Establishment of an innovation centre within an Irish acute hospital

Author's Biography

Natalie Cole is the Head of Innovation at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin. In this role she is responsible for leading the establishment of an innovation centre in one of the largest academic teaching hospitals in Ireland. She joined Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) in July 2021 and has already played a pivotal role in developing an extensive pipeline of innovation projects. Dr Cole has over 20 years’ national and international experience in health research and innovation. She initially pursued a career in academic research and was Assistant Professor of Neurogenetics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago. On returning to Ireland she supported the development of the spin-out company Neuropath at Trinity College Dublin. Dr Cole has extensive change and project management experience and was Change and Benefits lead for the Office of the CEO of the HSE and delivered large complex healthcare projects.

Hannah O. Keeffe started as TUH’s inaugural Clinical Innovation Fellow in July 2021. Hannah has a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology from NUI Galway and is a graduate of the University of Limerick Medical School (BM BS (Hons)). She has completed dual specialist medical training in Nephrology and General Internal Medicine via the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and during this time has worked clinically in multiple hospitals around Ireland, including TUH. Hannah is currently finishing a master’s degree in Healthcare Management at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI). Hannah works with staff within TUH to help formulate and progress their ideas, as well as linking with external partners to provide clinical and process insights and support the testing or adoption of innovations within the hospital.

John Kelly was appointed Deputy CEO for Tallaght University Hospital in March 2019, having previously held the position of Chief Operational Officer at the hospital. John is the Executive Lead for Research and Innovation, which has been identified as one of six main priority areas in the hospital’s corporate strategy 2019–2024. He qualified as an occupational therapist from Trinity College Dublin in 2000 and worked across a number of clinical roles before moving away from clinical work into project management role in 2013. John has a master’s degree in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons and a postgraduate diploma in Healthcare Innovation from Trinity College Dublin.

Lucy Nugent joined TUH as Chief Operations Officer in 2014, moved to the position of Deputy CEO in 2016 and was appointed CEO in January 2019. Prior to joining TUH Ms Nugent worked in the Acute Hospitals Division as Head of Quality Assurance & Risk Management, Clinical & Patient Services Manager in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. She had earlier worked in a number of nursing roles as a registered general and children’s nurse. In addition to her nursing qualifications, Ms Nugent has an MSc in Healthcare Management (TCD), a BSc in Nursing Studies (DCU), a Diploma in Infection Control (RCSI) and a Diploma in Leadership & Quality in Healthcare (RCPI) and is a recent graduate of the IESE Business School Advanced Management Programme. Ms Nugent is a Past President of the Health Management Institute of Ireland and has represented it on several committees of the European Association of Hospital Managers and the International Hospital Federation. She is President of the European Association of Hospital Managers and is the first woman to hold this position in its 52-year history.