Becoming the Difference: Building Positive Staff Relationships in Healthcare

Kayla Harrison has been a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children’s Health in Dallas since 2014. During her time at Children’s, Kayla has worked in the Heart Center – CVICU, inpatient floor and clinic. Within the Heart Center, Kayla has provided formal education with new employees and nursing students regarding child life services. As a specialist responsible for both an ICU and inpatient setting, Kayla has to balance working with a variety of personalities and work styles. Outside of the Heart Center, Kayla is committed to students, both serving on the student programming committee and as as student supervisor, which affords her the opportunity to mentor a wide range of young professionals.

Keeley has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2016. She is currently employed at Children's Health Dallas and spent two years as the Emergency Department Child Life Specialist. Within the Emergency Department Keeley provided formal education to new employees, volunteers, and local fire chiefs on the importance of Child Life. Currently she is the Child Life Specialist for Gastroenterology and Medical Surgery, which has allowed her to work with variety of patients and medical staff professionals. Additionally, Keeley is the chair of the Child Life Recognition Committee which helps increase staff morale and awareness of child life hospital wide.

Lizzy has a been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2014. She has spent four years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Health Dallas, which serves a variety of surgical and medical conditions, newborns through adolescence. Through her clinical role, Lizzy has the opportunity to work with a variety of healthcare professionals and personalities on a daily basis. She assists with her units recognition and teamwork committee and twice a year attends Camp Sol, a weekend retreat for siblings and families experiencing the death of a child. In addition to her clinical role, Lizzy is a member of her department’s Student Programming Committee and serves as the child life representative on the hospital wide Schwartz Center Rounds and ECMO Reunion committees. Lizzy has experience presenting to hospital staff, child life peers, and volunteers on the topics of child life services, death, and bereavement.