Meaningful Workplace Connections: Why Investment In a Connected Culture is Crucial in The Child Life Profession - 2024 Child Life Conference

Katelyn has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2017. She spent the first 18 months of her career supporting patients and families in the hematology and oncology unit before transitioning to work in a per diem capacity serving patients and families around the hospital system. In 2022, Katelyn transitioned to become the first fulltime outreach child life specialist in the organization and focused her efforts in radiology, helping to reduce the use of sedation in children undergoing MRIs for the first time. In addition to her clinical role, Katelyn serves as a mentor to new child life specialists and serves as the co-chair on the Teamwork and Recognition committee for the child life department.

Ashton Magness is a CCLS from Dallas, TX. Ashton has been certified and worked at Children's Health for a little over a year and a half. She works with a team of CCLS in radiology, with her primary coverage modalities including Nuclear Medicine, Fluoroscopy, CT and Sonography. Ashton is currently excited about the work her and her team are doing to expand their Kids Can MRI program to areas such as Nuclear Medicine and CT to help reduce sedation rates. As a student, Ashton completed clinical rotations at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Clevelend, OH (Internship) and Integris Children's at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK (Practicum). She graduated from John Brown University with a B.S. in Family and Human Services and with her M.S. In Child Life Studies from Missouri State University. Along with her fellow presenter, she is a co-chair for Children's Health's child life department Teamwork and Recognition Committee. Ashton looks forward to sharing with conference attendees what has been dreamed up and provided for her teammates, how those initiatives have impacted department culture, and the importance of emphasizing relationships within a work environment.