Our People

Donna Callaghan

QIMR Berghofer - Council Member

Dr Callaghan was called to the Bar in 2009. Her interest and expertise lies in personal injuries and health law – an area in which she has been engaged for over 25 years. Dr Callaghan obtained her medical degree from University of Queensland and practised clinical medicine for over ten years, obtaining Diplomas in both Obstetrics and Anaesthetics and her Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists in London.

Dr Callaghan was employed as State Claims Manager for Australia’s largest medical indemnity company whilst studying law at Queensland University of Technology. Having obtained her LLB Hons 2, she worked as a solicitor and then senior associate at a large national firm in the area of litigation and dispute resolution.

Dr Callaghan has broadened her experience and expertise in health law with memberships on Medical Research Ethics Committees for the University of Queensland and BlueCare. She has written articles for and has been on the editorial panel of the Australian Health Law Bulletin for over ten years. Dr Callaghan was the lawyer member of the Queensland Pharmacists Board from 2007 to 2010. She has been involved as a volunteer and Board member of health related not-for-profit organisations for many years. Dr Callaghan is a long term member and former committee member of the Medico-Legal Society of Queensland.

Apart from her experience with negligence claims, disciplinary matters, coronial inquests and prosecutions of health practitioners, Dr Callaghan has ongoing experience with WorkCover claims, other personal injury claims and appeals by and against the WorkCover Regulator in the Queensland Industrials Relations Commission and Industrial Court.