Silvana MacMahon

Dr

Contact Details


L2.28
T:Ext. 5620

E:Silvana.MacMahon@dcu.ie

Assistant Professor

L2.28
Glasnevin
Dublin 9

T:01 700 5620

E:silvana.macmahon@dcu.ie
W:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nt3luwkAAAAJ&hl=en https://reflect.dcu.ie/view/view.php?t=153bf5c29e27e2c6485e

Member




L2.28

T:Ext. 5620

E:Silvana.MacMahon@dcu.ie
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Assistant Professor | Enterprise Computing Team Project (CA472) Coordinator | Lero Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software - Funded Investigator https://www.lero.ie/

Teaching & Learning

I deliver modules across both DCU B.Sc. in Computer Science and B.Sc. in Computing for Business programmes. I am module coordinator for CA348 Business Information Management, CA267 Software Testing and CA4101 Enterprise Architecture. I am committed to enhancing the student experience both through the use of reflective teaching practice to guide my mode of delivery of content and through the integration of my research into my teaching. I have substantial industry experience in software testing and leading software testing teams enabling problem based learning approaches in software quality related modules.  I also am engaged in research focused on enhancing the experience of autistic students and preparing them for securing and remaining in roles in the software industry aligned with the DCU draft strategic pillar of pioneering a transformative student experience. I have been an invited guest lectures delivered including into the M.Sc. in Digital Health Transformation in University of Limerick and the H.Dip. in Healthcare and the M.Sc. in Computing (Medical Device Software) in Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Research & Scholarship 

I am a funded Investigator in Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software. I have received the NSAI 1997 Award and the Dundalk Institute of Technology President’s Award for Early Career Researcher. My research interests are: Health Information Technology Systems; Education of Autistic Software Engineers; Software Testing in Safety Critical Domains; and Software Engineering Best Practice. My research delivers impact through international collaboration and multidisciplinary cross faculty engagement at a local level. I have directly trained Clinical and IT personnel on medical IT network best practice and have an established network of international research collaborators in 8 countries and additionally with various Irish Universities. 

Service & Contribution 

I am currently serving as Chair of the National Standards Authority of Ireland Health Informatics Standards Committee and am an invited member of the NSAI Top Team for AI Standards providing recommendations to the Department of the Taoiseach through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.  I am an impactful long term contributor (10+ years) to the ISO and IEC including as project leader and editor. I have a strong track record of research student supervision and regular Examiner/Chair for DCU School of Computing Vivas/Transfer Talks and am currently coordinator for Year 4 B.Sc. in Computing for Business final year projects.I have been an active and committed member of the Faculty Committee for Research (FEC) since 2020 and am a key contributor to the School of Commuting Ethics Committee since 2019.   


Book Chapter

Year Publication
2013 McHugh, M.; McCaffery, F.; MacMahon, S.T.; Finnegan, A.; (2013) 'Improving safety in medical devices from concept to retirement' In: Handbook of Medical and Healthcare Technologies. Switzerland : Springer. [DOI]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2018 Ketheswarasarma Rajaram, Hamsini and Loane, John and MacMahon, Silvana Togneri and McCaffery, Fergal (2018) 'Taxonomy Based Testing and Validation of a new Defect Classification for Health Software'. (1985).
2018 MacMahon, Silvana Togneri and Cooper, Todd and McCaffery, Fergal (2018) 'Revising IEC 80001-1: Risk management of health information technology systems'. 60 :67-72.
2017 Bujok, A.B.; MacMahon, S.T.; Grant, P.; Whelan, D.; Rickard, W.J.; McCaffery, F.; (2017) 'Approach to the development of a Unified Framework for Safety Critical Software Development'. Computer Standards and Interfaces, . [DOI]
2016 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2016) 'The MedITNet assessment framework: development and validation of a framework for improving risk management of medical IT networks'. Journal of Software: Evolution and Process, . [DOI]
2016 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2016) 'The MedITNet assessment method - development and validation using action design research'. International Journal on Advances in Life Sciences, .
2014 Hegarty, F.J.; MacMahon, S.T.; Byrne, P.; McCaffery, F.; (2014) 'Assessing a hospital's medical IT network risk management practice with 80001-1'. Biomedical Instrumentation and Technology, .

