Development and Implementation of Child Life Curriculum for Medical Students

Hilary Woodward, MS, CCLS is a child life specialist in the Pediatric Emergency Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. She is an adjunct faculty member at Bank Street College of Education as well as founder and director of the child life program at BASE Camp, a simulation-based training program in pediatric emergency medicine for physicians, nurses, and child life specialists (pembasecamp.org). In 2021, Hilary was elected to the executive board of INSPIRE (International Network for Simulation-based Pediatric Innovation, Research, & Education), and she is the first psychosocial professional to serve in this role

Hilary’s professional interests include simulation, interprofessional education and collaboration, and pediatric pain management; she has published and presented her work locally, nationally, and internationally. Hilary has served as a subject matter expert and item writer for the Child Life Certification Commission, and she is a past chair of the Association of Child Life Professionals' Mentorship Committee and Pre-Internship Work Group.

Annie Levinson, MS, CCLS, is a certified child life specialist living and working in NYC. After 3 years working in a traditional hospital setting, Annie recently made the switch to working in a community based setting in NYC. With the team at A Good Place Therapy, Annie is developing a child life private practice to help serve the community of Lower Manhattan and bring child life services outside of the four walls of the hospital. In addition to this work, Annie maintains per diem status at a local hospital in Queens.

Annie is thrilled to be attending her first child life conference with her colleagues from Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital- New York Presbyterian to present on the important work she was able to do while she was on their child life team!

Zach Pitkowsky, MD MPH is a pediatric resident at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He attended Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons for medical school where he collaborated with child life specialists on curriculum development and implementation for medical students. He grew up in New Jersey and currently lives in Cincinnati. Zach is excited about a career in pediatrics and continuing to collaborate with his child life colleagues!