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 was the academic co-ordinator for the Graduate Diploma/MSc in Palliative Care until November 2011. 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 and the health needs of gay men. My research interests include palliative care education; palliative care competence development; and ethical issues in palliative care and at end of life. I have been involved in a number of EU funded projects supporting the development of a curriculum for health care professionals caring for older people. I have also been involved in research programmes and projects in the area of protection of older persons. In November 2011 I was appointed Head of Education at the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative, on secondment from UCD for an initial period of two years. In this role I lead the implementation of the activities of the education programme focusing on the development of leadership and capacity in palliative care education on the island of Ireland.