Panel Discussion: Clinical Engineering Challenges & Opportunities

Emma Christian is a Principal Clinical Engineering Technician at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. She holds a BSc in Biotechnology from DCU and a BSc in Medical Device Innovation from TUD. With nearly 10 years' experience in Beaumont Hospital, her main areas of interest are Critical Care, Emergency Planning and Medical Gases. 

Emma is the Clinical Engineering representative on the HSCP Critical Care Advisory Group and has served as an advisor on HIQA's HTA for Domiciliary Invasive Ventilation for Adults with Spinal Cord Injuries. 

Brian Kearney is the Portfolio Lead in Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO7). He is a previous member of the Senior Management Team in Naas General Hospital as Operations Manager. Brian is the Professional Development Officer and past Chairperson of the Biomedical / Clinical Engineering Association of Ireland (BEAI). He has previously worked as a Senior Clinical Engineer and has been involved in medical equipment and clinical information system management, along with senior roles in project management and hospital services such as power generation systems. Brian has a 1st Class Honours BEng (Hons) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from DIT Kevin Street. He also has an MSc in Bioengineering with 1st class Distinction from Trinity College Dublin, with research interests focusing around electrophysiological signal analyses. His primary area of research was into the analysis and use of behavioural actions and electroencephalograph (EEG) signals recorded from stroke patients in relation to attention disorders associated with unilateral spatial neglect. Brian also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin with first class Distinction. Brian has a keen interest in professional development and along with being current Chairperson of the national body for Biomedical/Clinical Engineers (BEAI), he is National Secretary of the Clinical Engineering Professional Vocational Group (CEPVG), an Executive member of the Biomedical Engineering Division of Engineers Ireland and an Independent Expert with NSAI ETCI TC10. He is also the National representative for Clinical Engineers on the Health & Social Care Professionals (HSCP) national Advisory Group.

Brian Kearney is the Portfolio Lead in Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO7). He is a previous member of the Senior Management Team in Naas General Hospital as Operations Manager. Brian is the Professional Development Officer and past Chairperson of the Biomedical / Clinical Engineering Association of Ireland (BEAI). He has previously worked as a Senior Clinical Engineer and has been involved in medical equipment and clinical information system management, along with senior roles in project management and hospital services such as power generation systems. Brian has a 1st Class Honours BEng (Hons) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from DIT Kevin Street. He also has an MSc in Bioengineering with 1st class Distinction from Trinity College Dublin, with research interests focusing around electrophysiological signal analyses. His primary area of research was into the analysis and use of behavioural actions and electroencephalograph (EEG) signals recorded from stroke patients in relation to attention disorders associated with unilateral spatial neglect. Brian also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin with first class Distinction. Brian has a keen interest in professional development and along with being current Chairperson of the national body for Biomedical/Clinical Engineers (BEAI), he is National Secretary of the Clinical Engineering Professional Vocational Group (CEPVG), an Executive member of the Biomedical Engineering Division of Engineers Ireland and an Independent Expert with NSAI ETCI TC10. He is also the National representative for Clinical Engineers on the Health & Social Care Professionals (HSCP) national Advisory Group.

John is a Chartered Clinical Engineer with over 30 years’ experience in both the public and private sector. He graduated from Dundalk Institute of Technology in 1990 with a NFQ Level 7 in Electronic Engineering. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Physical Sciences in Medicine from TCD and an MSc in Healthcare Informatics from TCD. He was a finalist in the Chartered Engineer of the Year in 2014. He has been involved in developing and advancing the Clinical Engineering profession over many years having been Chairman of both the BEAI and Engineers Ireland Biomedical Engineering Division on numerous occasions. He is also a member of two standards committees in the NSAI: NSAI/ETCI/TC10 Electrical Equipment in Medical Practice & NSAI/TC21 Healthcare Informatics Standards Committee. John is currently Head of Clinical Engineering and Radiotherapy ICT for St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network managing a team of Clinical Engineers across their three site network in Dublin.