Jefferson Expands International Doctoral Education Through Strategic Partnerships in Ireland

Jefferson’s College of Health Professions is expanding its international doctoral program and research enterprise through strategic partnerships that connect education, community engagement, and collaborative scholarship.

That vision came to life during a recent week of activities in Dublin, Ireland, where Jefferson faculty and doctoral students worked alongside partners at University College Dublin (UCD) SMARTlab, the An Saol Foundation, and others.

The collaboration marked the first international doctoral intensive for Jefferson’s inaugural PhD in Health Science cohort and represents an important milestone, says Dr. Kirby Wycoff, associate professor and director of the University’s new doctoral program.

“This work builds on the strong foundation established by Jefferson’s All-Island Ireland Center and the leadership of Dr. Richard Derman and the Office of Global Affairs, whose longstanding efforts have helped advance collaboration and partnership across Ireland,” she says.

The initiative expands Jefferson’s partnership with UCD SMARTlab and Professor Lizbeth Goodman while advancing the University’s vision for a globally connected model of doctoral education that prepares future health scientists through interdisciplinary learning, international collaboration, and community-engaged research, Dr. Wycoff says.

Throughout the week, Jefferson faculty and students joined doctoral scholars from UCD for seminars, collaborative workshops, and dissertation development sessions focused on design thinking, inclusive design, community-based participatory research, qualitative methodology, research philosophy, and interdisciplinary approaches to health and education, Dr. Wycoff says. Students exchanged ideas with peers from multiple disciplines and countries, refined emerging dissertation projects, and developed professional relationships.

“One of the most rewarding aspects was watching our PhD students engage as scholars within an international community of researchers,” she says. “They weren’t simply learning from experts. They were presenting their own ideas, challenging assumptions, learning from one another, and building relationships with colleagues from around the world. That kind of reciprocal learning is exactly what we hope to foster through a globally connected model of doctoral education.”

The doctoral intensive was intentionally paired with ongoing community-engaged research through Jefferson’s partnership with the An Saol Foundation, a community neurorehabilitation organization supporting people living with severe acquired brain injury, says Dr. Amanda Rabinowitz, associate director of Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute.

“Our partnership with the An Saol Foundation has created meaningful opportunities for faculty, community members, and Irish research partners to learn from one another while advancing research on caregiver well-being, community rehabilitation, and innovative participatory approaches to care,” Dr. Rabinowitz says. “The collaboration has already generated national and international conference presentations, manuscripts in development, and new research initiatives. We’re excited to see these relationships continue to grow.”

During the visit, Jefferson faculty also facilitated a movement-based workshop for family caregivers of people living with severe acquired brain injury. Jefferson Assistant Professor Dr. Jacelyn Biondo, a board-certified dance/movement therapist, led the workshop, with Dr. Wycoff supporting the session and leading related research and data-collection activities.

The week also boosted Jefferson’s broader international research network through meetings with collaborators at Technological University Dublin and Ulster University to explore future faculty and student exchanges, collaborative research initiatives, and multinational funding opportunities.

Several grant proposals and scholarly projects are already underway as a result of the partnerships strengthened during the visit, Dr. Biondo notes.

“Rather than representing a single international experience, this initiative reflects Jefferson’s long-term commitment to building a globally connected model of doctoral education,” Dr. Biondo says. “This model integrates rigorous scholarship, meaningful community engagement, and international collaboration to prepare the next generation of interdisciplinary health scientists while creating lasting impact for the communities they serve.”

PhD in Health Science student Dr. Christyn Mitchell says the Ireland trip gave her a broader understanding of the many forms research can take. The opportunity to present, discuss, and receive feedback on her own research also helped her refine her thinking and further develop her research knowledge and skills.

“The international and interprofessional nature of the program, combined with immersion in a welcoming community of PhD students, created a learning experience that would have been difficult to replicate elsewhere,” says Dr. Mitchell, director of Jefferson’s MS in Occupational Therapy program. “It was both exciting and rewarding to engage with talented researchers from diverse backgrounds, sharing ideas and discussing innovative work. The experience reinforced my confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to scholarly conversations.”