Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories
Elliot Krane Oral History
Interviewer
Bryan Sisk MD, MSCI
Files
Download Interview Transcript [PDF] (119 KB)
Summary
Elliot Krane was interviewed by Brian Sisk on November 13, 2019 for approximately one hour and 3 minutes for the Pediatric Palliative Care Oral History Project.
Scope and Content
Dr. Elliot Krane begins the interview by describing his early career and observations that pain in pediatrics was not meaningfully managed. After Dr. Krane took a position at the University of Washington, he developed his career path at the intersection of pediatrics and pain/anesthesiology. At his post in Seattle, Dr. Krane worked within a small, close knit pain department that were at the “world’s nexus of [Starbucks] coffee and pain management,” where he helped advance early pediatric pain practices.
Dr. Krane then describes in depth some of the barriers he encountered, such as the myth that children did not meaningfully experience pain, and the role of emerging technology, like the pulse oximeter and the use of portable ultrasound technology, that helped reinforce his practice as an anesthesiologist. Dr. Krane also described some barriers in other departments resisting the practices of pain management -- sometimes if the pain services are used at all, they will be called too late to significantly help the patient.
In the future, Dr. Krane would like to see palliative and pain management services more integrated into the “hospital ecosystem,” where the palliative and pain teams are engaged sooner, when they can be most effective.
Biographical Information: Interviewee
Elliot Krane is a Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at the Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Krane attended medical school at the University of Arizona, and subsequently trained in pediatrics, anesthesiology, and pediatric anesthesiology and critical care. After completing his training, he moved to the University of Washington in Seattle, where he started one of the first pediatric pain services in the United States. Dr. Krane has served in many leadership roles, including chairing hospital steering committees, directing hospital-based pain programs, and advising the US FDA and international pain organizations. He holds board certification in Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Pediatric Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Management, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Biographical Information: Interviewer
Bryan Sisk, MD, MSCI is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and an Assistant Professor in General Medical Sciences as a member of the Bioethics Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed medical school at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. He completed his clinical training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sisk was a clinical fellow in pediatric hematology and oncology when he initiated this Pediatric Palliative Care Oral History Project. As a trainee, Dr. Sisk had a strong interest in palliative care, the approach to the suffering of children, and the history of medicine. Prior to initiating this project, Dr. Sisk performed an in-depth review of the development of pediatric palliative care as a discipline and philosophy. This research culminated in a publication entitled, “Response to Suffering of the Seriously Ill Child: A History of Palliative Care for Children” in the journal Pediatrics. However, this historical review was limited to textbooks and publications. It lacked the personal experience of caring for these children and inspiring the development of a new clinical discipline. Inspired by David Clark’s oral history of the adult hospice movement, Dr. Sisk began to plan this pediatric oral history project.
Of note, this collection of oral histories is incomplete, and many important figures have not (yet) been interviewed. Dr. Sisk’s goal is to continue adding to this collection create a rich repository of personal insights and wisdom from leaders who changed the field of pediatrics.
Interview Date
2019-11-13
Collection Identifier
OH154-S20
Length
Approximately one hour and 3 minutes.
Restrictions
Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).
Recommended Citation
Elliot Krane Oral History, OH154-S20, Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.
Disclaimer
The Becker Archives provides access to this oral history interview as a record of the past. This interview reflects the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the interview participants, which may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. The Becker Archives does not endorse the views expressed in this interview, which may contain materials offensive to some users.
Notes
Access to the audio recording for this oral history may be obtained via approval of the archivists at Becker Library. Contact the archives for more information (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).