Research & Projects

Rekha is an Visiting Associate at UCL and an OU Visiting Fellow. Her research is devoted to public health models of building social infrastructure in palliative care which inform the development of integrated working amongst palliative care providers. Rekha undertook the UK’s first ever hospice led engagement with minority ethnic communities in areas of high deprivation, to understand their experience of palliative care.

Her systematic review on the bereavement experience and support needs of minority ethnic parents whose child has died, is the first qualitative evidence synthesis in this under-researched area. Rekha was awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse in recognition of her contribution to comunity nursing leadership and research.

 

Rekha was awarded the Churchill Fellowship in palliative care and is currently working on a project building social infrastructure in care planning and palliative care, so community based and culturally aligned peer support networks can be developed for individuals and families facing advanced serious illness and its aftermath.

Publications

Rekha’s published work includes academic research, project reports, and community resources that highlight her contributions to public health, palliative care, and community-led initiatives.

Churchill Report

This report shares Rekha’s learnings from her Churchill Fellowship, focusing on community-led palliative care and grief literacy programmes.


Read the Churchill Fellowship Report

This award celebrates exceptional contributions to palliative care research and practice improvement, particularly in addressing health inequalities in end-of-life care.


View the MSc Dissertation Poster

A summary of the Celebrating Life project, which engaged 185 participants to strengthen community palliative care networks.

View the Celebrating Life Executive Summary

A summary of the Celebrating Life project, which engaged 185 participants to strengthen community palliative care networks.


View the Celebrating Life Executive Summary

Marie Curie Celebrating Life Poster

Rekha was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2024 to advance research in culturally aligned community palliative care models. The fellowship supports innovative projects addressing urgent social needs.


View the Marie Curie Celebrating Life Poster

This article, originally published in Community Practitioner (March 2018, Vol. 91, Issue 2, pp. 20–22), explores future directions for health visiting and community practice.

This article explores the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and end-of-life care, highlighting Rekha’s reflections on healing, meaning-making, and presence in palliative practice.

Read the NAMAH Journal Article

Presentation from the Symposium: Unboxing Cultural Competency at the Palliative Care Congress Belfast

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Interested in finding out more?

For further information about my research or advocacy work, please get in touch.