Tracey McConnell

Dr. Tracey McConnell is a Lecturer in Palliative and End-of-Life Care at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), School of Nursing and Midwifery, and an Honorary Marie Curie Research Fellow. She joined QUB in April 2024 after securing a prestigious Marie Curie Senior Research Fellowship (2019-2024), during which she secured £743,630 in grants and established international collaborations. Her research focuses on improving access to palliative care, music therapy in end-of-life contexts, and addressing loneliness among those with life-limiting illnesses.

• Education: BSc Psychology (QUB, 2007), MSc Applied Clinical Psychology (Newman University, 2009), PhD in Palliative Care (QUB, 2014).
• Research Interests: Mixed methodologies, realist evaluations, palliative care integration, music therapy, and loneliness mitigation.

Her work includes leadership in projects like the PalliatHeartSynthesis realist synthesis on heart failure and palliative care integration, and the MusiCARER initiative on music therapy for caregivers. She has authored 76 publications and received the 2022 Best Poster Prize at the Marie Curie Conference.

Teaching roles include coordinating Evidence-Based Practice modules and mentoring PhD students. She actively contributes to policy initiatives like the All Ireland Hospice and Palliative Care Network and the Action Group on Loneliness Policy (ACLP).

Her outreach includes media engagement on music therapy’s role in end-of-life care, reaching millions through BBC and international outlets.