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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 Associate 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. To date, I have secured just over 1 million euros funding for my research from multiple competitive research funding streams including for example, HRB, Irish Research Council, Trinity St. James's Cancer Research Institute, and Trinity College Dublin. I am a recent recipient as lead primary investigator of a prestigious interdisciplinary Trinity Research Doctorate Group-based Award which will fund 4 fulltime PhD doctoral students on a project focused on decision-making for people with advanced illness in palliative care. A key component of my research is focused on relational decision-making between patients, 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. Of note, 75% of my journal publications have been published in quartile 1 journals and 15% of my journal publications have been published in quartile 2 journals (Scientific Journal Rankings [SJR]. 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 have been 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 an 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 PhD and Masters students and I have been a PhD external examiner on multiple occasions. 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 a coordinator of the MSc Cancer Survivorship at TCD, the first taught postgraduate programme worldwide to focus specifically on cancer survivorship, 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 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

 Decision-Making for People with Advanced Illness in Palliative Care
 Discordance between patients with advanced cancer and family caregivers in decision-making for specialist palliative care: The healthcare professional perspective
 Patient and family caregiver treatment decision-making in specialist palliative care
 Healthcare professionals supporting patients and caregivers in end-of-life care decision making
 Patient and family caregiver decision-making in palliative care

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Representations

Details Date
Chair Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee 2024 -
PhD external examiner - University of Sheffield, UK 2024
External Assessor (selection committee) for three academic positions - 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
PhD external examiner - The University of Melbourne 2022
National Research Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (NREC-CT-A) 2021 - 2024
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 - 2022
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 - 2024) 2017 -
Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) of All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) 2017 -
PhD external examiner - Glyndwr University, UK 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
Timonen V, Foley G, Conlon C., Quality in qualitative research: a relational process, Qualitative Research Journal, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Featherstone HJ, McQuillan R, Lombard J, Foley G., Palliative care healthcare professionals' perspective on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 for end-of-life care decision-making, 17th Kaleidoscope International Palliative Care Conference, Dublin, May 16-17, 2025, Conference Paper, ACCEPTED
Featherstone HJ, McQuillan R, Foley G., End-of-life care decision-making: Barriers and facilitators for healthcare professionals in specialist palliative care, 24th Annual Irish Association for Palliative Care Education and Research Seminar, Dublin, Feb 11, 2025, Meeting Abstract, ACCEPTED
Featherstone HJ, McQuillan R, Foley G., Healthcare professionals' perspective on supporting patients and family caregivers in end-of-life care decision-making: A qualitative study in specialist palliative care, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Fagan N, Davies A, Foley G., How do patients and caregivers in advanced illness support one another in decision-making for patient care? A qualitative interview study of patient and caregiver dyads in specialist palliative care, Palliative Medicine Reports, 5, (1), 2024, p417 - 424, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Featherstone HJ, McQuillan R, Lombard J, Foley G., Palliative care healthcare professionals' perspective on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity Act) 2015 in Ireland, BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Foley G, McCauley R, McQuillan R, Ryan K., How do patients with advanced cancer and family caregivers accommodate one another in decision-making? Findings from a qualitative study in specialist palliative care, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Ward J, Foley G, Horgan F., Occupational therapists' assessment and reporting of functional cognition in stroke care, Disability and Rehabilitation, 46, (23), 2024, p5608 - 5617, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Doing Grounded Theory: Key steps for design, data collection and analysis in, editor(s)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
  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Trinity Research Doctorate Award supporting Group-based Research Projects (Lead PI) 2024
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 in the field of life-limiting illness focused on stakeholder need, care preferences, and decision-making in palliative care, including but not limited to neuro-palliative care, palliative care in cancer, rehabilitative palliative care, specialist palliative care, and end-of-life care. I also have a keen interest in neuro-rehabilitation and in health service delivery for people with acquired neurological or neurodegenerative disease. My research is of central importance because it investigates key factors that underpin and explain care preferences and decision-making in healthcare for people with life-limiting illness and palliative care needs. My research leads by building new frameworks for decision-making in palliative care which can be used by healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers in palliative care. To date, I have secured just over 1 million euros of research funding (approximately €790,000 as primary/lead investigator and the remainder as co-investigator) for my research. As primary investigator and funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) (€204,583), I identified key psychosocial processes that underpin how people with motor neurone disease engage with healthcare services. I developed and reported novel theory which explains how people adapt to terminal illness by using healthcare services. I also collaborated in a successful HRB Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement research programme which has mapped out palliative care needs in motor neurone disease. My flagship, internationally acclaimed, and highly cited work in motor neurone disease served as an excellent platform from which to expand my research into the wider field of palliative care. I am now a research leader in my field, nationally and internationally, and a leading member of a global network of researchers in palliative care. I serve as Vice Chair of the Strategic Scientific Committee of the Palliative Care Research Network of the All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) tasked with leading the strategic development of the network. I have advanced my research programme focused on decision-making processes in palliative care. As primary investigator, I have been awarded prestigious funding from Trinity College Dublin (e.g., Provost's Project Award) and the Irish Research Council for my novel work on mutual support between patients and family caregivers for decision-making in palliative care. This work is highly innovative because it frames supportive relationships between patients and family caregivers in palliative care as bidirectional (as opposed to unidirectional i.e., from caregiver to patient), to explain patient and family caregiver interdependence in decision-making in palliative care. The work is impactful because it directly informs the development of psychosocial interventions for patients and caregivers in palliative care to guide healthcare professionals in shared decision-making in palliative care. I have obtained as lead primary investigator a prestigious Trinity Research Doctorate Group-based Award (€400,000) which will fund 4 more fulltime PhD doctoral students on a project focused on decision-making for people with advanced illness in palliative care. I have been a successful co-investigator on a large interdisciplinary HRB funded award (ca. €230,000) in Parkinson's Disease which maps Parkinson's disease needs and services in Ireland to inform service planning, the outcomes of which will assist delivery of quality services to people with Parkinson's disease. My success in research and scholarship is also demonstrated by my publications in qualitative methodology. I am recognised internationally as a researcher with expertise in the grounded theory method. I have drawn on my original research to develop and report novel dimensions in the application of the method.