Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories
Danai Papadatou Oral History
Interviewer
Bryan Sisk MD, MSCI
Files
Download Interview Transcript [PDF] (124 KB)
Summary
Danai Papadatou was interviewed by Brian Sisk on June 25, 2019 for approximately one hour and 11 minutes for the Pediatric Palliative Care Oral History Project.
Scope and Content
Dr. Papadatou introduces her early beginnings in the field of pediatric palliative care and recalls several of influential figures in her life. These figures were “models of professionalism and humanity,” and included her father, her professor, and a 30-year-old woman with ovarian cancer who “made it a point to teach [physicians], advocate [for patients], and prove wrong all the prognostics.” Dr. Papadatou describes her international work in research, education, and her experience with organizing international events that incorporated some of the fields pioneers, such as Charles Corr, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Earl Grollman, Ida Martinson, Betty Davies, and many others. Dr. Papadatou then describes her work with seriously ill children in conjunction with the oncology department of her home hospital, as well as her research and policy contributions. She concludes with her perspective on how the field of pediatric palliative care can advance through a movement of interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, and planning.
Biographical Information: Interviewee
Danai Papadatou, Ph.D., is the Director of Laboratory on Psychopathology & Neuropsychology at the National and Kapodistrain University of Athens, a Professor of Clinical Psychology as well as Professor of Nursing at the National and Kapodistrain University of Athens. Dr. Papadatou received bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, a Master’s degree in Family Counseling & Guidance from University of Arizona, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Arizona.
Dr. Papadatou has been active in the pediatric palliative field for over three decades and has grown the field through her published books - Life losses- Bridges of Support, In the face of death, Introduction to Psychology for health care provider - 28 textbooks chapters, over 70 journal articles, participation in conferences and symposia, and community capacity-building projects. Her research includes examining health care provider and caregiver attitudes towards death and dying of children, psycho-social stressors of children experiencing natural disaster or crisis, and the examination of pediatric palliative home care practices. Dr. Papadatou is a founding member of the MERIMNA Society for the Care for Children and Families Facing Illness. She has also served in leadership and consulting roles for Association on Bereavement, the Greek Society for Pediatric Palliative Care, and multiple journals including Cancer Nursing, Mortality, Illness, Crisis, and Loss, Journal of Palliative Care, European Journal of Palliative Care, Psychological Issues, and Child and Adolescent: Mental Health and Psychopathology.
Dr. Papadatou was the recipient of the (2017) Aliki Giotopoulou-Maragopoulou Award for the valuable contribution to the support of bereaved children, families, and communities from the League for Women’s Rights, Greece, (2012) Award for outstanding university teaching, research, publication, and professional service in the field of dying, death and bereavement from the Robert Fulton Center for Death Education and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, and the (1989) Award for outstanding contribution to the world of hospice support for children from Children’s Hospice International.
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
2019-06-25
Collection Identifier
OH154-S28
Length
Approximately one hour and 11 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
Danai Papadatou Oral History, OH154-S28, 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).