Balancing Parenthood and Child Life: A Panel Discussion

Balancing parenthood and a child life career is not easy! We have invited 4 panelists to join us in an open and honest discussion about how parenthood has impacted their career, role, and perspective of child life. This will be an insightful conversation prompted by discussion questions and a live Q&A. Here are our panelists: 1. Andie Sherman, BA, CCLS Andie is currently a CCLS on the Hem/Onc unit at Rady Children's Hospital where she has worked for the past 15 years. Andie has served as the Child Life Lead, overseen the Child Life Internship program, led the hospital wide Professional Practice Council, and presented at various conferences. Andie lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters, who are 13 and 14 years old. 2. Andrea McGinnis, BA, CCLS Andrea worked as a CCLS for 12 years at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia serving the ED, inpatient surgical trauma unit, and the outpatient clinic setting. Andrea left the hospital setting in 2021 to utilize her expertise in the school setting as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist. In 2023, she also started her own private practice called SEL in a Nutshell. Andrea is married and has two sons, 8 and 5 years old. 3. Lauren Stevens, CCLS, CTRS Lauren has been a CCLS & CTRS for 14 years at Children’s Hospital Colorado, primarily working in the surgery center. She is married with two children, a 10yo daughter and an 8yo son. 4. Laura Sufka, MA, CCLS Laura's experience spans over 22 years, including inpatient and outpatient work at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, and M Health’s Masonic Children’s Hospital, Fairview. She co-founded the Minnesota Child Life Coalition, is an adjunct professor, authored Play In Hospitals: Real Life Perspectives, and has presented internationally. Laure started her own private practice, Children’s Coping Connection, LLC. She is married with three children, 10, 13, and 15 years old. *This event will be recorded, but you must be registered to view it.