A student inspired to pursue a dementia research scholarship after his father's diagnosis has graduated today at Paisley Abbey. 

Connor McDonald is the first recipient of the Dr Wendy Baxter Legacy Scholarship and has graduated from University of the West of Scotland after completing his pioneering PhD research to improve the experiences of families visiting loved ones with dementia in care homes.

Connor was driven to undertake the scholarship after caring for his father, Danny, who lives with early onset vascular dementia. His PhD explored how family members can be better supported to spend meaningful time with relatives living with advanced dementia.

Connor said his own family's experience inspired him to pursue the research: "This is an area very close to my heart as I am currently a carer for my dad, who was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia at the age of 52. He inspired me to apply for the Wendy Baxter Scholarship, and I was chosen to receive the funding for my research.  

“The focus of the scholarship was to collaboratively develop an approach to optimise family care home visiting experiences with their relatives living with advanced dementia, by creating opportunities for family involvement in creative, individualised activities.

"It is well known that caring for a relative with dementia is both a rewarding and emotionally challenging experience. As dementia progresses, family carers often experience anxiety, depression and increased feelings of guilt and loss, which can be exacerbated when their loved one moves into a care home."

This is an area very close to my heart as I am currently a carer for my dad, who was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia at the age of 52. He inspired me to apply for the Wendy Baxter Scholarship, and I was chosen to receive the funding for my research.

Connor McDonald, Dr Wendy Baxter PhD scholar 

The Wendy Baxter Legacy Scholarship was established within the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at UWS, through a generous donation from the family of the late Dr Wendy Baxter MBE, whose career was dedicated to improving palliative and dementia care. 

After then being diagnosed with dementia herself in 2017, Dr Baxter spent her final months living in a care home during the pandemic. Her family created the scholarship to ensure her commitment to compassionate, evidence-based palliative and dementia care would continue through future generations of researchers.

Discussing Connor’s achievement, Dr Ronald Baxter, husband of the late Dr Wendy Baxter, said: "Wendy believed that the best research is rooted in compassion and in understanding the realities that families face every day. Seeing Connor complete his PhD as the first Wendy Baxter Legacy Scholar is a wonderful tribute to her legacy. 

“What makes his achievement especially meaningful is that his research was inspired by his own father's experience of dementia. That personal connection has brought genuine empathy and purpose to his work, and I know Wendy would have been immensely proud to see research with the potential to make such a positive difference to other families living with dementia."

Wendy believed that the best research is rooted in compassion and in understanding the realities that families face every day. Seeing Connor complete his PhD as the first Wendy Baxter Legacy Scholar is a wonderful tribute to her legacy.

Dr Ronald Baxter, husband of the late Dr Wendy Baxter

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: "Connor's graduation is a proud moment for us as a university community and everyone involved with the Wendy Baxter Legacy Scholarship – it is a fitting tribute to Wendy's enduring legacy.

"We are incredibly grateful to Wendy's family for making this opportunity possible. Through Connor's research, her vision for the future of dementia care is already making a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of people living with the condition and the families who support them.

"Connor has brought both academic excellence and personal insight to this work, producing research that has the potential to shape care home practice and improve family experiences for years to come."

We are incredibly grateful to Wendy's family for making this opportunity possible. Through Connor's research, her vision for the future of dementia care is already making a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of people living with the condition and the families who support them.

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS

The Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) is a partnership between UWS and Alzheimer Scotland, bringing together research, education and practice to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.

This Scholarship aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.