Katarzyna Gajewska

University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin (Ireland)

Dr. Katarzyna Gajewska is a Lecturer in Epidemiology and Public Health in RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Postgraduate Researcher in the School of Public Health, University College Cork and the European Union Horizon 2020 project “OPEN”. In 2020 Kate has been awarded a PhD degree for thesis “Accessing insulin pump therapy by adults with type 1 diabetes in Ireland: A multiphase mixed methods study”. Her research interests include uptake of diabetes related technology, determinants of (barriers and facilitators to) access to technology in diabetes care, health and well-being of people with chronic illnesses, and health-services research. She is the author of peer-reviewed publications, educational materials, she frequently presents as a speaker at international and national conferences.

Kate’s career and body of work exemplify the passion for improving the quality of care for people living with diabetes, and her commitment to educating others: people with diabetes, healthcare professionals (HCP) and medical students. Her clinical experience as a HCP, psychologist and diabetes educator (Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland), other roles as a research data manager, knowledge broker and patient advocate (Diabetes Ireland, National Clinical Programme in Diabetes in Ireland) give her a unique perspective on the importance of research in improvements of care delivery. As a member of the Advisory Board of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescents Diabetes, and person living with type 1 diabetes since 1987, she advocates for better access to life-changing diabetes related-technology, psychological care, and better quality and innovation in diabetes-related services.