Meet a Child Life Specialist
In this photo please meet 3 of our Child Life Specialists: Susan Gorry, Sara Chester, Lizeth Hernandez
 ASHLEY CARVER
Ashley Carver has completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a minor in Spanish at the University of California Davis. She volunteered over 300 hours and completed her Child Life Practicum at Sutter Memorial Hospital Sacramento. She has completed 600 clinical internship hours at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Her areas of focus during her internship included Hematology/Oncology, Radiology and Surgery. Ashley has worked as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for the past 10 months. She currently works on the 6th floor, which is a Medical/ Surgical unit, and also provides Child Life services to some patients in the PICU and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Since many of the patients she has worked with have been in isolation for various reasons, Ashley provides therapeutic bedside interventions as well as facilitating therapeutic activities in the playroom, aiming to reduce the traumatizing effects that hospitalization can have on children.
 SARA CHESTER
Sara Chester received a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from Missouri State University. She has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for 5 years and previously worked on the general pediatric floor at Cox Health in Springfield, Missouri. During her time in the Midwest, she also taught an introductory Child Life course at the University of Arkansas. Sara currently serves patients and families in the Outpatient Radiation Oncology.
 ALINA CHU
Child Life Specialist has completed her Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Adolescent Studies with the emphasis on Child Life from California State University, Fullerton. She has completed 600 clinical internship hours at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Her experience has included working with diverse families and children, has worked at after-school programs, child development centers, and tutored children with special needs. She volunteered and completed her Child Life practicum at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Currently, volunteers at Easter Seal Camp as a counselor, helping children with special needs. Child Life Specialist has worked part-time in the Chase Child Life Program for past nine months, providing CL services to adolescents throughout the hospital, and assists in facilitating therapeutic activities for adolescent patients in the Teen Lounge and works individually with adolescent patients at bedside and in isolation.
 MISTI COMIOTES
Misti Comiotes completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development; with a Minor is Psychology at California State University Northridge. Currently, Misti works as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. At CHLA, Misti has worked with patients located on the Hematology/Oncology Inpatient and Outpatient units, including the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, Teen Lounge, and is currently housed on the 5th floor sub-specialty unit, serving patients with breathing disorders, infectious disease, Pneumonias, Trach and vented children, helping patients cope with their hospital experience.
 KAREN GLOER
Karen Gloer has been a Certified Child Life Specialist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for the past 6 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Child Life from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She completed a comprehensive Child Life Internship at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach and was also employed as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children's Hospital of Orange County for a year and a half prior to joining the CHLA team. While at CHLA, Karen has worked with a diverse group of patients and families in such areas as the outpatient Hematology/Oncology clinic, the 6th floor Medical/Surgical unit and currently in the Radiology Department.
 SUSAN GORRY
Susan K. Gorry is a Certified Child Life Specialist at CHLA supervising the Teen Lounge and working with patients and families individually providing preparation, procedural support, and emotional support. Previously, Susan was the Adolescent/Young Adult Life Specialist at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Susan has a M.A. in Child Development and Child Life from Mills College, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Boston University.
SANDRA HERNANDEZ
Sandra Hernandez received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development from California State University, Northridge. She has been a bilingual Child Life Specialist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for the past 7 years. While at CHLA Sandee has worked with patients and families in the inpatient and outpatient Hematology/Oncology units, Bone Marrow Transplant unit, and Dentistry. Sandee was instrumental in introducing Child Life services and programs in the outpatient Dental Department. Sandra is currently in the outpatient clinic.
 ARLENE JUAREZ
Arlene Juarez, has a B.A. in psychology and minor in Human Services/Child development. Arlene began her Child Life career as a Child Life Assistant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in the Cardiac/Step Down unit. While working full-time at the hospital, Arlene also fulfilled a Master of Science degree in Child Life from the University of La Verne. Throughout her studies she had many opportunities to volunteer her time at various Children’s Hospitals, early childhood and school settings, as well as outpatient clinics. Arlene has worked with a diverse population and age groups ranging from infants to adolescents. In January of 2007, Arlene was offered a Child Life Internship position at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and worked in the Medical/Surgical Unit, outpatient Hematology/Oncology clinic, and Surgical Department. Arlene is now presently working in the Hematology/Oncology outpatient clinic serving many children and families.
 KRISTEN KEELER
Kristen Keeler received a Masters of Science in Recreation with emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation at San Francisco State University. She completed 480 clinical internship hours at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and became a Certified Child Life Specialist in November of 2007. Currently, Kristen works as a Child Life Assistant at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She provides developmental activities and therapeutic play for hematology/oncology patients.
 CAROL KIM
Carol Kim is a Certified Child Life Specialist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development with a minor in psychology from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. After graduating she coordinated the Newborn Hearing Screen program at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center servicing patients and families in the NICU and Well Baby Nursery. She entered the graduate program at the University of La Verne to pursue her masters in Child Life. During this time she completed her practical experience at Shriner's Children's Hospital and City of Hope and fulfilled her internship requirements at Queen of the Valley, West Covina and LAC+USC County Medical Center Women and Children's Hospital. She joined the Chase Child Life team in 2005 and is presently working in the sub-specialty on the fifth floor in-patient unit.
 ROSE LUNA
Rose Luna is currently a Certified Child Life Specialist I at Children’s Hospital
Los Angeles. Rose has been providing developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions to patients and their families for five months. Rose began her journey towards becoming a Child Life Specialist first as a volunteer, student, and then completing a 600-hour internship. Rose currently works with patients and families on the 6th floor, inpatient Surgical and Transplant unit. Rose also has experience working with patients and families in the inpatient and outpatient Hematology/Oncology unit, as well as the outpatient surgical unit and Radiology/Fluoroscopy Department. Rose received her Master of Arts degree in Education Psychology with an emphasis in early childhood education in June of 2007. Rose has several years of experience working with children of various age and developmental levels as a substitute teacher and Speech and Language Pathologist.
