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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 in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, 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 care; end-of-life care; neuropalliative care, neurorehabilitative care; and cancer palliative care. Some of the leading journals that I have published in include Social Science & Medicine, Health Services Research, Palliative Medicine, 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 instance, ALS/MND International Symposia, and the World Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care. I work in inter-disciplinary contexts and I have collaborated on a HRB Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) research programme. I am currently co-investigator on a large HRB award aimed at mapping out care needs in Parkinson's Disease in Ireland. I am internationally recognised in my field. 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), the Palliative Care Research Network of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), and Dementia Network Research Ireland (DRNI). 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

 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
 Support exchange between patients and family caregivers in palliative care

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Representations

Details Date
Steering Group Member - Eliciting Preferences for Valued Outcomes of Treatment Among Persons Living with ALS, PAVE Center, University of Maryland, USA 2023
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
Expert reviewer for the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) - Grant call 2023
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
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-
TCD School of Medicine Athena Swan Committee - Self-Assessment Team (SAT) 2020 -
Coordinator & Course Committee member MSc Cancer Survivorship, TCD 2020 -
BMC Palliative Care (Associate Editor/Editorial Board Member) 2018 -
Junior Academic Progressions Committee, TCD 2018 - 2019

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
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, 2023, Journal Article, SUBMITTED
Foley G., Conducting qualitative interviews with people who have life-limiting illness - Moving forward in the context of COVID-19, 2023, -, Notes: [Contribution to book chapter 'Interviewing'. In R. Phillips & J. Johns (Eds), (2023). Fieldwork for Social Research. A Student's Guide. London: Sage.], Miscellaneous, IN_PRESS
McCauley R, McQuillan R, Ryan K, Foley G., A qualitative study of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care, Palliative Medicine, 18th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Rotterdam, June 15-17 2023, 37, (S1), 2023, pp113 , Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  DOI
Foley G., Patient and family caregiver concordance and discordance in palliative care, 28th International Moving Points in Palliative Care Annual Conference. Innovation not Stagnation: Making the Evidence Count, Dublin, March 22, 2023, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
McCauley R, McQuillan R, Ryan K, Foley G., Barriers to and facilitators of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care, Irish Association for Palliative Care 22nd Annual Education and Research Seminar, Dublin, Feb 02 2023, 2023, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Senet J, Foley G., L'accès à la rééducation pour les enfants paralysés cérébraux dans la région du Pacifique Ouest, une revue narrative de la littérature, Kinésithérapie, la Revue, 9èmes Journées Francophones de Kinésithérapie, Rennes, 29 Mar-02 April 2023, 23, (255), 2023, pp81 - 82, Notes: [Conference paper], Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  DOI
Mulcahy Symmons S, Ryan K, Mockler D, Aoun SM, Davies AN, Selman LE, Lombard J, Guerin S, Cornally N, Connolly M, McQuillan R, O'Leary N, Rabbitte M, Foley G., A systematic review of concordance and discordance between people with advanced illness and their caregivers in palliative care, Palliative Care & Social Practice, 7th Public Health Palliative Care International Conference, Bruges, Sept 20-23 2022, 16, 2022, pp9 - 10, Notes: [Conference Paper - Oral Presentation], Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  DOI
Dane K, Simms C, Horgan A, van Dyk N, Hendricks S, Cullen P, Foley G, Wilson F., "Body on the line": Experiences of tackle injury and performance in women's rugby union - a grounded theory study, International Festival Sports, Exercise & Medicine Conference, Pretoria, Sept 29-Oct 02, 2022, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
McMenamin R, Grant C, Murphy N, Foley G., Perceptions of physical activity among patients undergoing chemotherapy in an oncology day ward: A qualitative study, 12th International Cancer Conference, Dublin, Oct 13-14, 2022, Poster, PRESENTED
McMenamin R, Foley G. Grant C., Physical activity and barriers to exercise among patients undergoing chemotherapy attending an oncology day ward: A qualitative study, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists Annual Conference, Online, Dublin, Oct 14, 2022, Poster, PRESENTED
  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Dean's Research 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; neurodegenerative disease; and neurorehabilitation. 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 to support my research on the novel concept of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative which will inform 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 in Parkinson's disease. My role is 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 research methodology and I have an international profile as a scholar with high-levels of qualitative research expertise including in the Grounded Theory method.