Eileen O’Shea, DNP, Shares Insights on Pediatric Palliative Care Research
Eileen O’Shea Presents Pediatric Palliative Care Research at Robert E. Wall Lecture
Eileen O’Shea, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, CHPPN, a distinguished professor of nursing at the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies at Fairfield University, showcased her preliminary research findings on the challenges faced by mothers caring for children with serious illnesses during the recent Robert E. Wall Lecture. O’Shea, who is also the director of the Kanarek Center for Palliative Care, received the esteemed Wall Award last year, recognizing her for excellence in research within the University community.
The Robert E. Wall Award, established in 1994, represents the pinnacle of faculty recognition at Fairfield University. This award aims to enhance scholarly research and artistic creativity, providing faculty with the support necessary to advance their innovative projects. In her recent lecture, O’Shea shared insights from her qualitative study that sought to illuminate the daily experiences of parents in Connecticut who are raising children with severe health conditions at home.
Through in-depth interviews and analysis of narratives from eight mothers, O’Shea’s research uncovered the multifaceted challenges these families encounter, which include medical, financial, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of care. “I am deeply honored to have received the Wall Award recognizing excellence in research and am equally grateful that I had an opportunity to better understand how Connecticut families are managing the care of seriously ill children at home,” O’Shea expressed. Her findings underscore a compelling need for comprehensive, community-based pediatric palliative care services.
Despite the existence of pediatric palliative care as a recognized healthcare specialty designed to improve the quality of life for affected families, O’Shea emphasizes that gaps persist in service delivery across Connecticut. The need for organized efforts to support these families has prompted initiatives such as the Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Connecticut—a nonprofit organization focused on advancing palliative care services through advocacy, education, and public engagement. O’Shea serves as the board president of this coalition, working alongside fellow board member Robin Kanarek, who is the president of the Kanarek Family Foundation, contributing insights from both academic and practical experiences in the field.
“There are many opportunities, both public and private, where funding can significantly impact palliative care services for families,” O’Shea noted. Her work, bolstered by the recognition from the Wall Award, seeks to drive the discourse forward and foster improvements in pediatric palliative care.
All tenured faculty at Fairfield University are eligible for the Wall Award, which provides a semester-long sabbatical for the pursuit of approved research projects. The selection process involves a thorough review by the provost, deans, and the faculty research committee. The upcoming 2025-26 Wall Award will be awarded to Jie Tao, DSc, an associate professor of business analytics, who is conducting research on the detection of suicidal ideation in social media leveraging artificial intelligence tools.
As O’Shea continues her vital work in pediatric palliative care, her efforts highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and community involvement in enhancing the quality of life for children and families navigating the complexities of serious illness.