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2020 Fogarty A.; Edgeworth A.; Smith O.; Dowling M.; Yilmaz M.; MacMahon S.T.; Clarke P. (2020) Communications in Computer and Information Science Agile Software Development – Do We Really Calculate the Costs? A Multivocal Literature Review [DOI]
2020 Grogan, J.; Mulready, C.; McDermott, J.; Urbanavicius, M.; Yilmaz, M.; Abgaz, Y.; McCarren, A.; MacMahon, S.T.; Garousi, V.; Elger, P.; Clarke, P. (2020) A Multivocal Literature Review of Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) Infrastructures and Implications for Software Developers [Link] [DOI]
2020 Mohammad Z. Anjum. and Silvana Togneri Mac Mahon. and Fergal McCaffery. (2020) Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD Development of Health Software using Behaviour Driven Development - BDD
2020 Rajaram, H Ketheswarasarma and Loane, J and MacMahon, ST and Mc Caffery, F (2020) International Conference on Software Technologies A Retrospective Study of Taxonomy Based Testing Using Empirical Data from a Medical Device Software Company Online, 07/07/2020- 09/07/2020 [Link] [DOI]
2019 Hamsini Ketheswarasarma Rajaram; John Loane; Silvana Togneri MacMahon; Fergal McCaffery; (2019) European Conference on Software Process Improvement A Framework for Taxonomy Based Testing Using Classification of Defects in Health Software-SW91 [DOI]
2017 MacMahon, S.T.; Cooper, T.; McCaffery, F.; (2017) International Conference on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination A Proposed approach to the revision of IEC 80001-1 following annex SL Mallorca, Spain, 04/10/2017- 05/10/2017 [DOI]
2017 Bujok, A.B., MacMahon, S.T., Grant, P., McCaffery, F., (2017) 11th Systems Testing and Validation Workshop (STV17) and 3rd International Workshop on User Interface Test Automation (INTUITEST 2017) Approach to the Development of a Medical Device Software Quality Assurance Framework
2017 Rajaram, H Ketheswarasarma and Loane, J and MacMahon, ST and Mc Caffery, F (2017) EuroSPI Benefits of Defect Taxonomies and Validation of a new Defect Classifi-cation for Health Software
2016 Bujok, A.B.; Macmahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Whelan, D.; Mulcahy, B.; Rickard, W.J.; (2016) International Conference on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination Safety critical software development: extending quality management system practices to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements [DOI]
2015 MacMahon, Silvana Togneri and McCaffery, Fergal and Keenan, Frank (2015) The First International Conference on Fundamentals and Advances in Software Systems Integration FASSI 2015 August 23-28, 2015-Venice, Italy Development of the MedITNet Assessment Method. Enabling Healthcare Delivery Organisation Self Assessment against IEC 80001-1
2015 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2015) ACM International Conference Proceeding Series Development and validation of the MedITNet assessment framework: Improving risk management of medical IT Networks [DOI]
2013 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2013) HEALTHINF 2013 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics Towards a process assessment model for IEC 80001-1
2013 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Eagles, S.; Keenan, F.; Lepmets, M.; Renault, A.; (2013) HEALTHINF 2013 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics Assessing against IEC 80001-1
2013 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2013) ACM International Conference Proceeding Series Risk management of medical IT networks: An ISO/IEC 15504 compliant approach to assessment against IEC 80001-1 [DOI]
2013 MacMahon, S.T., McCaffery, F. and Keenan, F., (2013) EuroSPI Transforming requirements of IEC 80001-1 into an ISO/IEC 15504-2 compliant process reference model and process assessment model
2013 MacMahon, Silvana Togneri and Hegarty, Francis J and Byrne, Patricia (2013) International Conference on Medical Physics Experience gained in applying IEC 80001-1 principles to a medical IT network supporting a clinical information system
2013 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Keenan, F.; (2013) International Conference on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination The Approach to the Development of an Assessment Method for IEC 80001-1 [DOI]
2021 Costello, E.; Kilbride, S.; Milne, Z.; Clarke, P.; Yilmaz, M.; MacMahon, S.T. (2021) A Professional Career with Autism: Findings from a Literature Review in the Software Engineering Domain [Link] [DOI]
2019 MacMahon, Silvana Togneri; Alfano, Marco; Lenzitti, Biagio; Lo Bosco, Giosue; McCaffery, Fergal; Taibi, Davide; Helfert, Markus (2019) 2019 IEEE SYMPOSIUM ON COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS (ISCC) Improving Communication in Risk Management of Health Information Technology Systems by means of Medical Text Simplification
2021 Rajaram, Hamsini Ketheswarasarma; Loane, John; MacMahon, Silvana Togneri; Caffery, Fergal Mc (2021) ENASE: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 16TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EVALUATION OF NOVEL APPROACHES TO SOFTWARE ENGINEERING Expert Review of Taxonomy based Testing: A Testing Framework for Medical Device Software [DOI]
2012 MacMahon, S.T.; McCaffery, F.; Eagles, S.; Keenan, F.; Lepmets, M.; Renault, A.; (2012) International Conference on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination Development of a process assessment model for assessing medical IT networks against IEC 80001-1 [DOI]
2018 Ketheswarma Rajaram, Hamsini and Loane, John and MacMahon, Silvana Togneri and McCaffery, Fergal (2018) 2018 IEEE 11th International Conference on Software Testing, Verification and Validation (ICST), 9th Taxonomy Based Testing using SW91, a Medical Device Software Defect Taxonomy [Link] [DOI]

