AAHPM asked 2024 Emering Leaders what inspired them to pursue leadership roles and what is most rewarding about their experiences. Prasanna Ananth, MD MPH is one of the exceptional individuals who has been named a 2024 AAHPM Emerging Leader in Hospice and Palliative Care.
Who has most influenced your work and how have they shaped your contributions?
My mentor, family, and patients. My mentor, Joanne Wolfe, is widely known as a legend in pediatric palliative care. She is also incredibly kind, generous with her time and advice, and a consummate clinician-researcher-leader-mom-champion for all of us coming up in the field. As for my family, most of my female ancestors were never educated beyond elementary school. My parents wanted me to be able to nurture my talents and, from an early age, instilled in me a deep sense of ambition that remains to this day. It is truly because they encouraged me to dream big and made many sacrifices in their lives that I am where I am today. As for my pediatric patients, children help me find levity in even the most dire circumstances and bring all of the inspiration to my work. So much of success in research is contingent upon grit, not giving up despite failures or repeated rejections. My patients really help me maintain this grit in my work.
What is the significance to you of being recognized as a “Emerging Leader” in Hospice and Palliative Medicine?
It is an honor and privilege to be welcomed into this community as an emerging leader!
What is your aspiration for the evolution of hospice and Palliative Medicin
I hope that we will see a meteoric rise in access to robust palliative and hospice care for children all over the world and that we get to a place where no child with serious illness suffers.
Learn more about the AAHPM 2024 Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Care and view a full list of all current and past Emerging Leaders.