DrMichael Connolly

I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1992. I have worked mainly in acute medicine, older person care and palliative care. I graduated from the Milltown Institute in 1998 with a BA (Hons) degree in Philosophy and from UCD in 2002 with an MSc (Nursing) (Education). I completed my doctoral research with the UCD Equality Studies Centre. I began working in UCD in July 2001 and I am the current Programme Director for the Graduate Diploma/MSc in Palliative Care .
My teaching interests include palliative care; ethical and legal issues in nursing, midwifery and health care; ethical issues at end-of-life; spirituality in health and palliative care; health inequalities; LGBTQ+ health and end-of-life care..
My research interests include: Palliative Care in Advanced Malignant and Non-malignant Disease, Use of technology in symptom amnagement in pallaitive care, Palliative Care Education, Palliative Care Competence Development, Spirituality and spiritual care, Ethical Issues in Palliative Care and at End of Life, Health inequalities, LGBTQ+ health and end-of-life care.
In November 2011 I was appointed Head of Education at the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative (AIIHPC), on secondment from UCD for a period of fours years (November 2011-December 2015: two whole-time and two part-time). In this role I lead the implementation of the activities of the AIIHPC education programme focusing on the development of leadership and capacity in palliative care education on the island of Ireland.
From February 2017 to January 2019 I was Director of Undergraduate Clinical Studies. In this role I had operational oversight of the clinical components of the School's undergraduate registration education programmes and related workplace experiences, including student experience, welfare and progression. This leadership role combined responsibility for aspects of academic governance, operational management, pedagogy and assessment, evaluation, and advising on strategic dimensions.
From 2018 - 2023 I was Head of Subject of Adult General Nursing at UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems.

In December 2018 I was appointed Joint Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing - UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems and Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services.
In July 2019 I commenced as an Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellow, working on a Cochrane review, led by Associate Professor Amanda Henderson entitled: 'Interventions for interpersonal communication about end of life care between health practitioners and affected people.'

From January 2023 - December2025 I was Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning. As part of this role I was a member of the School Management Team and School Executive, and represented the school at both College and University levels.