Melanie Ryberg

I have worked in many different roles as a clinical psychologist; helping those with traumatic brain injury, supporting adults with a range of mental health difficulties in community and institutional settings and, in my most recent position, leading psychological services in intensive care.

A few years before the pandemic, I began a new role providing care for adults with severe and enduring mental health needs. I was at the table when decisions were being made and services being planned. I found this very meaningful – there were real opportunities to create system change, as well as changes for staff and patients. However, leadership and change management skills are not part of core clinical training and I knew I need to develop these competencies to make a real difference.

I had been looking at the RCSI course for a few years and, when I started it, it came at a time when I was moving to a new role: implementing professional psychological services in critical care in hospitals, in the middle of a global pandemic. The RCSI course was fully online, and this flexibility was really important when I was working full-time and had a young child. I was able to engage with the learning at a time that suited me.

Since concluding the course in 2021, I’ve moved into a leadership position in the clinical domain. Psychological services in intensive care are new to Ireland, so I have been helping to develop this specialism across Ireland. The skills, knowledge and language that I developed during the diploma afforded me the additional lens and language to move things forward. This course has been central.

Learn more about our Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership programme here.