Dr Sharon Walsh
Lecturer in Economics
J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
Sharon is a health and social care economist, whose research interests and activities are focused on examining key economic issues of finance, provision and access in the context of ageing and health policy.
Sharon's work contributes to these SDGs
Key Target: 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage
Sharon's research aims to produce independent, high-quality output with the objective of informing health and social care policies. As an applied economist, she examines key economic issues of finance, provision and access in the context of health and ageing.
Teaching
Research Methods for Health Economics and Policy Analysis
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the concepts and practice of research in health economics and policy. It is intended to be a practical course so that students become familiar with how to do research, the broad set of research methods available and what is considered good research practice. Students are introduced to quantitative, qualitative and evidence synthesis research methods, and the course also introduces students to quantitative data management techniques using Stata. As part of the course, students conduct their own mini research project.
Focused on Target: 4.4 Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success
Health Systems and Policy Analysis
The primary objective of this course is to apply economic theory and evidence to the analysis of health policy-making, especially in relation to how health systems are organised, delivered and financed. There is a strong focus on health inequalities and ageing populations in the course
Focused on Targets: 3.B Support research, development and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines; 8.4 Improve resource efficiency in consumption and production
Engagement
At national level, Sharon has ongoing research collaborations with the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin.
Internationally, she is also a member (doctoral candidate supervisor) of two Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks - HOMEDEM and HOMeAGE.
An important element of Sharon's work involves multi-stakeholder engagement. For example, Sharon recently organised and facilitated a multi-stakeholder policy roundtable, which included participants from the Department of Health, HSE, Nursing Homes Ireland and a number of advocacy groups, as well as academic colleagues from University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin.
Direct impact SDG Targets
1.3 - Implement social protection system
1.4 - Equal rights to ownership, basic services, technology and economic resources
1.5 - Build resilience to environmental, economic and social disasters
1.B - Create pro-poor and gender-sensitive policy frameworks
3.8 - Achieve universal health coverage
5.4 - Value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities
8.4 - Improve resource efficiency in consumption and production
10.2 - Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
10.3 - Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination
10.4 - Adopt fiscal and social policies that promotes equality
11.3 - Inclusive and sustainable urbanization
11.A - Strong national and regional development planning
Indirect SDG Impact
3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
4.3 - Equal access to affordable technical, vocational and higher education
Research
Featured Publications
|
References |
SDGs |
|---|---|
|
Kinchin, I., Walsh, S., Dinh, R., Kapuwa, M., Kennelly, S. P., Miller, A.-M., Nolan, A., O’Dowd, S., O’Philbin, L., Timmons, S., Leroi, I. (2024). Dissonance in the face of Alzheimer's breakthroughs: Clinician and lay stakeholder acceptance, concerns and willingness to pay for emerging disease-modifying therapies. Forthcoming in British Journal of Psychiatry. |
3 |
|
Walsh, S., Gillespie, P. (2023). Exploring the Link between Multimorbidity and Direct Healthcare Costs in Ireland: A Cross-Sectional Study. Forthcoming in Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, doi: 10.1177/26335565231219421 |
3.3, 3.8, 3.d |
|
Teahan, Á., Walsh, S., Doherty, E., O’Shea, E. (2021). Public preferences for services and supports aimed at Family Carers of People with Dementia: A Discrete Choice Experiment. Social Science and Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114359 |
3.0, 3.4; 8.5 |
|
Walsh, S., Murphy, E., Devane, D., Sampson, E. L., Connolly, S., Carney, P., O’Shea, E. (2021). Palliative care interventions in advanced dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9. Art. No.: CD011513. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011513.pub3 |
3, 3.8 |
|
Walsh, S., Pertl, M., Gillespie, P., Lawlor, B., Brennan, S., O’Shea, E. (2021). Factors influencing the cost of care and admission to long-term care for people with dementia in Ireland. Aging and Mental Health, 25(3), 512-520, doi: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1699901 |
3.4, 3.8; 1.2, 1.3 |
|
Walsh, S., O’Shea E., Pierse T., Kennelly B., Keogh F., Doherty E. (2020). Public Preferences for Home Care Services for People with Dementia: A Discrete Choice Experiment on Personhood. Social Science and Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112675 |
3.0, 3.4; 8.5 |
|
Walsh, S., Cullinan J., Flannery D. (2020). Modelling student preferences for the design of campus counselling services. Studies in Higher Education, doi: 10.1080/03075079.2020.1744124 |
3.4, 3.5; 4.0 |
|
Walsh, S., Cullinan, J., Flannery, D. (2019). Exploring heterogeneity in willingness to pay for the attributes of higher education institutions. Oxford Economic Papers, 71(1), 203-224 |
4.0 |
|
Walsh, S., Cullinan, J., Flannery, D. (2017). The Impact of Proposed Higher Education Reforms on Geographic Accessibility to Universities in Ireland. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 10(4), 515-536. |
4 |
|
Cullinan, J., Walsh, S., Flannery, D. (2020). Socioeconomic Disparities in Unmet Need for Student Mental Health Services in Higher Education. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 18(2) 223-235. |
3.4; 10 |
|
Gillespie, P., Walsh, S., Cullinan, J. and 1 more (...) (2019). An analysis of antenatal care pathways to mode of birth in Ireland. Economic and Social Review, 50(2), 391-427. |
3 |