Orla initially obtained an honours degree in Physiology from Trinity College Dublin, allowing her to apply her detailed knowledge of the human body to the nutritional management of conditions and diseases. Since then Orla upgraded her BA in Physiology to an MA in Physiology. Orla went on to obtain a Masters in Clinical Nutrition at Roehampton University, London, where she completed research on ‘The Incidence of Malnutrition in Adult Radiotherapy Outpatients and Commonly-Associated Symptoms’.
Orla has a personal interest in sport which naturally lead onto a professional involvement in Sports Nutrition. Orla obtained a postgraduate diploma in Sports and Exercise Nutrition at the University of Ulster. She has completed research on ‘The effects of cryotherapy on lactate clearance post-exercise and the effect on subsequent performance’. She is also ISAK Level 1 trained. Orla was involved in the nutritional management of many athletes leading up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio
Orla currently holds a clinic in the Dublin Nutrition Centre, Dublin 2 as well as within Premier Physiotherapy, Ballinteer, Dublin 16. She also writes a weekly article for the Irish Independent newspaper. Orla is a qualified Dietitian and member of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (M.I.N.D.I.). Orla is also registered with CORU and is on the Panel for the Provision of High Performance Sport Services in Ireland.