Helen O’Sullivan is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Online Learning at University of Liverpool. She is responsible for Liverpool Online; a partnership between University of Liverpool and Laureate Online Education to deliver wholly online post-graduate programmes to working professionals across the globe. She acts as champion for technology enhanced learning within the University and leads on a range of projects that support the use of technology to enhance the student experience. Before that she was the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Helen is Professor of Medical Education and has published widely in the field of medical professionalism.

Her research focuses on emotional competence in medicine; particularly the role that emotional intelligence plays in developing good doctors and good medical leaders

Invited Reviews

• Cherry M, Fletcher I, O'Sullivan H, Shaw N. What impact do structured educational sessions to increase emotional intelligence have on medical students? Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Guide No. 17 Medical teacher 2012;34(1):11-19

• O'Sullivan H, van Mook W, Fewtrell R, Wass V. Integrating professionalism into the curriculum: Association for Medical Education Europe (AMEE) Guide No. 61 Medical Teacher 2012;34(2):e64e77

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

• Cherry M, Fletcher I, O’Sullivan H. Validating relationships among attachment, emotional intelligence & clinical communication. Medical Education 2014 48(10): 988- 997

• Cherry M, Fletcher I, O’Sullivan H, Dornan T. Emotional intelligence in medical education: a critical review. Medical Education 2014 48(5):468 – 478

• Cherry M, Fletcher I, O’Sullivan H. The influence of medical students’ and doctors’ attachment style and emotional intelligence on their patient–provider communication Patient Education and Counselling. 2013;93(2):177-187

• Cherry M, Fletcher I, O'Sullivan H. Exploring the relationships among attachment, emotional intelligence and communication. Medical Education 2013;47(3):317-325

• O'Sullivan H, van Mook W, Fewtrell R, Wass V. Integrating professionalism into the curriculum. Medical Teacher 2012;34(2):155-157

• Watmough S, Cherry, M, O’Sullivan H. A comparison of self-perceived competencies of traditional and reformed curriculum graduates 6 years after graduation. Medical Teacher 2012;34(7):562568

• Crolla E, O'Sullivan H, Bogg J. Gender and Medical Leadership: Student Perceptions and Implications for Developing Future Leaders in Primary and Secondary Care-a Pilot Study. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health 2011;2(4):225-228

• Brown J, Watmough S, Cherry M, Fewtrell R, Graham D, O'Sullivan H, Shaw N. How well are graduates prepared for practice when measured against the latest GMC recommendations? British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;71(3):159-163

• Garner J, McKendree J, O'Sullivan H, Taylor D. Undergraduate medical student attitudes to the peer assessment of professional behaviours in two medical schools. Education for Primary Care 2010;21(1):32-37

• Garner J, O'Sullivan H. Facebook and the professional behaviours of undergraduate medical students. Clinical Teacher 2010;7(2):112-115   Recipient of the 2010 Clinical Teacher IMPACT Prize

• Watmough S, O'Sullivan H, Taylor D. Graduates from a reformed undergraduate medical curriculum based on Tomorrow's Doctors evaluate the effectiveness of their curriculum 6 years after graduation through interviews. BMC Medical Education 2010;10:65

• Watmough S, O'Sullivan H, Taylor D. Graduates from a traditional medical curriculum evaluate the effectiveness of their medical curriculum through interviews BMC Medical Education. 2009;9:64

• Fletcher I, Leadbetter P, Curran A, O'Sullivan H. A pilot study assessing emotional intelligence training and communication skills with 3rd year medical students. Patient Education and Counselling 2009;76(3):376-379

• van Mook W, Gorter S, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. Approaches to professional behaviour assessment: Tools in the professionalism toolbox. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(8): e153-e157

• van Mook W, Gorter S, de Grave W, van Luijk S, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Zwaveling J, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. Professionalism beyond medical school: An educational continuum? European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(8): e148-e152

• van Mook W, van Luijk S, de Grave W, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. Teaching and learning professional behavior in practice. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(5):e105-e111

• van Mook W, de Grave W, van Luijk S, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. Training and learning professionalism in the medical school curriculum: Current considerations. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(4):  e96-e100

• van Mook W, Luijk S, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. General considerations regarding assessment of professional behaviour. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(4):  e90-e95

• van Mook W, van Luijk S, O'Sullivan H, Wass V, Zwaveling J, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. The concepts of professionalism and professional behaviour: Conflicts in both definition and learning outcomes. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(4): e85-e89

• van Mook W, de Grave W, Wass V, O'Sullivan H, Zwaveling J, Schuwirth L, van der Vleuten C. Professionalism: Evolution of the concept. European Journal of Internal Medicine 2009;20(4):e81e84

• Hill R, Stanisstreet M, O’Sullivan H, Boyes E. School and College Students’ views about Genetic Engineering and Animals for Medical Research. School Science Review 1999 ;80 (293)23 – 30

• Hill R, Stanisstreet M, Boyes E, O’Sullivan H. Genetically Engineered Foodstuffs: School Students’

