DISCOVER The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
October 2023
Child Life in Pediatric Radiology In August of 2022, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department welcomed Catherine Rodgers to the team. Catherine covers pediatric radiology, which includes MRI scans (with and without anesthesia), CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, nuclear medicine scans, fluoroscopy procedures and radiation oncology treatment. Child life has partnered with MRI technicians, MRI leadership and anesthesiologists to create a “Try-Without Program” within our inpatient pediatric units. Using our state of the art MRI movie goggles, pediatric patients are able to select a movie or television show to watch during their MRI scan. This method of distraction has helped patients as young as five years old avoid anesthesia for their MRI scan. Catherine has created a variety of teaching tools for both caregivers and parents. As a facility dog handler, Catherine has used Professor, one of our three Animal Assisted Therapy dogs, as the model for radiology preparation books. Our pediatric patients are prepared for their MRI with anesthesia by watching Professor go through it first. For most of our patients it provides a sense of comfort and comradery before they receive anesthesia. In preparation sessions, Catherine will show how the anesthesia mask looks and feels on a stuffed animal version of Professor before having the patient try it on themselves. Whether the patient is able to meet Professor in person or they take home a stuffed animal version, Professor inspires a confidence and excitement in kids that makes their radiology experience a more positive experience. Recently, Catherine invited patient Audrey, 6, and her dad to come to the hospital to take photos with the MRI movie goggles. Catherine first met Audrey in the fall of 2022 when Catherine prepared her for an MRI with anesthesia using the preparation book with Professor. Per the caregiver’s request, Catherine supported Audrey in her anesthesia induction for a craniotomy a few weeks later. Audrey was followed by the inpatient team while she was recovering in the PICU and finally got to meet Professor in person. Catherine now supports Audrey during her surveillance MRI scans, in which Audrey will start to do without anesthesia.
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Meet Our New and Talented Staff Members Ilana Lotan, creative arts therapist, recently joined the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department as a creative arts therapy coordinator. Ilana holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Master in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute. Her experience includes working with children in foster care, art-based groups for seniors, and adults struggling with anxiety, PTSD, depression, self-esteem, grief and loss, addiction, self-harm, family/relationship conflict, and major life transitions. Ilana offers a non-judgmental and supportive approach to therapy, hoping to offer skills that will help individuals grow, gain confidence and learn helpful coping practices.
Jessica Portalatin, Administrative Coordinator/Patient and Family Support Specialist, has a Bachelor in Business Administration and is pursuing her MBA with a focus of Healthcare Management from Monroe College. She joined the Mount Sinai Hospital in 2019 and has worked as a support associate then later a business associate. Jessica has a special interest in childhood development and early education. She is excited about joining the child life team.
Yevonne Kiim is a recent Temple University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in media production and a minor in content creation. Entering the work force as KidZone TV's Patient Media Producer, Yevonne is excited about the opportunity to explore the intersection between media and medicine at Kravis Children's Hospital. Yevonne has experience in videography and photography, in addition to experience on production sets. For all things music, movies, and video games, you can find her in the studio.
Jessica Stewart is a longtime early childhood professional with a background in theatre and patient advocacy. Jessica began her career in her hometown of Portland, OR, working with toddlers in a Montessori and Resources for Infant Educators based preschool. Since 2015, she has volunteered as a counselor at the Youth Rally, a summer camp for teens with digestive health conditions, where she leads several activities including the talent show and dress shop. After many years of professional development in disability studies and early childhood, Jessica is thrilled to combine her passions for play and patient/family support in the child life assistant role. She is incredibly thankful to work and learn from the Kravis child life team. You can find her leading Zone group and providing bedside activities.
Ali Spikestein Steps into a New Role Ali Spikestein was promoted to a Program Manager position in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department in the fall of 2023. Ali will oversee department initiatives and support clinical staff with a supervisory and clinical focus in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Ali joined the department in early 2016, serving as the primary child life specialist in the outpatient pediatric oncology/hematology clinic. In 2017, Ali led the launch of the Paws & Play facility dog program, becoming the primary handler for Mount Sinai’s first facility dog, Professor Bunsen Honeydew. After serving in this role for several years, Ali advanced to a Senior Child Life Specialist position supervising certified child life specialists, taking a larger role in the expansion and management of the facility dogs and their clinical teams, and serving as a department leader throughout Kravis Children’s Hospital. Ali has a special interest in reflective practice, evidence-based research, creative coverage models and supporting new clinicians. Before joining the team at Mount Sinai, Ali received her Master in Child Life from Bank Street College of Education. We are preparing for the holidays! For the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more) we transform our theater space into a holiday gift shop where caregivers “shop” for gifts for their children here with us and their siblings. Christmas morning brings extra fun as our volunteer Santas visit families at their bedside. These celebrations would not be possible without your generous support. Please scan the QR code, visit our wish list at https:// amzn.to/3jHGTs9, and choose any items you want to supply for our holiday events. Thank you for your help in giving our families a celebration of fun and joy while they are facing their medical challenges in the hospital!
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REFLECTIONS Brings “A Season of Courage” The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department is proud to share the fall edition of REFLECTIONS, our Zone's teen art and literary magazine. “This publication provides an outlet for teens within Mount Sinai and the community at large to speak their minds, share their thoughts, and bring their visions to life on each page,” said Christina Auriemma, editor in chief of REFLECTIONS. This edition focuses on the theme of 'Seasons of Courage' and takes readers on an emotional journey through song, visual art or written work. A special thank you to our guest teen editor and to all our teen contributors for their thoughtful and meaningful submissions. Scan this QR code to view the magazine.
