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Dr Boland is an occupational therapist and researcher with over 15 years experience working with people with complex neurological conditions and their families in Ireland, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. She completed her Masters in Health Science (Rehabilitation) from the University of Otago in 2011, focusing on how couples cope when one of them has Multiple Sclerosis. In addition to other research projects related to distance taught post-registration programmes, goal setting and the experience of living with traumatic brain injury and evaluating community programmes for people living with cancer and COPD, she completed her PhD with the University of Otago in 2016, focused on how equipment is prescribed and used after someone has a stroke, from the perspective of the person using equipment as well as the service which provides equipment. Dr Boland taught on a post graduate programmes at the Rehabilitation, Teaching and Research Unit before returning to work in Ireland in May 2016 as Lecturer on the MSc OT programme and is the current Course Director (2022 – 2025).
Dr Boland’s current research interests include age-friendly design, where she is part of NET4Age European COST Action (2020 – 2024), telehealth assessment for wheelchair and seating (ongoing publication and a book chapter on this topic due out in 2023), interprofessional education and collaboration, as well as cognitive rehabilitation after stroke.