Georgios Papanikolaou

Introduction to Georgios Papanikolaou

Georgios Papanikolaou was a physician and cytologist of Greek-American descent. He was renowned for his groundbreaking creation of the Pap smear, a screening examination for cervical cancer.

Early Life and Education

Georgios Papanikolaou was born on May 13, 1883, in Kymi, Greece. At first, Papanikolaou studied literature, philosophy, languages, and music at the University of Athens.

But then, after his father urged him, Papanikolaou decided to pursue his medical studies at the University of Athens, where he obtained his PhD in zoology from the University of Munich.

Migration to the United States and Early Career

In 1913, Papanikolaou migrated to the United States alongside his wife, Andromachi Mavroyeni, who was also a physician. They settled in New York City, where he embarked on a research career at Cornell University and New York Hospital.

Development of the Pap Smear

Intrigued by the study of human cells under the microscope, Papanikolaou developed a methodology to collect and stain cells from the cervix. Through his observations, he discovered that abnormal cells could potentially indicate the presence of cancer or precancerous lesions.

With this realization, he proposed the idea of regular screenings as a means to detect cervical cancer at an early stage and potentially prevent its development.

Initial Challenges and Breakthrough

In 1928, Papanikolaou made his findings public, but the medical community initially disregarded them. He persisted in his research and teamed up with Herbert Traut, a gynecologist at Cornell University.

Together, they conducted an extensive study involving more than 3,000 women, which validated the accuracy and effectiveness of the Pap smear. Their results were published in 1943, leading to widespread acceptance of the Pap smear as a routine screening test for women.

Personal Life

Papanikolaou was married to Andromachi Mavroyeni in 1910. They met and married in Athens. Mavroyeni eventually ended up becoming her husband’s lab assistant.

Later Years and Legacy

Additionally, Papanikolaou established the Papanicolaou Cancer Research Institute in Miami, Florida, where he dedicated his efforts until his passing on February 19, 1962.