Rachel Calhoun Coughlin, MD

My goal is to provide compassionate, equitable, patient-centered and family-centered care. I hope to make each day a little bit easier for my patients and their families, whether that’s through improved communication, symptom management or care coordination.

I have always been drawn to caring for sick children. My cousin died after a 17-year battle with cancer when she was 21 years old. She received amazing care as she fought and approached the end of life in hospice with dignity. She was my motivation all through medical training and still inspires me daily.

I am board certified in both pediatrics and hospice and palliative medicine. I focus on children with chronic, complex or serious illnesses.

I have received numerous awards, including The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics Michele St. Romain House Staff Award and The UAB Department of Pediatrics Joe LaRussa Intern of the Year. I was also honored with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award and the Department of Pediatrics Harry B. O’Rear, MD Award from the Medical College of Georgia.

I am a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

I have conducted research on hospice education, patient communication, dignity therapy and provider wellness.

I received my medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia and completed residency at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. I completed a fellowship at The University of Tennessee.

Outside of work, my husband and I love being outdoors, hiking and camping. We enjoy traveling to new places, exploring local restaurants and breweries and listening to live music. I’m a fan of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey and Formula 1 racing. As a native North Carolinian, I love to cheer on the University of North Carolina with my family.