Rachel Coghlan

Dr Rachel Coghlan is a Senior Technical Advisor at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health (University of Melbourne), with dual Board Director roles at the Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Network and Palliative Care Australia. She holds a Master of Public Health and a PhD from Deakin University’s Centre for Humanitarian Leadership.

Her research focuses on palliative care in humanitarian settings, particularly in armed conflicts, and integrates narrative inquiry, medical anthropology, and experience-based co-design. She advocates for voices of those affected by illness, disability, or frailty, blending clinical practice (specializing in palliative care, neurology, and oncology) with policy advocacy.

In 2023, she received the Fulbright Professional Scholarship to strengthen palliative care dialogue in humanitarian agencies. Her writing appears in media outlets like The Guardian and ABC Religion and Ethics, emphasizing compassion in healthcare and end-of-life narratives.