 LAURA MACRAE-SERPA
Laura MacRae-Serpa is a Certified Child Life Specialist currently working in the Surgical Admitting and Emergency departments. Laura graduated with honors from California State University Los Angeles with a bachelor degree in Child Development. She completed her internship at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and was hired in December 2005. Laura previously worked in General Pediatrics/Subspecialties, Radiology and the Medical/Surgical unit. Laura is currently pursing her Masters degree in Human Development at Pacific Oaks College.
 LIZETH MARTINEZ
Lizeth Martinez graduated with a BA from California State University Los Angeles in Child Development with an emphasis of the hospitalized child. She began working as a Child Life assistant for a year and has been working as a Certified Child Life Specialist for five years at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. She has had experience working in the Hematology/Oncology outpatient unit, Surgical/Medical unit, and is currently working and developing a program in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). Lizeth coordinates a donation named Caring Presence, which provides special gifts to patients who are hospitalized, and coordinates tickets given to families for an opportunity to go to Disneyland. Lizeth’s bilingual skills in Spanish are an asset when communicating with the large Latino population at CHLA.
 CAROLA MENDEZ
Carola Yamileth Mendez Cabrera graduated from California State University Northridge in 2002 with a major in Child Development and minor in Psychology. Currently, she works as a Certified Child Life Specialist in the inpatient Hematology/Oncology unit and Bone Marrow Transplant. She is native from Guatemala City, where she worked as a pre-school teacher. She is a bicultural professional working on her Masters Degree at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena California. She is an active member of the Association for Hospitalized Children in Latino America created in Mexico City and Padres Contra El Cancer.
 RACHEL MOYENZADEH
Rachel Moyenzadeh is a Certified Child Life Specialist with a Bachelors Degree in Child Development and minor in Psychology from California State University Northridge. Rachel started with Childrens Hospital by working as a placement student completing 150 hours. Subsequently Rachel started working as a child Life intern completing her 600 hours of clinical work and became a Certified Child Life Specialist in May 2008. Currently, Rachel is an employee at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in the hematology/oncology department.
 CAROLINA ROMERO
Carolina Romero comes to CHLA after gaining life and work experience in Bronx, New York where she worked on the Adolescent unit at Montefiore Medical Center and, after working at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in the Outpatient Surgery/Procedure unit. Carolina is a Certified Child Life Specialist with a B.S. in Child & Family Development from San Diego State University and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Mills College. She has worked with children of all ages in a variety of settings, and continues to expand her experience and knowledge of children and families through various modalities, including being an instructor at the community college level and volunteering in the community.
 ELIZABETH B. SCHENCK, BS, MA, CCLS
Elizabeth B. Schenck is currently the Child Life Specialist for the Rehabilitation/Acute Care on 6 North. Elizabeth graduated from Wheelock College in Boston, MA with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and continued her education at Mills College in Oakland, CA where she earned a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Child Life. She completed 900 clinical internship hours at UCSF Children's Hospital in San Francisco and Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach, CA. Her areas of focus during her internships were Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology as well as medical surgical care. Elizabeth provides developmentally appropriate opportunities and activities for patients and families on the unit to promote a sense of normalization and foster developmental growth. She also provides patients and families with procedural preparation, using play to help support their understanding of the hospital environment and experience to enhance the patient and families to cope with the challenges of hospitalization. She hopes to one day establish and implement a free-standing hospice program for children and families to provide them with emotional and spiritual support during the end of life process.
 CHANILLE SCROGGINS
Chanille Scroggins received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pepperdine University. She received her Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Child Life from Illinois State University. She completed 2 practicum rotations in Day Surgery and Radiology at St. John's Hospital and Children's hospital in Peoria, IL. She has completed a 600-hour clinical internship at Arkansas Children's Hospital. During her internship, Chanille's areas of focus were on the Adolescent floor, following patients with General Pediatric needs, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, and Eating Disorders on the unit and in the Teen Lounge. She completed rotations in Pediatric Emergency Medicine as well as on the Infant/Toddler Unit, in the NICU, and in the Burn Center. As a Zero-Based Child Life Specialist at Arkansas Children's Hospital, following her Child Life clinical internship, Chanille provided Child Life services in all areas of the Children's Hospital, including, but not limited to, the Heart Center, Day Surgery, as well areas aforementioned areas above. Chanille was the Child Life Specialist in the Pediatric Emergency Room at Hackensack University Medical Center for 2 years and is currently a Child Life Specialist on the Medical/Surgical Unit at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles. During her training, and currently as a Certified Child Life Specialist, Chanille provides therapeutic interactions and support to a variety of children and families with injury, illness, and throughout hospitalization.
 MARIA ELENA TOME
Maria Elena Tomé is a certified Child Life Specialist II who has worked with children, youth, and families in a variety of settings and capacities for over 25 years. She is currently the Surgical Admitting Supervisor at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles providing therapeutic interventions for chronically and terminally ill children and their families. Ms Tomé has facilitated children’s support groups at the Grossman Burn Center, Padres Contra el Cancér and the Center for Grief and Loss for Children working with Adolescents. Ms. Tomé is a co-author of the Bereavement Packet currently being offered to families after the death of their child at CHLA and is on the planning committee for the annual Childhood Grief and Traumatic Loss Conference. She is a member of Child Life Council and a Founding Board member of the CACLP (California Association of Child Life Professionals).
|
