Biography:

Michelle Butler qualified as a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Midwife before pursuing a BSc in Health Sciences and an MSc in Health Studies. In 2001 she obtained a PhD from the University of Nottingham with a study of competence and professional learning in midwifery. Michelle joined UBC in January 2014, having worked at University College Dublin, since 2001. She was Dean of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems and Head of the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems from 2007 to 2010 and Subject Head (Midwifery) and Clinical/Academic Research Liaison with the National Maternity Hospital from 2010 to 2013. At UCD, Michelle was centrally involved in the development of midwifery and nursing programs and research and she was involved in the design and conduct of a range of studies in nursing, midwifery and health systems funded by the Health Research Board, the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, the Women’s Health Council, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the National Council on Aging and Older people. As a member of the UCD Human Research Ethics Committee from 2002-2007, Michelle had a central role in the development of ethics approval processes at UCD. Her particular research expertise is in qualitative methods, evaluation research, case study, mixed methods, and systematic reviews. Michelle has also lectured on advanced research methods, midwifery research, and health policy and planning.