George Papanicolaou: A Pioneer in Medical Research:Exhibition Opening at the Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C.

“George Papanicolaou: A Pioneer in Medical Research”
Exhibition Opening at the Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C.
Under the auspices of the
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary since the death of George N. Papanicolaou (1883-1962) celebrated by UNESCO, the Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C. and the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, under the auspices of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, inaugurated the special exhibition, “George Papanicolaou: A Pioneer in Medical Research” on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

A warm welcoming was addressed by Ambassador of Greece Christos Panagopoulos, launching the inauguration ceremony. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Honorable Kathleen Sebelius was represented by Dr. Nancy C. Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health – Women’s Health, who noted that Dr. Papanicolaou’s achievements were central to one of the most dramatic success stories for women’s cancers with a 70% decline in deaths from cervical cancer because of the screenings with the Pap smear. She added that in 1990, recognizing the importance of the Pap smear, Congress passed a law establishing the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at CDC. The program has provided pap smears for millions of poor women and found early treatable cancers and pre-cancers in thousands.

More introductory remarks followed by world renowned scientist Dr. George Pavlakis, Chief of Human Retrovirus Section at the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Mark E. Sherman, Senior Clinician at the National Cancer Institute who had the opportunity to train with some of Dr. Pap’s first generation disciples on cytopathology and Mr. George Papayiannis, External Liaison officer of UNESCO’s Office in New York.

With the central focus being the digital exhibition which includes photographs, letters and other documents about the life and work of Papanicolaou, there will also be other events throughout the exhibition, such as discussions and presentations related to the research on and modern methods of the prevention and diagnosis of female cancers. In a separate event, there will be a screening of Lefteris Xanthopoulos' documentary “George Papanikolaou: Pap Test.”

Papanicolaou was born in Kymi, Euboea Greece in 1883. He studied at the University of Athens and graduated with his medical degree in 1904. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Munich, Germany in 1910 and left for Monaco, where he worked for the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco for three years. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1913 to work at the Department of Pathology of New York Hospital and the Department of Anatomy at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He first reported uterine cancer could be diagnosed in 1928 and published his work in 1943. He moved to Miami in 1961 to start the Papanicolaou Cancer Research institute, but passed away before its opening in 1962.

Duration of Exhibit: Through February 2013
Visiting hours: 11am-3pm weekly