Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) was a Swiss-American psychiatrist and author, renowned as a pioneer in near-death studies and for her work on the psychology of death and dying. She is most widely known for identifying the "Kübler-Ross model," or the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, she earned her medical degree from the University of Zurich in 1957. Kübler-Ross moved to the United States and began her psychiatric residency, where she was disturbed by the medical community's approach to terminally ill patients. This inspired her to develop programs focused on compassionate care and open communication with dying patients.
Kübler-Ross's 1969 book, On Death and Dying, brought the topic of death and dying into public consciousness and is credited with strengthening the hospice movement. She authored over 20 books exploring death, dying, and grief, translated into numerous languages. Kübler-Ross received over 100 awards, including twenty honorary degrees and recognition as one of Time magazine's "100 Most Important Thinkers" of the 20th century. In later years, she explored near-death experiences and spiritual aspects of death. Stanford University's Green Library houses her archives. Even after suffering strokes in 1995, she continued to write and teach. Kübler-Ross's work continues to influence end-of-life care, medical education, and how society understands grief.
