Play Programming: International Child Life in Action - (2025)

As Manager of Child Life Services at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar, Caroline leads the largest child life team across Africa, Asia, and Continental Europe. She is passionate about advocating for elevating the profile of child life within her organization, Qatar, and the Middle East. In support of sustainable child life programming within Qatar’s culturally diverse, multi-national health care setting, Caroline fosters an integrated approach through the inclusion of the health play specialty and a diverse play team. Caroline is a committed advocate for shared governance within teams. As co-lead of Sidra Medicine’s Wellbeing Council, she deeply values staff engagement and inclusion in wellness initiatives that promote mental and emotional health.  

Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and a master’s degree from Baker University. Upon earning her child life certification in 2004, she embarked on a career shift that aligned with her long-held dream of working in child life. Caroline worked in varied roles at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri for 15 years before relocating to Qatar in 2017. She provided child life services in the surgical and burn unit, led the Internship Program for nine years, and served as the Education and Resource Manager. She served as adjunct Professor of Child Life at Missouri State University and has supported children in medical specialty camps. Caroline has volunteered in several international pediatric settings in support of psychosocial program development. Throughout her career, Caroline remains steadfast in her dedication to mentoring, educating, and advocating for the development of programs that provide compassionate care for children and the vulnerable.

Salma Begum is a dedicated child life assistant with over 7 years of experience at Sidra Medicine in Qatar. She holds a master's degree in arts and a bachelor's degree in education from India. Prior to her career shift to healthcare, Salma spent 14 years teaching kindergarten and elementary school children, ages 4 to 9, in one of Qatar's reputed Indian schools. Her passion for supporting patients and families in a healthcare setting has driven her to specialize in normalizing the hospital environment for children, offering comfort, and fostering social interactions through play that helps children cope with their medical journeys. She actively engages with both patients and their families, creating a supportive and empathetic atmosphere.

Salma’s exceptional dedication to patient and family-centered care was recognized in 2023 when she was honored with the prestigious Patient and Family-Centered Care Award at the CNO Awards. Through her work, Salma continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the families she serves, ensuring that children feel as comfortable and cared for as possible during their hospitalization.

Aayisha Hamith is from Colombo, Sri Lanka. She received her Degree in Early Childhood and Psychology from Cambridge University in the UK. Aayisha’s experiences working with children include early childhood classroom teaching and providing counseling and support for traumatized children in a Sri Lankan orphanage. Aayisha is passionate about providing strong emotional support and socialization opportunities for her patients through play programming. She has worked at Sidra Medicine for 7 years.