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Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick is a prominent figure in public health, known for her extensive work in clinical medicine, epidemiology, and public health research. She holds the position of Full Professor of Epidemiology and Biomedical Statistics at University College Dublin (UCD) and serves as the Head of Subject for Public Health. Additionally, she is a Consultant in Preventative Medicine at St Vincent's University Hospital.
Professor Fitzpatrick grew up in Dublin and her academic journey began with a medical degree from UCD, followed by clinical training (MRCPI, DPH), and a Masters in Public Health. She then completed Higher Specialist Training in Public Health Medicine, leading to her current role in the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science with UCD .
Current Research Challenges
Her research portfolio includes several key projects. The Irish Comparative Outcomes Study of Cystic Fibrosis (ICOS), funded by the Health Research Board, began in 2013 involving all six hospitals providing specialist care to children with cystic fibrosis. It compared health outcomes of children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis through newborn screening with those diagnosed clinically. The study highlighted that children diagnosed via screening exhibited better growth, fewer hospital admissions, and delayed acquisition of serious respiratory infections. Screening ensures earlier diagnosis and earlier initiation of treatment.
Another notable project is the CERVIVA-CervicalCheck Applied Partnership Award, which seeks to understand why fewer women over the age of 45 participate in cervical screening and to explore attitudes towards HPV screening. The findings from this project will help shape better health policies and communication strategies to increase screening uptake.
Professor Fitzpatrick has also led a study on smoking cessation among cancer patients, funded by the Irish Cancer Society. This project examined smoking cessation interventions and evaluates existing cessation services in patients with a cancer diagnosis. Insights from patient and healthcare professional interviews was well received and the impact of the same is that it is now under the care of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and marks a future change in the availability of cancer patient cessation programmes nationwide and the ongoing health benefits gained from creating support and awareness to patients.
Her contributions to public health extend to prostate cancer screening studies and international surveys on cancer screening policy . She has played a significant role in developing European breast screening (opens in a new window)guidelines as part of (opens in a new window)The European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) which provides essential levels of quality care that are equally accessible across Europe. Her leadership was recognised with the Irish Heart Foundation active@work Gold Award in 2018 during her tenure as Chair of the Steering Committee for Healthy UCD.
Through her rigorous research and collaborative efforts, Professor Fitzpatrick continues to influence public health policy and practice, driving forward initiatives on primary prevention and secondary prevention that improve health outcomes.
The Researcher
In discussion with Professor Fitzpatrick she shares with us that she is motivated by the potential of prevention in healthcare to reduce disease incidence and improve overall health outcomes. She emphasises that "prevention is always better than cure" and believes in its significant role alongside hospital treatments. Her interest in screening has led to her involvement with the national screening service, which has shown substantial benefits. "The benefit of screening has been shown," she says, citing a 2022 national cancer report that highlighted the effectiveness of breast, bowel, and cervical screening in reducing cancer rates and improving survival chances.
Professor Fitzpatrick is particularly optimistic about the effectiveness of the rollout of the HPV vaccine in Ireland.
She cites the Irish target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, maintaining that "if we keep up the rates of vaccination in boys and girls, this elimination goal is achievable. Boys have been included in the vaccination programme since 2020, and this comprehensive approach not only targets cervical cancer but also prevents head, neck, anal, and penile cancers, benefiting both boys and girls.’’
Professor Fitzpatrick is driven by the prospect of drastically reducing the prevalence of these cancers, making them rare diseases through vaccination programmes combined with cervical screening and treatment
Professor Fitzpatrick has always been interested in research, particularly enjoying the collaborative aspect of working with diverse teams. She values the contributions each team member brings to a project, emphasising that research "is not a solo run." As an academic, she finds research an essential and enjoyable part of her role, alongside teaching.
Most recent her Masters in Public Health student and co-authors were awarded the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (RAMI) Research Award 2022 (Section of Public Health Medicine/Epidemiology) for their research work : Kelly C, Fitzpatrick P et al. ((opens in a new window)Screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ, 2008–2020: An observational study. Journal of Medical Screening 2022)
She maintains an active lifestyle through activities like walking, some running, spending time with family and her dog and finds relaxation in watching sports.
Future Research Aspirations
Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick aims to broaden her existing and previous research to address health disparities, enhance cancer awareness, and develop effective preventative strategies across various health conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
Her work in secondary prevention as a Principal Investigator further builds on her original work on The Irish Comparative Outcomes Study of Cystic Fibrosis (ICOS) 2013. The ongoing ICOS Part 2 follows children up to 8-11 years old to assess the impact of new cystic fibrosis treatments of CF2 modulators. The study seeks to review the effectiveness of the screening programme at different developmental stages. This phase aims to benchmark results against European standards through continued international collaboration. With UK collaborators and using a newly validated questionnaire she is assessing the challenge of living with cystic fibrosis for the parents of affected children.
Professor Fitzpatrick's research as a co-applicant on cancer awareness and health in the Traveller community working with (opens in a new window)Pavee Point and the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). This cancer awareness study will provide essential insights for the NCCP. She is also involved in a primary prevention follow-up study, conducted in collaboration with SFI funding as part of the (opens in a new window)ECHO Study. The focus is on examining e-cigarette use during pregnancy and its subsequent effects on the pregnant women, birth and neonatal outcomes, and on subsequent early childhood clinical and psychological status, with comparisons to smokers and non-smokers. . The goal is to gather data that could inform preventative strategies and health recommendations related to e-cigarette use during pregnancy
Professor Fitzpatrick is involved in the PRAISE-U study which is a collaborative pilot study on prostate cancer screening led by Principal Investigator Dr. David Gavin, a Consultant Urologist at St. Vincent's University Hospital/Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. This study supports the European Commission directive encouraging European countries to prepare for prostate cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer screening (gastric only if indicated by prevalence). The pilot specifically involves home PSA testing for prostate cancer, followed by assessment and MRI for further evaluation. It is one of four similar pilot studies being implemented across Europe to develop effective screening guidelines.
Overall, through her active involvement in numerous research studies and guiding future directions, Professor Fitzpatrick aims to ensure that her work achieves impactful outcomes, with stakeholders adopting and operationalising findings to truly benefit targeted groups effectively.
Related Links
Twitter/X (opens in a new window)@patriciaefitz
(opens in a new window)LinkedIn
(opens in a new window)UCD Profile Patricia Fitzpatrick