• Views. International Journal of Environmental Studies 1999;56:785 – 799

• Hill R, Stanisstreet M, O’Sullivan H, Boyes E. Reactions to a new technology: Students’ ideas about genetically engineered foodstuffs. Research in Science and Technology Education 1998;16(2)203 – 216

• O’Sullivan H. Use and Design of Genetic Screening Programmes - A  Study. Journal of Biological Education 1998;32(2):97 – 102

• Hill R, O’Sullivan H, Stanisstreet M, Boyes E. Biology students understanding of cystic fibrosis, gene therapy and gene screening. Journal of Biological Education. 1998 32(2):103 – 110

• Saunders J, O’Sullivan H, Wakeman J, Sims G, Hart C, Virji M. Pilliation in Neisseria meningitidis and its consequences. Journal of Medical Microbiology 1993;39:3 - 25

• Saunders J, O’Sullivan H, Wakeman J, Sims G, Virji M, Heckles J, Winstanley C, Morgan J, Pickup R. Flagella and pili as anigenically variable structures on the bacteria surface Journal of Applied Bacteriology 1993;74:33s - 42s

Books

• Clinical Leadership Made Easy: Integrating Theory into Practice (2016) O’Sullivan H and McKimm J Quay Books (A division of MA Healthcare) London. 

Commissioned Commentaries /Peer Reviewed Commentaries

• McKimm J, O’Sullivan H When I say……Leadership  Medical Education 2016

• McKimm J, Mannion H, O'Sullivan H. Followership, Clinical Leadership and Social Identity British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015 76 (5) 270 - 274

• O’Sullivan H, Moneypenny M, McKimm J. Leading and Working in Teams British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015, 76 (5), 264-269

• Till A, Pettifer G, O’Sullivan H, McKimm J. How New Leadership Concepts can Develop and Harness the Leadership Capabilities and Potential of Doctors in Training. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014 75(9): 523-527

• O’Sullivan, H McKimm J. The role of emotion in effective clinical leadership and compassionate care. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014 75 (5): 281 – 286. 

• Moneypenny MJ, Guha A, Mercer SJ, O’Sullivan H, McKimm J. Don't follow your leader: challenging erroneous decisions. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013 74(12): 687 - 690

• McKimm J, O’Sullivan H. Personality, self-development and the compassionate leader.  British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;74 (6):336-339

• McKimm J, O'Sullivan H. Developing and assessing medical leadership. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012;73(9):484-485

• McKimm J, Spurgeon P, Needham G, O’Sullivan H. Clinical Leadership: the challenges for senior leaders. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;72(9):525-528

• O’Sullivan H, McKimm J. Medical leadership and the medical student. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;72(6):346-349. 

• O’Sullivan H, McKimm J. Doctor as professional and doctor as leader: same attributes, attitudes and values? British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;72(8):463-466. 

• McKimm J, Wong J, Wright R, O’Sullivan H. Developing clinical leadership capacity among UK foundation trainees. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;72(7):406-409. 

• McKimm J, O'Sullivan H. Medical leadership: from policy to practice. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;72(5):282-286.

Book Chapters

• O’Sullivan H,  “Professionalism” (2017) In Dent, Harden and Hunt (Eds) A Practical Guide for Medical Teachers 5E, Elsevier,  (in press)

• O’Sullivan H, Jones P and McKimm J (2016) “A Future Vision for Healthcare Leadership” in Curtis, E and Cullen, J (eds) Leadership and Change for the Heath Professional Open University Press, McGraw Hill Education

• O’Sullivan H and McKimm J (2015) “Leadership, management and mentoring: applying theory to practice”  in Cleland J, and Durning S.  Researching Medical Education Wiley-Blackwell

• O’Sullivan H, Guha A, Moneypenny M. (2013) ‘Assessing leadership skills in medical undergraduates’ in Forrest K, McKimm J, Edgar S. (Editors) Essential Simulation in Clinical Education. Wiley-Blackwell

• O’Sullivan H. (2011) ‘Professionalism’ in Watmough S. (Editor) Succeeding in your Medical Degree: Becoming Tomorrow’s Doctors. Learning Matters 

• O’Sullivan H. (2011) ‘Medical Leadership’ in Watmough S. (Editor) Succeeding in your Medical Degree: Becoming Tomorrow’s Doctors. Learning Matters 

• Bassett S, O’Sullivan H. (2003) ‘Maintaining the Integrity of Student Support Services in Mass Higher Education’. In Elford J. (Editor) The Foundation of Hope; Turning Dreams into Reality, Liverpool University Press.  

Supervison of RS2 and RS3 projects for the MBChB Programme  

• Co-chair of Association for Learning Technology Conference 2017
• Member of Jisc senior technology-enhanced learning working group (2016- present)

• Founding member and Co-Chair of the UK Council for Teachers of Medical Professionalism (2012 -14)

• Council Member of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (2006–10) and Ordinary Member (2006 – present) 

• Member of HEFCE’s e-University UK’s Quality and Academic Standards Committee (2002–4)

• Selected by the Institute of Biology to serve on the initial QAA Biosciences Benchmarking Panel (1998-2000)

• Elected member of the Society for General Microbiology’s Education Group (1996-9).