Research output per year
Research output per year
Accepting PhD Students
Research activity per year
Dr Patricia Sheehan
Lecturer | Work Placement Coordinator | International Mobility Officer | Active Exercise Oncology Researcher
Department of Sport & Exercise Science, South East Technological University (SETU)
For a deeper insight into her research, teaching, and outreach work, including digital stories and videos capturing her projects, please visit her LinkedIn profile.
Dr. Patricia Sheehan is a lecturer, work placement coordinator, and International Mobility Officer in the Department of Sport & Exercise Science at SETU. She is a leading exercise oncology researcher, dedicated to integrating physical activity into cancer care and bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation.
She completed her PhD in 2018/2019, titled An Exercise Intervention for Cancer-Related Fatigue, under the supervision of Prof. Michael Harrison (SETU), Dr. Suzanne Denieffe (SETU), and Prof. Niamh Murphy (SETU). Her research has been presented internationally and nationally.
Her work has had a direct clinical impact, forming the basis of the ExWell Medical MoveOn Programme, run at SETU Arena, benefiting cancer patients across the South East of Ireland.
Dr. Sheehan has played a key role in shaping national policy and exercise-based interventions for cancer care. She was part of the SETU research team commissioned by the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to conduct a scoping review of physical activity services for cancer patients in Ireland, alongside Prof. Michael Harrison and Dr. Brona Kehoe. This work, in collaboration with Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and led by Prof. Niall Moyna (DCU), has directly informed national approaches to exercise oncology care.
Her research extends to global initiatives, including her role in the Football is Medicine movement. She is currently involved in:
She is also actively engaged in policy development, contributing to the extension of the National Physical Activity Guidelines to include:
✅ Pregnancy and postpartum populations
She was a key participant in the National Physical Activity Guidelines Stakeholder Consultation, collaborating with Dr. Bláthín Casey (HSE), Prof. Michael Harrison (SETU), and a multidisciplinary expert team.
Dr. Sheehan is deeply committed to empowering students and preparing them for careers in sports, nutrition, health, and exercise sciences. She takes pride in:
She actively promotes student-led research and outreach initiatives, ensuring that students are engaged in real-world applications of sport and exercise science.
As an exercise oncology researcher, Dr. Sheehan is engaged in multidisciplinary research projects focusing on exercise interventions for cancer recovery, chronic disease management, and health promotion. She is a member of:
Her research portfolio includes:
✅ Exercise-based rehabilitation for cancer survivors
✅ Physical activity and mental health in chronic disease populations
✅ Technology-driven interventions in exercise oncology
✅ Community-based exercise programs and long-term health outcomes
She has strong national and international research collaborations, working with:
Dr. Sheehan is dedicated to bridging research and practice, contributing to the development and delivery of outreach programmes. She has been instrumental in:
Dr. Sheehan has successfully secured and contributed to multiple research grants, including:
Her future research aims to:
🔹 Advance the integration of exercise into standard cancer care
🔹 Develop paper-based and digital resources for personalised exercise interventions
🔹 Investigate the impact of exercise on cancer-related fatigue, and other debilitating side effects of cancer and its treatment and survivorship
🔹 Expand international collaborations to enhance global exercise oncology research
Her commitment to evidence-based practice, community engagement, and student development ensures that her work continues to drive meaningful impact at both academic and clinical levels.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
PhD, An Exercise Intervention for Cancer Fatigue
30 Sep 2001 → 31 Jul 2031
Award Date: 14 Oct 2019
Evaluation of Level 9 Programme, Carolow IT
Champion , Irish Sport and Exercise Science Association
Reviewer, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
Reviewer, Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Quality Reviewer, Racing Academy & Centre of Education.
Board of Directors , Waterford Local Sports Partnership
PhD examiner
Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Types of Thesis › Doctoral Thesis
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
06/02/2025
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
17/12/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
24/04/2024 → 25/04/2024
2 Media contributions
Press/Media