About MSK Ultrasound Ireland

---

 Dr Alan Rankin has a wealth of experience and accolades including;

Medical Director, Sports Medicine NI

- Sports Physician, Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute

- BUPA Musculoskeletal Physician

Previously Worked for:

- Sports Physician, Sport Ireland Institute, Dublin

- Irish Athletics High Performance Medical Officer

Other Experiences:

- Rugby – Belfast Harlequins, Ulster Rugby Academy, Ulster Ravens,  Ireland Schools, Ireland A, Emerging Ireland, Ireland Womens XV and  Women’s Sevens, Newport-Gwent Dragons.

- Team Dr, Team Ireland, Sport Relief Celebrity Challenge 2012.

- Olympic Polyclinic Sports Physician, Olympic Games, London 2012

- Paralympic Games, London 2012, Field of Play Recovery Team Member, Olympic Stadium

- Ireland Team Physician - Rio 2016 Olympic Games – August 2016

- Professional Boxing, amateur boxing, Ice Hockey, Northern Ireland U21 Football, Table Tennis, Boccia.

Gareth is an honours  graduate in podiatry gained at Glasgow Caledonian University, 

Gareth has his PgDip  in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery which he studied for at Queen  Margaret University in Edinburgh. He also completed his PgCert in  Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound with CASE accreditation at the AECC  University in Bournemouth. Upon Graduation, he became 1 of only 3  Podiatrists in Northern Ireland to have achieved this qualification,  regarded as the gold standard in ultrasound training. Gareth runs a  private clinic where he sees a wide range of MSK conditions and looks after both amateur and elite athletes from various spoerting backrounds. Gareth has been invloved in ultrasound workshops at the Royal college of Podiatry national conferences and also runs Podiatry CPD Hub which offers various teaching/training days.

Andrew graduated from University of  Ulster in 2013. He commenced work within the NHS, completing through  junior and senior rotations before specialising in musculoskeletal  physiotherapy. He then completed his Masters in Sports Physiotherapy  through the highly regarded University of Bath. Alongside opening The  Physio Studio, Andrew furthered his studies again, this time in London gaining a PGCert and becoming one of the first physiotherapists in the  country to offer Diagnostic Ultrasound. 

Claire graduated from Queens University Belfast, in 2001, with an Honors  in Podiatric Medicine. In 2006, Claire was the first podiatrist  in Northern Ireland to be appointed as an Advanced Practitioner,  Extended Scope Podiatrist in an Orthopaedic Assessment and Treatment  Service, in the NHS.  In this role Claire assessed, diagnosed and  treated complex foot and ankle conditions, referring for diagnostic imaging,  such as X-ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans (if needed) and linked  directly with orthopaedic consultants. Claire gained her PgCert with CASE accreditation in diagnostic ultrasound at AECC Bournemouth and when graduated, was 1 of only 3  podiatrists on the island of Ireland, to have completed this type of training. 

Claire has had work published in professional journals, has been  locum clinical lecturer at the University of Ulster for podiatry and has  been guest speaker at the annual NI podiatry conference.  Claire  continues to teach and run CPD activities for her colleagues.

Martin  graduated from University of Huddersfield in 2004 and completed his NHS  rotations in England before moving home to take up a Senior  Physiotherapy role specialising in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. 

Having  worked with the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland for almost 10  years and being part of Team Ireland and Team NI for 4 major games  including the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth  Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Martin moved into private practice  full time at Elite Physiotherapy Cookstown in 2016. 

Martin  has completed post graduate studies including an MSc in Advancing  Practice from Ulster University and a PgCert in MSK Ultrasound at Brunel  University and PGDip in Injection Therapy at Queen Margaret University,  Edinburgh. 

Martin  is currently the team physiotherapist with the Tyrone Senior Football  team and was part of their backroom team during their 2021 All Ireland  Senior Championship success.

Sean is a specialist in Podiatric Sports Medicine having gained his post grad qualification from QMUL. He also has Post Graduate qualifications from  Queen Margaret University Edinburgh. Sean is the Podiatrist for The Northern Ireland Senior  Soccer Team. Previously he has worked as a clinical lecturer in The NI  School of Podiatry in The University of Ulster. Sean is actively involved in planning CPD Lectures to  Podiatrists in The UK and Ireland. 

 Dr Jamie Kearns is originally from Dublin. He qualified from UCD in 2006 with an honours degree as well as a BMedSci. He went on to  complete basic specialist training in medicine in Galway and completed  an MRCPI in 2009. As part of his BST, he undertook a six-month visiting  rotation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He subsequently completed a  Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from NUI Galway in 2011,  graduating with a 1st Class Honours.
Dr Kearns proceeded to vocational training in general practice and was  awarded MICGP in 2013. Having worked in full-time General Practice with a  specialist interest in sports and orthopaedic medicine, Dr Kearns began  specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine in 2021 and  completed his training in 2023. During his specialist training, he  undertook post-graduate training in Medical Ultrasound at AECC University Bournemouth.  He has also been awarded membership to the Faculty of Sports &  Exercise Medicine UK. Since 2018, Dr Kearns has been the Head of Medical  for Munster Rugby. He has worked as a team doctor for Connacht Rugby  and the Ireland Men’s Senior Rugby Team, as well as the independent  match day doctor for senior internationals, including the upcoming six  nations.