Inclusive UCC project, developing inclusive practice within our University and embedding universal design for learning (UDL) and digital inclusion in everything we do. The project is focused on building on the success of existing good practice in UDL and moving access, inclusion, and diversity from the margins to the mainstream in University College Cork. This ambitious project aims to make UCC a digitally accessible and inclusive University for all. During time as Interim Registrar, Stephen led an application for funding under the HEA Performance Compact which recognises the impact of the university’s innovative work in the field of inclusive education, and its efforts to open higher education to students with intellectual disabilities. Funding of €1million was awarded by the HEA and a new project on Inclusive Education Pathways will launch in early 2021.
Professor Stephen Byrne was appointed as Deputy President and Registrar of University College Cork on the 16th March 2022.
Professor Byrne is married to Sandra and they have three sons, Mark, Rónan and Kieran. At the weekends he can be found on the sideline in Highfield RFC organising and managing the Under 12 rugby team.