Carol Houlihan

Carol completed her BSc in Sport & Exercise Science in the University of Limerick in 2013. During her course, she completed her work experience at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and it was here Carol was involved in research and working with people who have MS. It was this learning opportunity that gave Carol an insight into occupational therapy and working with people who have a neurological condition.

Carol then went on to complete her MSc in Occupational Therapy at Brunel University, London, qualifying in 2017. Since qualifying, Carol worked in the NHS and completed rotational posts at Chelsea & Westminster hospital in London at both junior and senior level from 2017 until 2021. These rotations included medical rehabilitation, care of the elderly, acute assessment unit, accident & emergency department, trauma & elective orthopaedics, surgical, burns & plastics, respiratory, and stroke & neurology.

During the pandemic, Carol spent time working on the COVID rehabilitation ward and also played a part in running the long COVID clinic, which was instrumental in the initial understanding of the long terms effects post COVID.

On return from London, Carol joined the HSE working in a primary care team in North Tipperary before joining Axon Rehab in January 2022 to develop her career in neurological rehabilitation.

Carol has a keen interest in upper limb and cognitive rehabilitation and believes that intensive neurological rehabilitation can lead to a significant increase in functional outcomes, independence with completing activities of daily living, and overall improvement in quality of life.