Allan Hogan was born in Newcastle. He received his primary education at state schools in Brewarrina, Goodooga, and Wilcannia where his father was headmaster. He returned to Newcastle High School for his secondary education and after matriculating with honours at 15 he was awarded a scholarship to study medicine at Sydney University. He graduated with first-class honours prior to his 21st birthday. After a short residency at Sydney Hospital he enlisted with the AIF and served with the 39th and 2/14 battalions in New Guinea. He gained unique experience treating battle casualties, and troops suffering from diseases such as scrub typhus, tropical ulcers, dysentery and malaria. He ran a busy aid post helped by untrained orderlies and very limited medical supplies. During August 1942 while fierce fighting was taking place he was shot through both legs by machine gun fire. After becoming unconscious from blood loss and concurrent malaria he was transported down the Kokoda Trail to Port Moresby Hospital on a stretcher by “fuzzy wuzzy angels”. The hazardous trip took two weeks to complete. He regained consciousness twelve hours into the trip only to realise that the stretcher party had left without any medical supplies.

In 1943 after a long period of rehabilitation in Australia he married Jean Chatham, a former tutor sister at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney. He held several specialist medical appointments in Sydney. In 1952 he moved to Albury to join a group practice as a specialist physician. During 1961 he relinquished private practice to be appointed the first full-time medical superintendent of the Albury Base Hospital, a position he held for 24 years. His greatest contributions to medicine in the region were made during these years. With dedication, enthusiasm and vision he worked hard to make Albury an outstanding medical centre. He played a major role in the development of the blood bank, and of a new hospital block that housed the theatres, intensive care, coronary care unit and the accident and emergency ward, which was named after him. He was an excellent tutor, and encouraged many resident medical officers to enter general practice in the area.

Allan enjoyed sport. Because of his war injuries he made cycling his main activity and was actively observed by many Albury citizens as he cycled the various streets and country roads. He maintained interests in other sports and was Commodore of the Hume Boat Club, president of group B Rugby Country league and a life member of the Albury Car Club.

Music was a life-long love. He played the clarinet and saxophone well and as a life-long member of the Albury Legacy Club he formed a 19-piece orchestra that played for many years at the annual Legacy Ball that was responsible for raising money for welfare. He was president of the Albury Eisteddfod Society (1968-71). In 1998 he was awarded the OAM for services to medicine and the community.

After retirement from Albury base Hospital he returned to private practice for a further 15 years when in 1998 he developed multiple myeloma. His wife Jean and two sons Richard and David survived him.