Dr O'Connor received an Impact Award from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Foundation for her research into the history of nursing informatics. She spent 12 months exploring the life and work of Derek Hoy, a Scottish nurse who pioneered technology in the National Health Service (NHS).
Siobhán was presented with the Impact Award at a special awards ceremony at Belfast Waterfront on Saturday 12th May 2018 during the annual RCN Congress. The national awards celebrate the impact and achievements of nurses across the United Kingdom. A surprise was in store for when Sir Chris Hoy, a decorated Olympic cyclist and nephew of Derek Hoy, thanked Siobhán personally for her innovative historical research highlighting the contribution that his uncle made to healthcare.