Can a Child Flourish Amid Serious Illness? A Stanford–ACREOL Conversation

In pediatric palliative care, suffering is rarely one-dimensional. It touches the child, the family, relationships, culture, and community.

During his visit to Rwanda, we welcomed Dr. Tyler Tate, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, pediatric palliative care physician and ethicist, for an exchange with our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Christian Ntizimira.

The conversation explored:

👧🏽 Suffering and flourishing in children living with serious illness
👨‍👩‍👧 Children and families at the centre of pediatric palliative care
🌍 How culture, relationships, and context shape experiences of suffering
🔬 How research and evidence can inform clinical decisions and strengthen pediatric palliative care

At the heart of the conversation was one question: ⁉️How can we better understand a child’s experience and use evidence to guide care that preserves dignity and supports families❓