Margaret Ruth Redpath

Margaret Ruth Redpath AO (born 1 April 1940) is a retired Australian surgeon and radiation oncologist. She worked as a palliative care pioneer in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has also been a senior priest in the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Redpath was awarded the Order of Australia medal and awarded a Doctor of Medical Science (honoris causa) by the University of Melbourne.

Career

Medical career In 1965, Redpath became a resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In 1975 she became a consultant radiation oncologist at St Bartholomew's Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children in London, where she learned from an innovator of the modern hospice movement, Cicely Saunders, and the UK system of palliative care.

At the same time, Redpath was taking on wider leadership roles within palliative care and cancer care in Australia. Her roles included president of the Victorian Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (now Palliative Care Victoria) which she helped found, (1988-1992); president of the Australian Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (1992-1994); and president of the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria (1998-2005). From 2010-2018, she served at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, notably as acting precentor (2012–13) and as canon pastor (2014–18).

Honours and awards

In 1994, Redpath, together with her husband, Bruce Redpath, was recognised with a Melbourne Achiever Award.

On Australia Day 2003, Redpath was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for "For service to the community in the initiation and establishment of palliative care services in Australia, as an educator in the field of professional practice, and as an advocate for improved services".

Redpath was awarded a Doctor of Medical Science (honoris causa) by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health at the University of Melbourne.