The lead-up to a liver transplant can be both a profoundly scary and sacred time as a person comes to terms with their own mortality and the possibility of a second (or third) chance at life.
In her article ýThe Spirituality of Imperfectioný (Australian Journal of Pastoral Care and Health Vol 1, No 2 June 2008) Mary Tehan talks about her privileged encounter with Fred and his family at the Liver Transplant Unit (LTU) during her chaplaincy internship.
She relays Fredýs life journey, explores the issues within a theological framework, and discusses the role of chaplains, research and more.
Over the years Mary has held different positions in management, nursing, pastoral care, volunteer, community development, and grief, loss and bereavement roles in multiple settings across the health care sector and beyond, predominantly in hospice/palliative care and social justice areas.
Mary is currently working in a project consultancy team funded by Business Victoria (Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development) to develop online resources for small business owners who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and small business owners who are carers. She has also established her own consultancy services called ýUltimacyý.
Mary is nearing completion of her Masters in Public Health through the Victorian Consortium of Public Health via Latrobe University and publishes her work in peer-reviewed journals. She has concentrated her study on Compassionate Leadership in the Workplace.
Professional memberships include the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY); Palliative Care Victoria (PCV); Association for Supervised Pastoral Education in Australia and New Zealand (ASPEA); National Association of Grief and Loss, Victoria (NALAG); and the American Death Education and Counselling (ADEC). She is Vice-Chair of the Board of Creative Ministries Network (CMN).
Key Publications
ýThe Compassionate Workplace: Leading with the Heartý was published in the Illness, Crisis and Loss [ICL] journal, USA, July 2007. Author: Mary Tehan.
ýThe Spirituality of Imperfectioný was published in the e-journal the Australian Journal of Pastoral Care and Health, June, 2008. Author: Mary Tehan.
ýLeading the Way: Compassion in the Workplaceý (in progress, August, 2008). Authors: Mary Tehan, Dr Priscilla Robinson et al.
ýWomen-friendly Workplacesý (Tehan. M., Ch.10. Part 2. Promoting Workplace Well-being monograph. Palgrave MacMillan. London. In progress. August. 2008) Editors: Prof. Neil Thompson and Assoc. Prof. John Bates. Liverpool Hope University. UK. 
