Dr. Katie Sheehan

Biography

Katie Sheehan is a health services researcher and physiotherapist with experience in Ireland, Canada, and the UK. Her research focuses on enhancing access to and the delivery of quality rehabilitation services, particularly for older adults experiencing fragility fractures. Sheehan has a strong track record in secondary analysis of linked audit data and qualitative studies, along with developing complex interventions that meet her research goals. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and has secured more than £1.9 million in grant funding from UKRI, NIHR, and various charities. Her teams work on initiatives regarding early mobility and access to physiotherapy for patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, aiming to inform quality improvement both nationally and internationally. One of her notable contributions is the development of the ‘Stratify-Hip’ algorithm, designed to stratify patients based on their rehabilitation needs within the UK’s National Health Service. Additionally, Sheehan played a crucial role in establishing the Trauma Rehabilitation Older People (TROOP) group to involve patients and caregivers in research that influences their care. She chairs the Hip Fracture Recovery Research Special Interest Group and serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Geriatrics, while also being involved with the NIHR Research Patient Benefit London Regional Committee. Furthermore, Sheehan is a Fellow of the UK Young Academy and Young Academy Europe, advocating for early-career researchers.

Research Interests