Meet Our Child Life Team

Carli Fischer is a certified child life specialist in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences from the University of Florida, followed by a master’s degree in Child Life from the University of Georgia. Fischer completed a child life internship at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.

Leah Frohnerath is a certified child life specialist in the Child Life department at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She also coordinates the Johns Hopkins All Children’s pet therapy program. She joined the hospital staff in 2013. In her role, Frohnerath works with a Labrador Retriever facility dog named Brea (Bray-uh). Together, they provide child life services to children in radiology, the Infusion Center, the pediatric intensive care unit, the cardiac intensive care unit and the cancer and blood disorders unit. Frohnerath earned a bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Florida State University, followed by a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. 

Katie Grabowski is an inpatient certified child life specialist and education specialist in the Child Life department at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2013. In her role, Grabowski works with patients in the neurosciences/surgical unit, serves as the coordinator of student programming and facilitates ongoing staff development and learning. Prior to joining the hospital, Grabowski served as an item writer on the Association of Child Life Professionals’ Child Life Certifying Committee, and assisted in conference planning for the Florida Association of Child Life Professionals. Grabowski earned a bachelor's degree in Social Science Education from the University of Central Florida, followed by a master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Child Life from Illinois State University.

Carlye Hubert is a certified child life specialist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and neonatal intensive care unit. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. Hubert earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from the University of Central Florida, followed by a master’s degree in Child Life from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her internship at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan.

Tara Hudson is a certified child life specialist in the hematology/oncology unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. Prior to joining our hospital, Hudson worked in the hematology/oncology unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, Florida. She completed a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Services with a concentration in Child and Family Studies, followed by an internship at Tampa General Children’s Medical Center. She was also a volunteer and practicum student at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Claire Jennings provides child life services on the dialysis and neonatal intensive care units at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2020. Jennings earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and completed additional child life courses at the University of California Santa Barbara. Jennings completed her practicum at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and an internship at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Dara Jackson, BS, CCLS is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She has worked at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital since September 2008. She has 15 + years in the field of Child Life. The majority of that has been working with the hematology/oncology population. She is the Child Life practicum coordinator and works primarily in the hematology/oncology clinic and infusion center. Dara is active on several committees with the Association of Child Life Professionals. 

Renee Savic, BS, CCLS graduated from Florida State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences. Before joining the staff at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2012, Renee worked at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa for 18 years where she was the child life coordinator. Renee has served as President of the Florida Association of Child Life Professionals and on various committees for the Association of Child Life Professionals. Renee received the Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence Award in 2018. This award is presented annually to an individual child life specialist who has demonstrated exemplary child life care and a high level of clinical skill. 

Rayna is a certified child life specialist in the Emergency Center at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She is a graduate of Ball State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Life and Family Studies in 2013. Rayna completed her child life internship at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and became certified in child life in March of 2014.  

Maggie Teichmann is a certified child life specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She completed her internship at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Alexandra Dorn earned her Bachelor of Science degree in educational studies from the University of South Florida. She joined the hospital staff in August 2020. Before joining the hospital, Dorn worked for an elementary school in the Pinellas County school system.

Madison Dilgard is a child life activity tech in the Child Life department at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. In her role, Dilgard helps engage children in activities and play, and also helps plan special events for patients and families. Dilgard earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a minor in Psychology from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Allison McLelland earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and a minor in education and a developmental disabilities. She joined the hospital staff in September 2020. Before joining the hospital, she worked as a registered behavioral technician.