Magnolia Cardona

Dr. Magnolia Cardona is a Senior Researcher at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, with a focus on gerontology, epidemiology, and end-of-life care. She holds academic qualifications in Medicine (Latin America), Public Health (MPH), and Applied Epidemiology (PhD). Her work spans international aid agencies, state health departments, and universities, with eight years of Master's-level teaching experience.

Her research addresses critical issues such as reducing low-value treatments near end-of-life, improving risk stratification for older patients, and advancing end-of-life communication. Key projects include the CriSTAL tool for identifying terminal patients and the Vigilance with Vital Signs initiative to enhance hospital safety. She has led studies on deprescribing, frailty assessment in emergency departments, and the impact of the pandemic on medical practices.

Dr. Cardona has secured grants totaling over $1M AUD, including NHMRC Partnership Grants and HCF Foundation funding. Her awards include the Quality Award for Patient Safety and the Paper of the Year Award from Palliative Medicine. She actively supervises research projects on end-of-life care improvement, frailty measurement, and decision-aid development.

Her work has been featured in high-impact journals like BMJ, Lancet, and JAMA, with over 117 peer-reviewed articles. Media coverage includes ABC News, The Guardian, and international outlets. She collaborates with clinicians, policymakers, and patients to translate research into practice, emphasizing ethical and patient-centered care.