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Dr. Geraldine Foley

Assistant Professor (Occupational Therapy)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H

 foleyg3@tcd.ie

 3531896 3217


Biography

I hold a PhD, MSc, and a BSc.OT from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. I am an Assistant Professor (Occupational Therapy) in the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). I am a past recipient of a prestigious PI-based Health Research Board (HRB) Research Fellowship for healthcare professionals and I have been a HRB Research Fellow at the School of Social Work & Social Policy, TCD (2011-2014). I worked as a clinical specialist occupational therapist (2006-2011) and senior occupational therapist (2001-2006) in neurology. My research interest is in life-limiting illness focused primarily on stakeholder need, care preferences and decision-making in: palliative and supportive care; end-of-life care; neuropalliative care; cancer palliative care; neurorehabilitative care; and neurodegenerative disease. Much of my work centres on relational decision-making between patients, informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals in palliative care. Some of the leading journals that I have published in include Social Science & Medicine, Health Services Research, Palliative Medicine, Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, Qualitative Health Research, and ALS & Frontotemporal Degeneration. 70% of my journal publications have been published in Q1 journals and a further 20% in Q2 journals. I have presented my work in multiple fora including for example, ALS/MND International Symposia, and World Congresses of the European Association for Palliative Care. I work in inter-disciplinary contexts and I have collaborated on a HRB Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) research programme. I am a co-investigator on a large HRB award which has mapped out care needs and delivery of care to people with Parkinson's Disease in Ireland. I am internationally recognised in my field and I am Editorial Board member of BMC Palliative Care. I have been an expert reviewer for Cancer Research UK, the EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), the Ministry of Health Singapore, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, and for the Italian Foundation for ALS Research. I supervise both Masters and PhD students. I teach and coordinate multiple modules in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine including all research modules in the discipline's programme. I am also coordinator of the MSc Cancer Survivorship at TCD and I teach the qualitative research methods module on this programme. By invitation, I have designed and delivered teaching on qualitative research design for PhD and postdoctoral researchers. I also teach on the MSc in Neurology and Gerontology at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), and on the MSc in Clinical Speech and Language Studies at TCD. I am a member of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), and I am Vice Chair of the Palliative Care Research Network's Strategic Scientific Committee of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC). I welcome PhD applications and inquiries in my research domains, on topics situated in or relating to life-limiting illness, palliative care, neurodegenerative disease, cancer care, neuro-palliative care, neurorehabilitation, and end-of-life care.

Research Tags

  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Motor Neurone Disease   Biographical disruption   Chronic Illness   End-of-life care   Grounded Theory   Life course perspective   Neurodegenerative Diseases/Disorders   Neurological disorders   Neuromuscular Disorders   Neuropalliative care   Neurorehabilitation   Occupational Therapy - Neurological Disorders   PALLIATIVE CARE   Patient experience   Patient preference   Qualitative research methods   Quality of life (QoL)   Terminal illness

Research Projects

 Healthcare professionals supporting patients and caregivers in end-of-life care decision making
 Patient and family caregiver treatment decision-making in specialist palliative care
 Patient and family caregiver decision-making in palliative care
 Mutual support between patients and family caregivers for decision making in palliative care
 Mapping Parkinson's Disease needs and services in Ireland to inform service planning

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Representations

Details Date
External Assessor (selection committee) for academic position - University College Cork 2024
Vice Chair - AIIHPC Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) Strategic Scientific Committee 2024 -
Expert reviewer for the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) - Grant call 2023
External examiner - The University of Melbourne 2022
National Research Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (NREC-CT-A) 2021 -
Mentor - Teaching, Research and Academic Mentoring Scheme (TRAMS). Trinity College Dublin (School of Medicine) in partnership with Scottish-based Universities 2021 - 2023
TCD School of Medicine Athena Swan Committee - Self-Assessment Team (SAT) 2020 -
Coordinator & Course Committee member MSc Cancer Survivorship, TCD 2020 -
BMC Palliative Care (Editorial Board Member) 2018 -
Junior Academic Progressions Committee, TCD 2018 - 2019
Expert reviewer for EU Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). Grant call for Multinational research projects on Health and Social Care for Neurodegenerative Diseases 2018
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, TCD (Deputy Chair 2019 -) 2017 -
Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) of All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) 2017 -
Expert reviewer for National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Ministry of Health, Singapore - Grant calls 2016 & 2019
Postgraduate Curriculum Committee - Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, TCD 2016 -
Primary Assessor & Coordinator - Mature student applicants (Discipline of Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Programme) 2016 - 2020
Expert reviewer for Cancer Research UK (Marie Curie Cancer Care) - Grant call 2015
Please see https://publons.com/researcher/1405061/geraldine-foley/peer-review/. I have been a reviewer for the following journals: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration, Qualitative Health Research, Palliative Medicine, Health Services Research, Health & Social Care in the Community, Journal of Palliative Care, European Journal of Cancer Care, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, BMC Palliative Care, Disability & Rehabilitation, American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, BMC Neurology, BMC Health Services Research, BMJ Open, Plos One, BMC Women's Health, and Patient Preference & Adherance. - current
International Scientific Committee of the Italian Foundation for ALS Research (AriSLA) Ice Bucket Call Challenge for Assistive Technology Projects (2015) and member of the expert consensus group for the research call. 2015
Committee member of the Rehabilitation & Therapy Research Society (RTRS) 2007-2013
Treasurer, Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society (RTRS) 2009-2013
Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialist Competencies Working Group. Therapy Project Office, Health Service Executive 2008
National Neuroscience Steering Group (Health Service Executive, Ireland) - Strategic Review of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Services in Ireland (2006-2007) 2006-2007
Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) Board member 2006
Association of Occupational Therapy of Ireland (AOTI) Neurology Advisory Group 2002-2008
Validation Committee of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) 2003-2004
Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) Council 1998-2000

