DISCOVER
KidZone TV Creates a Space for our Spanish Speaking Families
KidZone TV Crea un Espacio Para Nuestras Familias Hispanohablantes
The KidZone TV team has created the weekly show ¡PRESENTE! to provide a place for our Spanish speaking patients and families to meet, get to know each other, and celebrate their cultures while they support each other in the hospital. Our department and staff are committed to providing care to our patients and families that is based on empathic understanding and inclusion. We celebrate the diversity and the unique experiences of our community. Use the QR code to see highlights of our recent shows.
In these clips, the mother of one of our patients speaks about her family's experiences with child life services such as our music therapists and facility dogs, and how everyone on our staff has impacted their hospitalization. She also shares how her love of knitting helps her stay calm and patient while in the hospital, and shows some of her amazing work while teaching our hosts, Kiara and Luis, how to knit!
Nuestros productores de KZTV crearon el programa ¡PRESENTE! para proporcionar un espacio en el cual nuestros pacientes y familias hispanohablantes se reúnan, se conozcan, celebren sus culturas mientras se apoyan mutuamente en el hospital. Nuestro departamento y personal están comprometidos a dar apoyo a nuestros pacientes y familias basado en la comprensión e inclusión empáticas. Celebramos la diversidad y las experiencias únicas de nuestra comunidad. Use el código QR para ver dos de nuestros programas recientes.
En estos videos, la madre de uno de nuestros pacientes habla sobre las experiencias de su familia con los servicios "Child Life", y cómo todos los miembros de nuestro personal han impactado su hospitalización. También comparte cómo su amor por tejer la ayuda a mantener la calma y la paciencia mientras está en el hospital, y muestra parte de su increíble trabajo mientras enseña a nuestros productores Kiara y Luis a tejer.
Mountsinai.org/childlife - Facebook.com/MSchildlife - Instagram: @MSchildlife @KZTVlive @mountsinai_pawsandplay
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Morgan Stojanowski Advances to a New Leadership Role
Morgan Stojanowski was promoted to Director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in the fall of 2022. With this advancement, Morgan will continue to advance the work of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department and to enhance the delivery of psychosocial care throughout Kravis Children’s Hospital.
Morgan joined the Department in 2012, serving as the primary child life specialist in the outpatient pediatric oncology/hematology clinic. After serving in this role for several years, Morgan advanced to a Senior Child Life Specialist position. In 2018, she was promoted to Assistant Director of the Department, where she worked closely with leadership to develop and operationalize child life programming, deepen the level of patient and family engagement within the pediatric hospital and support staff through supervision and reflective practice. In addition to supporting day-to-day programming, Morgan played a crucial role in the launch of the Paws & Play program, the establishment of child life programming in the NICU, the development of the Youth Advisory Council, and the implementation of child life and creative arts therapy services in the adult setting.
Before joining the team at Mount Sinai, Morgan received her Master’s Degree in Child Life from Bank Street College of Education and worked as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Blythedale Children’s Hospital.
“My understanding and appreciation for the level of skill, care, and talent residing within this team has never been greater. I look forward to guiding our collective efforts as we continue to design and implement therapeutic programming that humanizes the healthcare experience for our patients and families” stated Morgan.
Meet Our New and Talented Staff Members
Shawna Clarke, licensed creative arts therapist, recently joined the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department as a creative arts therapy coordinator. Her first experience with the department, as a volunteer when she was an undergraduate student, ignited her interest in art therapy. Shawna's passion for art therapy stems from her belief that sometimes words alone cannot convey the depth of one's emotions. Shawna holds a Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute. Her work has taken her to Nicaragua, where she worked with school-aged children; she has also worked in adult and pediatric psychiatry. Shawna is eager to join the department in providing the highest quality care for pediatric patients and families.
Olivia Centonza, a board-certified music therapist, recently joined us as a creative arts therapy coordinator in the pediatric emergency department. Born and raised in Staten Island, Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from NYU. She completed a music therapy internship here in May 2022. Olivia's interest in working with children and adolescents in a medical setting began when, at the age of 12, she underwent surgery at this very hospital! Ever since then, her desire to help others in times of uncertainty and her passion for music and the creative arts have guided her path. Olivia is excited and grateful to be part of this wonderful team again.
Kaleigh Bieling, a Certified Child Life Specialist, recently joined us in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Kaleigh received her Bachelor's Degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services from Penn State University before attending University of Pittsburgh where she earned her Master’s Degree in Children with Special Healthcare Needs/Child Life. Kaleigh has volunteered, shadowed and worked in hospitals in the New York and Connecticut area since 2016 prior to earning her certification in 2022. Kaleigh’s favorite part of being a child life specialist is forming therapeutic relationships with patients and their families. She enjoys providing patients emotional support, developmentally appropriate activities, coping strategies and advocacy within healthcare.
