Alison Rodriguez

Dr Alison Rodriguez is an Associate Professor in Child and Family Health at the University of Leeds, School of Healthcare. She holds a PhD in Health Psychology (Palliative Paediatric Care) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her expertise includes Health Psychology, Qualitative Methods, and Palliative Care.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) Psychology
• MSc Health Psychology
• PhD in Health Psychology (Palliative Paediatric Care)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education

Research Focus:

• Meaning-making and generativity in life-limiting conditions
• Spirituality and quality of life in chronic illnesses
• Self-care strategies for long-term conditions

Her work emphasizes phenomenological approaches and co-design interventions with young people facing life-limiting illnesses, such as the DIGNISPACE digital legacy project. She also explores palliative care communication, bereavement support, and healthcare system impacts on marginalized groups.

Academic Roles:

• Grant reviewer for NIHR (RfPB, HTA, Fellowships)
• Associate Editor for the Journal of Child Health Care
• PhD supervisor (13 completions) and examiner

Teaching: Leads Psychology integration in nursing curricula, focusing on patient well-being. Supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research in healthcare and child nursing.

Labs/Teams: Member of the Maternal, Child and Family Health research group. Collaborates on studies involving palliative care, digital interventions, and participatory research methods.