Tania Pastrana, MD PD
Research and academic advisor
Tania Pastrana joined the IAHPC in 2010 and has since contributed to multiple research projects, including the Essential Practices and Opioid Price Watch. Her role has expanded over the years to her current position as Research and Academic Advisor.
Her goal is to strengthen IAHPC’s evidence-based and educational work to support better decision-making in palliative care and to advance the vision of a world free of health-related suffering.
As Research Adviser, she supports the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of studies conducted by IAHPC and partner institutions, including manuscript development for peer-reviewed publication. As Academic Adviser, she contributes to the design, development, and teaching of IAHPC courses and workshops, supporting the strengthening of palliative care knowledge and skills among health professionals. She works closely with IAHPC leadership to align research and educational priorities and, when relevant, contributes to collaborative initiatives with academic institutions and civil society organizations. Her interests include global palliative care, health systems, education, and equitable access to palliative care and pain relief.
Tania earned her medical degree from Universidad de Caldas, Colombia. At the University of Munich, she studied Sociology, Social Anthropology and Social Psychology and obtained a doctorate in Psychosomatic Medicine and Medical Anthropology at the University of Munich and Max Planck Institute. She has a master in Community Health (University of Heidelberg, Germany) and another in Medical Education (University of Heidelberg, Germany). She concluded her postdoctoral training (Habilitation) in Global Palliative Care at the University of Aachen.
Tania lives in Aachen, Germany, where she has worked at RWTH Aachen University since 2007 and currently serves as Assistant Professor for Global Palliative Care. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing and travelling. Outside of work, she loves dancing and travelling around the world.