Technical Report

Year Publication
2015 MacMahon, Silvana Togneri (International Project Leader, Author and Editor) (2015) ISO/TR 80001-2-7:2015 APPLICATION OF RISK MANAGEMENT FOR IT-NETWORKS INCORPORATING MEDICAL DEVICES — APPLICATION GUIDANCE — PART 2-7: GUIDANCE FOR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY ORGANIZATIONS (HDOS) ON HOW TO SELF-ASSESS THEIR CONFORMANCE WITH IEC 80001-1. TP

Online Article

Year Publication
2022 Silvana Togneri MacMahon and Ita Richardson (2022) Regulating Connected Health: Pathways, Technology and the Patient. ELEA [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/01/2018 NSAI 1997 Award NSAI
01/01/2018 DkIT Presidents Award for Early Career Researcher DkIT

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Chair of NSAI Health Informatics Standards Committee -
ISO TC215/IEC SC62A JWG7 Leadership Team -
NSAI Top Team for Standards in AI -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Dundalk Institute of Technology Research Fellow/Senior Postdoctoral Researcher 01/08/2015 - 08/09/2019

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
Dundalk Institute of Technology PhD

Languages

Language Reading Writing Speaking
Italian Basic Basic Basic
French Basic Basic Basic

Enterprise Engagement

Year Engagement Type Client Description
2018 Invited talk/presentation IBEC Invited Speaker, Futures Leaders Programme - Software/Connected Health Module - IBEC Event, Galway, January 2018
2017 Invited talk/presentation IMDA/IBEC Invited Speaker, IMDA/IBEC Internet of Medical ThingsMasterclass in Connected Health Solutions, Dublin, June 2017.
2021 Invited talk/presentation NSAI Risk Management Standards Presentation NSAI HISC
2018 Invited talk/presentation National Standards Authority of Ireland Invited Speaker at the NSAI Annual Standards Forum, Dublin, October 2018.
2022 Invited talk/presentation CeIC DCU - Let's drop the jargon: A symposium on digitalisation in healthcare, interoperability and standards
2023 Invited talk/presentation HSBooster/Trust IT HSBooster Standards Webinar

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
2023 Presentations/Talks to an external audience Computing Crossroads Profiled in Computing Crossroads https://computingcrossroads.org/ "The Communicator" Computing Crossroads is a research initiative with the intention of revealing the incredible yet largely unappreciated value of a computing perspective across a wide variety of fields, and conversely, the huge amount of value brought to this field by those coming from areas traditionally considered unrelated. We have spoken with many of those who are working in and have a passion for the world of computing, while also having once been a historian, artist, designer, lawyer, or many other roles across a wide range of industries. Similarly, we have spoken with many who began in computing and pivoted towards roles outside what is considered the traditional computing pathway. Also published in ACM Inroads

