Meet our new Research Officer, Dympna Mulroy

March 20th, 2023

We are really delighted to welcome our new Research Officer, Dympna Mulroy, and to introduce her to you. Dympna has a strong background, wearing a variety of hats, working to improve the quality of life of people living with neuromuscular conditions. We asked her to tell us more…

Welcome to the MDI team, Dympna! Can you tell us a little about your background?

Originally from Castlebar, Co Mayo I returned home to Ireland last summer after spending 18 years overseas. I trained as an occupational therapist in Aberdeen, Scotland and worked there for two years before moving to New Zealand in 2010. In New Zealand I worked in a variety of roles (clinical, research, leadership). I became passionate about neuromuscular conditions while spending eight years working for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand. During my time with this association I worked in a variety of roles including fieldworker (supporting individuals with a neuromuscular condition in the community), practice leader for the fieldworker service, and member services manager.

Can you tell us a little more about your experience related to research?

I was Research Assistant for the MD-Prev study, which sought to identify the prevalence of muscular dystrophies in New Zealand and its impact on an individual’s life. I utilised some data from this national study to complete my master’s degree examining factors that influence work performance for people with myotonic dystrophy. In recent years I managed the New Zealand Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Registry and MND Research Network. I am passionate to help MDI progress towards the development of an Irish Neuromuscular Disease Registry.

I believe this role with MDI brings together a range of skills and experience I have gained over the past decade and I look forward to helping drive research and resources for people with lived experience of muscular dystrophy in Ireland.

I am keen to get to know our membership, and I welcome any research-related questions you may have, or if you just have a general interest in research, I would also love for you to introduce yourself.

Would you like to tell us a little about yourself outside of your professional life?

I enjoy going for hikes and am keen to explore more of my homeland now I am living in Ireland. I enjoy skiing, tenpin bowling, baking, taking my sister’s dog (Alfie) for a walk and spending quality time with friends and family over a coffee or some shared food. Family is important to me. After missing out on so much in recent years I am keen to make up for it now!

Categories: News