Grace Webber, a former KZTV intern and producer, is our new weekend child life assistant. Grace, who grew up in Westchester, is a senior studying musical theatre with a drama therapy minor at Marymount Manhattan College. Grace loves being a part of the child life and creative arts therapy team. On the weekends, Grace interacts with patients in the Zone with a variety of activities, including playing air hockey, creating new fun art projects, making TikToks and much more!
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Mountsinai.org/childlife - Facebook.com/MSchildlife - Instagram: @MSchildlife @KZTVlive @mountsinai_pawsandplay
Music Therapy: Connecting Lyrics to the Hospital Experience
In music therapy, there are many types of interventions and experiences that patients and families can participate in. One of those experiences, lyric analysis, allows patients and families to choose specific songs with lyrics that feel relevant to their hospital experience to help process their emotions. Our music therapist, Bethany Pincus, worked closely with the family of a critical patient to help them process their daughter’s long and emotional hospitalization using lyric analysis.
With the use of lyric analysis, the family benefited from music therapy to allow them to safely process all the emotions that come with a prolonged admission, including happiness, sadness, hope and anger.
Art Therapy: Patient Artist & Sibling Create Beautiful Design
Our creative arts therapy staff supports patients of all ages, including children, teenagers, and their families, by encouraging creativity and offering art as an avenue for expression, coping and developmental growth. During March, in honor of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Month, Shawna, a licensed creative art therapist, collaborated with Katherine, one of our talented patient artists, and her sister to decorate the entryway door for the PICU. Katherine and her sister were overjoyed to create something together that would be visible to everyone who steps onto the unit, filling them with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
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A Time for Recognition and Appreciation
March marked Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Month. During that time, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department celebrated with a variety of fun-filled activities. The month kicked off with staff collaboration on each floor in an effort to decorate a mural on their unit that reflected the reasons why child life services are appreciated. Staff wrote on bright, laminated butterflies and flowers and attached them to a beautiful painted tree. The following week we had a member from each discipline share a tip during our team huddle. For example, music therapist, Olivia Centonza, shared a video about the impact of music therapy in patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries. During the final week of March, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department took over the Mount Sinai Instagram account to highlight all of our services. Each day, the department posted thoughtful Instagram stories to help provide education on our programming including child life, animal-assisted therapy, creative arts, KidZone TV, and family engagement. Additionally, Mr. and Mrs. Met were special guests during the month. They hosted baseball bingo in the KidZone TV studio and delivered fantastic bingo prizes to the patients. The month ended with an appreciation celebration hosted by the department’s Education Council. The team dressed in matching custom-made t-shirts that highlighted child life and creative arts. Everyone played a “guess who” game with staff baby photos and stuffed colorful fanny packs with essential items to take home. Department leadership gifted staff with Mount Sinai logo wireless phone chargers. The entire team enjoyed the opportunity to gather and take time to appreciate one another.
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Mountsinai.org/childlife - Facebook.com/MSchildlife - Instagram: @MSchildlife @KZTVlive @mountsinai_pawsandplay
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Instagram Paws & Play
Primarily hosted by child life specialist Sydney and facility dog Amos, the show features coping strategies that match with every letter of the alphabet (example: A for Amos Affirmations, B for Belly Breathing, and C for Coloring). The goal of the show is to normalize coping strategies and provide interactive, fun ways for patients to remember coping tools with helpful reminders from their animal assisted therapy specialist and favorite furry friend.
Professor Celebrates Pediatric Oncology and Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Professor and his clinical handler Ali Spikestein celebrated Pediatric Oncology and Sickle Cell Awareness Month with the hematology/oncology teams. They participated in a fun-filled spirit week, complete with Go Gold Day, Wear Red Day, Crazy Hat Day, Superhero Day, and Crazy Sock Day. Our patients loved seeing Professor dressed up every day, and enjoyed making a special bandana for Professor to wear to continue to raise awareness for our most vulnerable patients.
Two Best Friends: Jamie & Amos
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Jamie was recently admitted for a scoliosis repair, which typically involves a recovery that requires motivation, physical therapy, and emotional support. Amos was by Jamie’s side every step of the way. From the moment they met in the pediatric intensive care unit after Jamie’s surgery, the two shared a special bond. Amos kept Jamie company while he rested, provided motivation and distraction during physical therapy sessions, and made Jamie laugh during bedside sessions. Jamie and his family loved petting Amos, watching him do tricks, and showing their friends and family how cute Amos is during FaceTime. Amos and Jamie were an awesome team.
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