DANAI PAPADATOU RECEIVED THE HERMAN FEIFEL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT

On May 26, 2022, during its proceedings in Findstadjordet, Norway, the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement (IWGDDB) awarded the “Herman Feifel Award” to Dr. Danai Papadatou, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Nursing of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of Merimna, in recognition of her outstanding Life-Time Achievement in the field of death and dying.

The IWGDDB is an international organization founded in 1973 by representatives of various scientific disciplines, and pioneers in the field of thanatology who are now recognized as having played – and who continue to play – a leading role in their own country and/or internationally in matters relating to the field. They opposed the ‘medicalization’ of death and the awkward inertia of the scientific community in dealing with this last event of human life. Their work laid the foundations of modern palliative care for children and adults, of research into bereavement issues and contributed decisively to the development of end-of-life care and bereavement support services.

The American Herman Feifel, in whose memory this prize is awarded, carried out research in the late 1950s alongside patients who were at the end of life, organized scientific events and published the book ‘The meanings of death’. Thanks to Herman Feifel, death became a special field of research and study in the field of health and mental health sciences.

The ‘Herman Feifel Award’ has honored internationally renowned scientists from the fields of medicine, nursing, psychology, and philosophy: Cicely Saunders, Colin Murray Parkes, William Worden, Ida Martinson, Charles Corr, Kenneth Doka, Sandra Bertman, Phylis Silverman, Mary Vachon and Betty Davies.

Congratulations to Danai Papadatou, for this honorable distinction! The team of Merimna, and all those who know her work, feel deep emotion and pride.