Dr Paul D’Alton is Head of the Department of Psychology at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin and Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University College Dublin. Paul completed his clinical psychology training at Trinity College, Dublin and has worked as a clinical psychologist, educator, and researcher since then.
Paul served as President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI, the professional body for psychology in Ireland with three thousand members) for the 2014-2015 term, and as a PSI Council member from 2011 until 2016. In 2016, he was appointed to the European Federation of Psychology Associations (EFPA) Board of Human Rights.
He served as a board member of the Irish Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and continues to chair the IAPC Ethics Group and Professional Psychology Group. He is former chair of the PSI Equality and Diversity Working Group (EquIP) and former chair of the Death, Dying and Bereavement Special Interest Group. He is currently the Co-director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at the School of Psychology UCD.
He co-chaired of the 18th International Psycho-oncology Conference in Dublin in October 2016, hosting over 600 delegates from 27 countries. He played a key role in shaping the 2017-2027 National Cancer Strategy ensuring that the psychological needs of cancer patients are explicitly addressed in the strategy.
He is current Chair of the Irish Psycho-Social Oncology Network (IPSON), which is the professional group representing those working in Psycho-social oncology nationally.
Paul has completed a number of funded research projects and is frequently invited to speak at national and international scientific gatherings. He has published several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles.
Paul has also contributed significantly to wider policy and political debate concerning healthcare. Of particular note, he provided expert advice on three occasions when he addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health & Children.
In 2014, Paul was awarded an International Fellowship from the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care and in 2016 was awarded a Fellowship of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) in recognition of his contribution to the discipline of psychology.
He is a regular contributor to newspaper, radio and television and has used these opportunities to advocate for improved mental health services, cancer care and early intervention for children.