Professor Megan Best

Professor and Convenor, Bioethics Research Focus Area; Research Integrity Advisor
PhD MAAE BMed (Hons) GradDipQHR ClinDipPM ATh

Email: megan.best@nd.edu.au
Phone: 02 8204-4685

ORCID

  • Biography

    Professor Megan Best is a Research Associate with the Institute for Ethics and Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia. She has a clinical background in Palliative Medicine. She has taught medical ethics at tertiary level for many years and is internationally known for her work in ethics from a Christian perspective.

    Megan's research interests focus on the relief of suffering and promotion of human flourishing. She has a long-term commitment to evidence-based health policy development. She has published extensively in palliative care, medical ethics, spirituality in healthcare, whole person care and psycho-oncology. Her research in spiritual care of patients has been taken up across Australia and internationally, influencing the development of many medical curricula and the work of the European Association of Palliative Care.

    Megan is the Convenor of the Bioethics research focus area at the Institute for Ethics and Society and is also the Research Integrity Advisor for the Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology.

  • Teaching areas

    Megan is a university guest lecturer in the following areas:

    • Bioethics
    • Spirituality in healthcare
    • Palliative Care

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Megan is an experienced supervisor in the areas of bioethics, spirituality in healthcare, and palliative care.

  • Books

    • Robinson C, Hyde B, Best M. (2024). A Framework for young children's spiritual capabilities. Turtle Publishing.
    • Best M. (2024). Spiritual care in palliative care – what it is and why it matters. (Editor) Springer.
    • Best M. (2013). A life already started. Sydney: fervr. Winner Reviewer’s Choice CALEB Awards 2014.
    • Best M. (2012). Fearfully and wonderfully made. Sydney: IVP. Shortlisted for Australian Christian Book of the Year 2013.

  • Book chapters

    • Best M. (2024). The doctor’s role in Spiritual Care. In Best M. (ed.) Spiritual care in palliative care. Springer.
    • Best, M. (2024). Dignity in Palliative Patients. In: MacLeod, R.D., Van den Block, L. (eds) Textbook of Palliative Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_29-2
    • Best M. (2021). Psychosocial Issues in Genomic Testing, including Genomic Testing for Targeted Therapies. In: Breitbart W. (eds.) Psycho-Oncology, 110. ISBN: 0190097655. ISBN: 9780190097653. DOI: 10.1093/med/9780190097653.003.0016.
    • Best M. (2019). Dignity in Palliative Care. In: MacLeod R. & Van den Block L. (eds) Textbook of Palliative Care. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_29-1.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    See ORCID profile for a complete list of publications.

  • In the media

    Megan is a regular contributor to general publications including CASE quarterly and The Gospel Coalition and Ethicentre websites on the topics of bioethics, spiritual care and palliative care.

  • Professional affiliations

    Committee Memberships

    • Ethics Committee, NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education (2025-current)
    • Course Development Panel, Australian University of Theology (2025)
    • Faculty Research Sub-committee, Faculty of Education, Philosophy & Theology (2022-current)
    • Board Member, Defence Force Board (2020-2025)
    • Director, Ethicentre (2020-current)
    • Joint Research Council (2020-2023)
    • Board Member, Spiritual Care Australia (2018-2021)
    • Member of the Executive, Spiritual Care Task Force, European Association of Palliative Care (2015-current)

    Current Society Memberships

    • Global Network of Spirituality and Health
    • Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative
    • Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group
    • Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine
    • The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, Trinity International University, Chicago
    • Plunkett Centre for Ethics, St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney
    • Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship Australia

  • Awards

    • 2024 - Emerging Leaders’ Fellowship Scholarship. Women’s Health Research Translation Network, Australian Health Research Alliance
    • Megan has received research grant funding from institutions including the John Templeton Foundation, The Australian Research Council (ARC), St Vincents Health Australia, The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the universities of Notre Dame Australia, and Sydney. She was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the NSW Cancer Institute.