This lecture will begin with the globally widespread clinical, acute-care culture of palliative care before introducing an outline of public health/health promotion approaches to palliative care. A public health approach to palliative care is one that recognizes that many of the social, psychological and spiritual troubles that people living with dying, bereavement, and long term care are amenable to public health concepts of prevention, harm reduction, and early intervention. These interventions embrace community development, health promotion, death education, and ecological strategies. The future of palliative care must embrace this approach if it is to successfully achieve greater access for all and provide a meaningful continuity of care at the end of life. This approach brings internal and external challenges for chaplaincy and pastoral care, integral parts of palliative care.