Though I ultimately found my way into medicine, my first degree was in Religious Studies — an interest that has remained a quiet thread throughout my career. After training in general pediatrics, I went on to sub-specialize in pediatric hematology and oncology. Over time, I was increasingly drawn to the growing field of palliative care, and completed a formal fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine.
Since then, my work has focused primarily on pediatric palliative care. I have been fortunate to work at a number of incredible institutions, including Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Boston Children’s Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. I currently serve as a consultant with the pediatric palliative care team at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Palliative care is often misunderstood as being limited to end-of-life care, but in truth it is a broader, more holistic approach — one that supports children and families facing serious or life-limiting illness at any stage. Much of my time is spent in clinical care, both in hospital and in the community, offering support through local hospices and home visits.
Beyond direct care, I’ve been deeply involved in program development, education, and public advocacy, and have served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. My enduring professional interest is the intersection of spirituality and healthcare — particularly how children and families understand and express spiritual needs in the context of serious illness.
Selected Publications & CV
In addition to my clinical and program work, I have written and contributed to numerous academic publications and textbook chapters, reflecting ongoing interests in pediatric palliative care, ethics, and spirituality in medicine.
Books and Book Chapters
Waldman, E. and Glass, M. Palliative Care in Humanitarian Crises: A Field Manual. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Waldman, E. and Bartel, M. “Existential Suffering and Distress.” In Interdisciplinary Textbook of Pediatric Palliative Care, 2nd ed., edited by Sourkes, Wolfe, and Hinds, 2022.
Puchalski, C., Ferrell, B., Battista, V., Waldman, E., and Bartel, M. “Interprofessional Spiritual Care in Palliative Care.” In Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine, 3rd ed., edited by Chochinov and Breitbart, December 2022.
Waldman, E. “MDMA.” In Psychedelics in Palliative Care, edited by Glass, M., Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2025.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Weintraub, A., Geithner, E., Waldman, E. “Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Neonatologists in the U.S.” Journal of Perinatology 2016; 36:1021–1026.
Kase, S.M., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Palliative Care Providers in the United States.” Palliative and Supportive Care 2018; 16(2):1–7.
Barton, K.S., Tate, T., Lau, N., Taliesin, K.B., Waldman, E.D., Rosenberg, A.R. “I’m Not a Spiritual Person: How Hope Might Facilitate Conversations About Spirituality Among Teens and Young Adults With Cancer.” Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2018; 55(3):000–000.
Gribben, J., Kase, S.M., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Critical Care Providers in the U.S.” Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 2018; 19(9):000–000.
Gribben, J., Kase, S.M., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians in the U.S.” Academic Emergency Medicine 2019; 26(7):732–743.
Gribben, J., Kase, S.M., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Physicians.” Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 2020; 42(1):50–55.
Kase, S.M., Gribben, J.L., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “A Pilot Study Exploring Interventions for Physician Distress in Pediatric Subspecialties.” Pediatric Research 2020; 88(4):000–000.
Ott, K.C., Vente, T., Lautz, T., Waldman, E.D. “Pediatric Palliative Care and Surgery.” Annals of Palliative Medicine 2021 (ahead of print).
Kase, S.M., Gribben, J.L., Guttmann, K.F., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Subspecialists During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.” Pediatric Research 2022; 91(1):143–148.
Gribben, J.L., Kase, S.M., Guttmann, K.F., Waldman, E.D., Weintraub, A.S. “Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Pediatric Subspecialists’ Well-being and Perception of Workplace Value.” Pediatric Research 2023; 94(2):581–587.
Eche-Ugwu, et al. “Household Material Hardship and Distress Among Parents of Children With Advanced Cancer: A Report From the PEDIQUEST Response Trial.” Cancer 2024; 130(20):3540–3548.
Vasquez Colon, et al. “End-of-Life Course and Subspecialty Palliative Care Involvement for Children on Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Five-Center Retrospective Cohort Study (U.S., 2015–2020).” Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 2025; 26(9):000–000.
Rajwani, et al. “Clinical Psychedelic Research in Adolescents: A Scoping Review and Overview of Ethical Considerations.” Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 2025; 9(10):744–752.