Elise Bartoul, MA, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC

“Elise has one of the most challenging and emotionally draining roles in this hospital that she performs every day with grace.” These words capture the essential work of Elise Bartoul, MA, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, who serves as a licensed art therapist and counselor on the Pediatric Palliative Care team at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Through a unique mix of creative expression and therapeutic intervention, she supports patients, families, and healthcare staff through some of the most challenging moments in pediatric medicine, including end-of-life care and bereavement.

Elise’s deep understanding of compassionate care stems from her own medical journey. At 15, an everyday infection triggered a serious autoimmune disease that led to end-stage organ failure. She spent over a year hospitalized, undergoing chemotherapy, surgical interventions, and ultimately receiving a life-saving organ transplant.

“It was through my own lived experience, much like [Schwartz Center] founder Ken Schwartz, that I realized what compassionate care was,” she reflects. This experience taught her that “compassionate care is wrap-around, multidisciplinary care that highlights not only your body’s physical well-being and healing but also your mental and emotional, psychosocial and spiritual well-being and healing.”

Elise’s role spans every major area of the hospital, from prenatal care and labor and delivery to intensive care units, cardiac units, and transplant floors. She works with patients ranging from prenatal to young adulthood, as well as with siblings and parents.

Her approach offers what she describes as “uncensored interactions that don’t include white coats or needle pokes,” using art within a therapeutic framework to help patients and families navigate their hospital experiences.

In one challenging situation, Elise was asked to lead a family conference with an autistic adolescent oncology patient to communicate that no more cancer-directed therapies were available. “Elise stepped up and did what nobody else [could] do and was an incredible advocate for this patient and his right to know what was going on with his own body,” said a colleague. Her ability to provide developmentally appropriate responses while maintaining the patient’s dignity exemplifies her commitment to prioritizing patients as people first.

Beyond direct patient care, Elise has systematically addressed the emotional needs of her fellow healthcare workers through bi-monthly patient memorial services, self-care sessions, and team debriefings. “Elise has an innate ability to sense emotional distress, and she can often be found on the nursing units providing support to caregivers,” said a colleague.

Elise emphasizes that “compassionate care is intentionally and purposefully provided. The way we show up for our patients and families matters, the language and communication skills we employ matters, and the level of effective empathy we provide matters.” She embodies this philosophy through her art therapy practice, which creates space for patients and families to express what words alone cannot capture, helping them navigate grief, find meaning, and maintain dignity, compassion, and hope.