A Partnership with the Arts Arts in Medicine is a new program within the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Bethany Pincus, music therapist, and Mathea Jacobs, KidZone TV manager, collaborate with educators and artists in the NYC community to bring our patients, caregivers and staff experiences that will enrich their admission or their workday. A wide variety of community partners have joined us since the inception of this program, including curators from The Jewish Museum, Mr. and Mrs. Met, magicians Tyler Gibgot and Nelson Lee, and canvas artist Alvin Armstrong. Each visit brings a unique opportunity for engagement with our pediatric patients and families. Our incredible partners have been invited to provide bedside visits to our patients and families, host a live show on KZTV, provide staff support for nurses and other medical professionals, and lead playroom groups in the Zone. Some anticipated visitors for the fall include educators from El Mueso del Barrio and dancers from the New York City Ballet. We look forward to the continued growth of this program and are excited to host future guests.
Weekly Wellness in the PICU Since May, Abby Patch, PICU child life specialist, and Danielle Young, social worker, have collaborated on creating a “Wellness Hour” for both PICU staff members and patient caregivers. This service is offered every other week in the PICU family lounge and nurse lounge. Abby and Danielle organized specific selfcare activities that offered an opportunity for staff and caregivers to relax and take a break from the acute environment. These activities have included creating bath bombs and bath scrubs, ceramic painting, paint-by-number and no-bake oatmeal balls. Staff shared that it feels good to just take a moment for themselves to engage in something fun when the unit is so busy.
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Drama Therapy: A New Modality in the Zone Kiara Méndez, Zone Activity Coordinator, is the first drama therapist to join the staff of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Prior to stepping into this role, Kiara was a KidZone TV producer for the past two years. She recently presented a “lunch and learn” to our staff about drama therapy and the clinical possibilities in a pediatric hospital setting. During the presentation, our staff experienced this expressive and transformative modality in an immersive way, as if they experienced a clinical session. Kiara is excited to introduce this innovative work to our patients and families.
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Meet our Fall Interns
Staff Accomplishments
Katie Messina, child life intern, received her Master in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University. Katie was as a children’s dance teacher for many years, in addition to her work as a hospital volunteer and in a CUNY lab.
Chloe Schaeffer, art therapy intern, is pursuing a master’s degree in creative arts therapy and creativity development from Pratt Institute. Chloe interned at Weisman Children’s Hospital, in homes with patients who have pronounced memory loss, and with adolescents throughout alternative schools in the boroughs of NYC. Raneen Sfeir, music therapy intern, is a graduate student at NYU. Raneen's worked as a chorus teacher in public schools, where she found joy in making music with kids. With this internship, she is entering the medical field for the first time.
In July, Katherine Parker, Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator, fulfilled the requirements to become an Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS). In June, Catherine Rodgers, Certified Child Life Specialist, won the inaugural Michele Hall-Duncan “Humanizing Health Care” award from the enCourage Kids Foundation. Catherine, along with the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, was awarded a $5,000 grant to further develop the pediatric radiology program. In May, Diane Rode led a full day intensive in reflective practice for participants at the national Association of Child Life Professionals Conference in Dallas, Texas. In September, Diane led a reflective practice session for leaders at the annual Child Life Leaders Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. In September, Todd O’Connor was a panelist for Pain Management Grand Rounds: Practical Approaches to Pain Management. Jackie Craig’s presentation, “Paws and Play: Care for Clinical Teams, Creating a Sustainable Animal Assisted Therapy Program” was accepted to the October National Facility Dog Summit.
Art Therapy Enhances NICU Programming In June, art therapy expanded into the NICU as a way to provide additional support to caregivers, siblings and staff. “My goal as an art therapist in this kind of setting is to help make the families time in the hospital as comforting as it can be,” explained Ilana Lotan, art therapist. Through art therapy sessions, families have the opportunity to gain a sense of control, express thoughts and feelings related to the baby’s illness or hospitalization, process their experience and hopefully develop an understanding of healthy coping strategies. Some interventions include scrapbooking, journaling, collage work, pillow making out of old baby clothes or blankets, and personalizing the babies bedside area with name signs, hand and foot prints, and other memorabilia. This is an example of a pillow that can be made at bedside. Using either a fabric we have on hand, or a piece of baby’s clothing/hat/blanket, we stuff it and sew it up. If approved, the pillow can even be placed near the baby to pick up their scent. This can help in encouraging attachment to the baby and can provide comfort while away from the bedside.
Collage work can be very freeing as the sensation of tearing up the pieces of paper can be quite releasing. Caregivers are invited to create collages around mood boards, inspirations or often times will use collage to create something new out of a piece of paper in which they might have expressed some difficult feelings. By giving “new life” to the repurposed collage, they are in a way providing hope for themselves.
Helsinki Colleagues Learn About Music Therapy in the Treatment of Pain Helsinki University Hospital’s Dr. Minna Ståhl and Reetta Keränen, music therapist, recently visited Kravis Children’s Hospital. They met with our music therapist Todd O’Connor, MA, MTBC, LCAT, to learn about the how music therapy is used to address pain across a variety of clinical contexts, including the neo-natal and pediatric age spans. In collaboration with Dr. Baron Lonner from Mount Sinai’s Department of Orthopedics, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department is investigating the impact of music therapy on pain perception in patients who undergo idiopathic scoliosis repair. The team at Helsinki University Hospital is looking to develop a treatment model that specifically addresses pain management for patients who undergo similar surgeries, and they were able to see how we use music therapy with these patients. We were grateful to be a part of their benchmarking process and to help them build on their understanding of how music therapy can be positioned within the treatment milieu.
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