Meet The Clinicians in the Field: Katerina Papadopoulou

During Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, we are highlighting the experts behind patient care. Meet Katerina Papadopoulou one of ERN CRANIO’s clinicians.

 “My name is Katerina Papadopoulou, I'm a psychologist with the cleft and craniofacial team at Children's Health Ireland in Dublin. I support children, young people and their families through surgeries, difficult decisions, social relationships and building confidence, helping them navigate challenges at every stage of their journey.

I'm continually inspired by the courage, humour and resilience of the children and families I meet. It's a privilege to be part of their journey and to support them in ways that go beyond medical treatment.  I've learned that families are incredibly resourceful and resilient. They've also reminded me that listening, understanding and working together are just as important as any clinical intervention.'

Katerina also emphasizes the importance of raising awareness on rare diseases and hopes more people will understand that a facial difference doesn't define a child. "Every child deserves to feel accepted, understood and confident, and with the right support they can thrive in school, friendships and everyday life.”

Reflecting on the broader landscape of care, Katerina also highlighted the importance of collaboration beyond national borders.

 "Working with rare conditions means no one centre has all the answers. Being part of ERN CRANIO connects us with colleagues across Europe so we can share expertise, develop standards of care and learn from each other. My clinical exchange in Gothenburg was a real highlight—it left me feeling inspired, supported and full of new ideas to bring back to our team in Dublin. That's the real value of ERNs: improving care through collaboration, so families benefit from the very best knowledge, wherever they live."