The sixth National Human Factors in Patient Safety Conference takes place this Friday, 22 May 2026, bringing together a global community of professionals advancing safer healthcare systems.

A wide range of professionals – including physicians, surgeons, nurses, quality specialists, paramedics, allied healthcare professionals, researchers and healthcare administrators – have already secured their place.

This full-day hybrid event offers direct access to leading experts, practical insights and interactive learning through keynote sessions, panel discussions and workshops. With only a few in-person places remaining, early booking is strongly recommended.

Why attend?

• Connect with a global human factors community
• Join your way – attend in person or online
• Learn from world-leading experts
• Build practical skills in interactive workshops
• Hear from the RCSI Human Factors Academy
• Earn 6 CPD credits

Agenda

• 09:00–10:00: Registration
• 10:00–10:15: Welcome from co-chairs (Dr Emily O'Dowd and Ms Dara O'Keeffe)
• 10:15–11:00: Keynote session: Professor Mike Fray, Professor of Ergonomics and Assisted Performance, Loughborough University (30 mins presentation, plus 15 minutes of questions)
• 11:20–12:50: Morning workshop sessions
• 12:45–14:00: Lunch
• 14:00–15:30: Afternoon workshop sessions
• 15:45–16:30: Keynote session: Professor Marie Ward, Chairperson of the Irish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (IEHFS) and embedded human factors practitioner (30 mins presentation, plus 15 minutes of questions)
• 16:30–17:00: Live Q&A plus discussion panel

Registration

Register to attend the conference either in-person on virtually at the links below.

In-person

Online

Speakers

Dr Dara O’Keeffe (co-chair)
RCSI Simulation Lead in Postgraduate Surgical Education
Read more about Dr O'Keefee here.

Dr Emily O’Dowd
Head of MSc Human Factors and Patient Safety, Senior Lecturer in Surgical Education
Read more about Dr O'Dowd here.

Professor Marie Ward
Chairperson of the Irish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (IEHFS) and Embedded Human Factors Practitioner
Professor Ward is an embedded researcher at the Quality and Safety Improvement Directorate, St James's Hospital Dublin, Ireland where she is engaged in a programme of Health Systems Human Factors Ergonomics Research and Improvement. Marie’s research interests include co-designing new systems from a socio-technical perspective to improve patient and staff safety and well-being and system performance.

Professor Mike Fray
Professor of Ergonomics and Assisted Performance, Loughborough University
With first degrees in Ergonomics (Loughborough University, 1987) and Physiotherapy (Leeds University, 1993) Professor Mike Fray had a varied career in the NHS, consultancy and education before entering Loughborough University full time in 2011. His research focus is the improvement of the delivery of healthcare activities with a special focus on improving human performance, the physical risks to staff and the delivery of the highest quality care for the patient.

Liam Chadwick
Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist with CIEHF
Liam's core interests are systems thinking and design in healthcare, patient-centred care, human error analysis, process optimisation and resilience. Over the past 14 years, Liam has worked closely with more than 80 hospitals in America, Australia and Canada supporting implementation of the accountable care unit clinical microsystem and structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBR) model of care.

Charlie Dineen
Programme Manager, Transforming Theatre QI Programme, National Clinical Programmes
Charlie has over 30 years’ experience in operations management, quality management and process improvement across industry, higher education and healthcare. He holds a Master Black Belt in Lean Sigma and has held a number of roles as senior site technical lead in lean operations and change management. Charlie is a strong advocate for incorporating ‘management structures’ and ‘management systems’ in improvement activity and programme design to ensure sustainment and growth.

Dr Therese Callinan
Senior Improvement Advisor with National Perioperative Patient Enhancement Programme
Dr Callinan works directly with hospitals to deliver the theatre effectiveness programme and support system wide improvement in perioperative care. Throughout her career, Therese has led and delivered large scale perioperative, patient flow and quality care improvement initiatives, working closely with clinical and executive teams to translate data, improvement science, and operational insights into real gains in access, throughput, and patient safety.