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Meet Our Child Life Specialists

Child life specialists work to enhance patients’ emotional, social, and cognitive growth during a hospital visit, taking into consideration each child’s family, culture, and developmental needs. They use developmental interventions and play to help patients and families adjust to and understand their health care experiences. For more information about child life specialists, visit the Association for Child Life Professionals.

Child Life specialists:

  • Promote patients’ development by normalizing daily routines, activities, and environment
  • Educate and prepare patients and families about the healthcare experience in an approach that meets their individual needs
  • Provide individualized support to siblings of hospitalized children
  • Encourage developmentally appropriate activities and play
  • Help patients enhance their coping skills when dealing with fear, pain, anxiety, and separation from family, friends, and their familiar environments
  • Provide consultation to healthcare team and supports families regarding patients’ developmental and psychosocial issues
  • Provide individualized support before, during, and after medical procedures
  • Facilitate medical play in individual and group settings
  • Promote family centered care by offering information, advocacy, and guidance
  • Educate hospital staff about child development and related issues
  • Initiate tutoring support for patients missing school due to hospitalization
  • Support celebrations of milestones including birthdays and holidays
  • Supervise and train student interns and volunteers

Watch: What is Child Life?

Meet the team

6 Northeast - Inpatient Oncology

Annika Stout, MS, CCLS **
Bridget Miranda, MS, CCLS

6 West - Stem Cell Transplant

Brittany Metcalf, BS, CCLS **

6 - Inpatient Oncology

Mary Malley, MS, CCLS ***

7 Mandell - Medicine Patient Service

Katie Yochim, MS, CCLS

7 Bert & 8 Bert – Medical-Surgical ICU

Mae Edwards, MA, CCLS
Abbey Romanski, MS, CCLS
Mariah Stevens, MS, CCLS ***
Open position

Hale 8 Cardiac/ICU

Meghan LaGrace, MS, CCLS **
Abigail Horton, MS, CCLS

Hale 9 Cardiac

Erin Connelly, MS, CCLS ***
Julia D’Onofrio, MS, CCLS

Hale 7 Cardiac ICU

Kate Antommaria, MS, CCLS **
Open position
Open position

8 Mandell - Neurology

Alyssa Sachs, MS, CCLS **
Laura Boegler, MS, CCLS **

9 East - Medicine Patient Services

Jake Cavanaugh, BS, CCLS

9 East - Behavioral Health/Medicine

Open position

8 Mandell - Medicine

Open position

9 South - Inpatient Medicine/Intermediate Care Program

Jane Searfoss, MS, CCLS

10 Berthiaume

Mikaela Bartels, MS, CCLS **
Lauryn Seaman, MS, CCLS

10 Northwest - Surgery

Rachel Malieswski, MS, CCLS
Brooke O'Neill, MS, CCLS

10 Hale Complex Surgical

Courtney Jonas, MS, CCLS **
Ashley Eppolito, MS, CCLS **

11 Berthiaume

Kristen Fraher, MS, CCLS **
Open position

11 Hale Neonatal Intensive Care

Stephanie Patel, MS, CCLS
Cydnee Szumierz, MS, CCLS

Trust and Special Events

Sarah Sullivan, MS, CCLS **

Volunteer Services

Jessica Slayback, MEd, CCLS **

Hale Family Center for Families

Jill Twomey-McLaughlin, BS, CCLS **

Hale Family Center for Families/Pawprints

Lynn Belkin, MS, CCLS

Child Life Specialist-Seacrest Studios

Jamie Durkin, MS, CCLS **

Simulator Program (SIMPeds)

Brianna J. O’Connell, MS, CCLS **

Patient Tech Specialists

Ryan McAskill
Stephen Spencer

Child Life Resource

Christine Dumais, MS, CCLS ***
Fiorella Downey, MS, CCLS **

Per Diem Child Life

Madeline Collins, MS, CCLS
Kate McCowan, MS, CCLS **
Hannah Nitso, MS, CCLS
Hayley Sachs, MS, CCLS **
Gail Windmueller, MA, MS, CCLS

Per Diem Child Life Assistants

Amber Allen
Shayla Barker
Jayde Best
Kelly Carey
Samantha Gentle
Audrey Hammond
Elizabeth Kelly
Ali Kilborn
Laine Struzziero
Sarah Thomas