DrEmer O'Brien

Senior Lecturer

General Practice

  • Senior Lecturer
    General Practice
  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, General Practice, Dublin, Ireland

BIOGRAPHY

Emer O'Brien is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of General Practice RCSI and the National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety in Practice with the Irish College of GPs. Her research focuses on evidence-based guidance for general practitioners. She collaborates with researchers across academic and GP professional organisations using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, as well as conducting systematic scoping reviews.
Emer leads the first 2 years of the undergraduate medical programme in teaching clinical and communication skills in RCSI. She is currently Chair of the Irish College of GPs Quality and Safety in Practice committee, developing evidence updates for GPs, and a member of WONCA Europes Network for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety – EQUIP. She is a member of the Advisory committee to the Irish College of GPs Department of Research, Policy & Information and Educational Governance Committee. She is also a Board member for the RCSI Masters in Healthcare Ethics and Law.  
Emer graduated with a BSc honours degree in Pharmacology from University College Dublin and a Medical Degree from Trinity College Dublin. After completing her GP specialist training programme, she was awarded Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners in 2010. She completed her Medical Doctorate in 2023 on '‘Evidence-based guidance in general practice: exploring general practitioner preferences, content prioritisation and dissemination’.
She has completed her Diploma in Healthcare Professions Education and is a skilled medical educator, reflecting core values of primary care.

She is a member of the RCSI Patient and Public Involvement in Education committee and the Invisibility Forum, advocating for students and staff with hidden disabilities. 

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Clinical Lecturer
    Royal College of Surgeons, General Practice, Ireland2010 - 2025
  • GP Clinical Lead, Quality and Safety in Practice
    Irish College of General Practitioners, Ireland2023
  • Senior Lecturer
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, General Practice, Dublin, Ireland2025

DEGREES

  • MD
    Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
  • M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.
    Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
  • BSc Pharmacology
    University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Health Profession Education Diploma
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
  • Medical Education Certificate
    University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • MICGP
    Irish College of General Practitioners, Ireland
  • DRCOG
    Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, United Kingdom
  • Managing through People Leadership Course
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

RESEARCH SUB-AREAS

  • General Practice

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (UNSDGS)

  • 3 Good Health and Well Being

RESEARCH CLUSTERS