Research Interests

I am a funded Investigator in Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and have received the NSAI 1997 Award and the Dundalk Institute of Technology President’s Award for Early Career Researcher.  My research has delivered impact  through international collaboration and multidisciplinary cross faculty engagement at a local level. I have directly trained Clinical and IT personnel on medical IT network best practice I have an established network of international research collaborators in 8 countries (including the US, Australia, and Germany) and additionally with various Irish Universities. I have been an invited speaker/keynote at national and international conferences/events; and reviewer/Programme Committee member for leading international conferences and journals. Iam currently serving as Chair of the National Standards Authority of Ireland Health Informatics Standards Committee having acted as Vice Chair since 2019. I am an invited member of the NSAI Top Team for AI Standards providing recommendations to the Department of the Taoiseach through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I am a long term contributor (10+ years) to the ISO and IEC including as project leader and editor and have served as General Chair for conferences/think tank sessions including the Health Identifiers Conference, 2016. I have a strong track record of research student supervision and regular Examiner/Chair for DCU School of Computing Vivas/Transfer Talks. I am an active member of the School of Commuting Ethics Committee since 2019 and have represented Lero Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software on the Faculty of Engineering and Computing Faculty Committee for Research (FEC) since 2020.


 My research interests include:

  1. Health Information Technology Systems
  2. Education of Autistic Software Engineers
  3. Software Testing in Safety Critical Domains
  4. Software Engineering Best Practice

Each of these areas are closely aligned with DCU and School of Computing strategies. A brief overview of exach area is provided below:


Research Focus 1. Health Information Technology Systems My first area of research is the development and implementation of standards for risk management of health information technology systems (HITS). My ultimate goal is to develop meaningful approaches to standards development to ensure that stakeholder interests are represented as a means to drive the adoption of standards that promote safe, effective and secure health information technology systems. I am particularly interested in methods, techniques, tools and standards for managing the risks of implementing and maintaining information technology systems particularly in the healthcare domain. My research focuses on using a pragmatic approach to the development of a standard based approach to risk management of networked medical devices and health information technology systems.

Research Focus 2. Education of Autistic Software Engineers I am passionately committed to advancing the opportunities for autistic individuals in the software industry. My research will focus on gaining an understanding of how the educational experience of autistic computing students can be enhanced to ensure that they are best prepared for a role in the software industry and how industry can retain employees with autism within their roles and can leverage this previously untapped talent. Cognitively diverse teams lead to better problem solving and innovation which is especially necessary for software development teams and the complex, continuously-changing technology industry. In alignment with the Research and Innovation Strategy, the proposed research will require close engagement with enterprise to develop innovative approaches to the recruitment of autistic individuals which will deliver societal impact through the creation of neurodiverse teams capable of addressing the complex challenges of developing the increasingly complex IT systems required by society and economic impact both at the level of software development organisations through addressing the skills gap and at the level of autistic individuals by ensuring that they can access and retain rewarding roles in the software development domain.

Research Focus 3. Software Testing in Safety Critical Domains Research focus 3 aligns my research in the area of standards development and implementation with my previous industry experience in software testing. My goal through this research focus is to leverage existing standards based best practice for software testing and apply to the domain of medical device software testing. In order to place a medical device onto the market, the manufacturers must show that the device is compliant with the relevant regulation. The main way in which medical device manufacturers do this is through the implementation of Harmonised Standards. However, the standards for medical device software development discuss software development processes and do not explicitly outline how software testing should be conducted. As such, the focus of this research is to combine consensus best practice for software testing taken from generic software testing standards and integrate these processes and principles into the software development processes outlines in medical device software standards.   

Research Focus 4. Software Engineering Best Practice Software Engineering Best Practice has underpinned the research described above and continues to be a focus for further research. The development of the framework for the assessment of the capability of risk management processes for Medical IT Networks used standards for Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination (SPICE) to provide a methodology for the development of the framework. This research continues to underpin the development of future assessment frameworks in this area such as the HITS framework proposed in Research Plan- Research Focus 1. This research is aligned with the course content for CA348 Business Information Management and CA4101 Enterprise Architecture modules, which both discuss how organisations can used capability maturity assessment in order to deliver on organisational strategy and looks at other Quality Management System standards e.g. ISO 9000.





Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Digital Health Patterns transforming Healthcare Services (DHP-Transform) DCU PI 01/06/2022 31/05/2026

Internal Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
Internal Pamela Hussey Dublin City University - CeIC Academic

Teaching Interests

Business Information Management 

Software Testing

Enterprise Architecture

Collaboration and Innovation

Digital Health Transformation

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Enterprise Architecture (C) CA4101
2022 Business Information Management CA348
2022 Software Testing CA267
2022 Enterprise Computing Team Project CA472
2023 Collaboration and Innovation CA120