Katie Walsh
Senior Speech & Language Therapist
Katie commenced working in St. James’s Hospital in 2005 as a staff grade Speech and Language Therapist. Having rotated across different specialist clinical areas of the hospital she took up her current role as Senior Speech and Language Therapist in rehabilitation in 2010. She is currently based in MISA where she coordinates the Speech and Language Therapy service across the wards there.
Katie qualified with a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 2005. She has also previously worked as a Speech and Language Therapist in Australia in 2008 where she worked in an acute medical setting in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney.
Katie completed an MSc in Advanced Healthcare Practice in the University of Limerick in 2016. Katie has a keen interest in aphasia post stroke and her thesis specifically investigated doctors’ perceptions of decision-making capacity for people with aphasia.
Because of Katie’s past professional experiences she has developed a particular interest in the areas of rehabilitation, stroke, aphasia and quality improvement. She is an active member of numerous multi-disciplinary teams committed to improving outcomes and quality of care for patients across the hospital. She has previously held the position of chair of the Rehabilitation Quality Improvement Committee and is the current chair of the Scope Research and Innovation Committee.
Emer Foley
Senior Speech & Language Therapist & Practice Tutor
Emer has worked as a Speech & Language Therapist in St. James’s Hospital since 2006. She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, and has a B.Sc. in Clinical Speech and Language Studies.
Emer is experienced in working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders, and has a specific interest in understanding the psychosocial impact of these difficulties. She is also experienced in supporting the communication of people with dementia in a wide range of settings.
In her role as Speech & Language Therapy Practice Tutor, Emer coordinates practice placements for students of Speech & Language Therapy courses from Universities such as TCD and UL. Emer works closely with colleagues in order to create a constructive learning environment that aims not only to benefit the student, but that will also result in a positive experience for the patient.
Emer has a higher diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and will complete her Masters in Psychotherapy in 2018.