Languages

Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) of the all-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) 2017 - Present
European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) 2017 - Present
CORU - Regulating Health and Social Care Professions 2015 - Present
Dementia Network Research Ireland (DNRI) 2015 - Present
Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) 1997 - Present
Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society, Ireland (RTRS) 2006 - 2014
Doing Grounded Theory: Key steps for design, data collection and analysis in, A. Ruth, A. Wutich and H. Russell Bernard , The handbook of teaching qualitative and mixed research methods: A step-by-step guide for instructors, London, Routledge, 2024, pp244 - 248, [Foley G], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
O'Shea E, Rukundo A, Foley G, Wilkinson T, Timmons S., Experiences of health service access: A qualitative interview study of people living with parkinson's disease in Ireland, Health Expectations, 27, (1), 2024, e13901, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Ward J, Foley G, Horgan F., Occupational therapists' assessment and reporting of functional cognition in stroke care, Disability and Rehabilitation, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Timonen V, Foley G, Conlon C., Quality in qualitative research: A relational approach, 7th European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, Helsinki, Jan 10-12, 2024, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
McCauley R, Ryan K, McQuillan R, Foley G., Obligation between patients and caregivers in palliative care: Impact on the decision-making process for care, Palliative Medicine, 13th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care , Barcelona, May 16-18 2024, 2024, Notes: [Conference paper], Published Abstract, ACCEPTED
McCauley R, Ryan K, McQuillan R, Foley G., A qualitative investigation of patient and caregiver reciprocal support in specialist palliative care, BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, Palliative Care Congress, Belfast, March 21-22, 14, (Suppl 2), 2024, pp7 - 9, Notes: [Conference paper], Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  DOI
Dane K, Foley G, Wilson F., `Body on the line": experiences of tackle injury in women"s rugby union, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 7th IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, Feb 29 - Mar 02 2024, 58, (Suppl 2), 2024, ppA23 - A24, Notes: [Conference paper], Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  DOI
McCauley R, Ryan K, McQuillan R, Foley G., Patient and caregiver reciprocal support: Impact on decision making in specialist palliative care, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 66, (5), 2023, p570 - 577, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
McCauley R, Ryan K, McQuillan R, Selman LE, Foley G., Supportive relationships between patients and family caregivers in specialist palliative care: A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
McCauley R, Ryan K, McQuillan, Foley G., Mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care: A qualitative study, Palliative Medicine, 37, (10), 2023, p1520 - 1528, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Dean's Research Initiative Award 2022
Provost's Project Award 2018 (started 2019)
HRB Research Fellowship for Healthcare Professionals 2011
Irish Gerontological Society (IGS) President's medal - IGS Conference 2013
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society UK Measuring Success Winner Award (Category - Outstanding Initiative Outside of the UK) 2001

Research Interests

Description Of Research Interests

My research is situated in domains of life-limiting illness, and is focused primarily on stakeholder need, decision-making, and preferences for care in: palliative care; end-of-life care; neurorehabilitative care; neuropalliative care; and cancer palliative care. My research is interdisciplinary focused and highly substantial in the context of my already transformative work that has mapped out and explained key processes that underpin engagement with healthcare services for people with motor neurone disease. My research has expanded into the wider field of life-limiting illness focused on factors (micro to macro) that directly impact on the decision-making process between patients and family caregivers in palliative care. I have been awarded as primary investigator prestigious funding from Trinity College and the Irish Research Council to support my research on the novel concept of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care, and which can directly inform the development of psychosocial interventions for patients and family caregivers in palliative care. I collaborate productively in my field and beyond my discipline. I am a co-investigator on a Health Research Board (HRB) award focused on mapping out care needs and delivery of care for people with Parkinson's disease in Ireland. My role has been to co-investigate experiences of services for people with Parkinson's disease and their priorities for service provision. This work will be used to transform Parkinson's disease service planning in Ireland and will have relevance to other systemic healthcare contexts. I have already collaborated successfully on a large HRB Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) research programme focused on mapping out palliative needs, services and outcomes in ALS. I have been a visiting researcher at the Supportive and Palliative Care Research Group, University of Manchester, UK. I have also worked closely with colleagues in the Social Sciences to produce original contributions to qualitative methodology, and I have an international profile as a scholar with high-levels of expertise in the Grounded Theory method.