Meet Our Team

Kelly M. Boyd, MS, CCLS graduated from the University of Georgia and received her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Development and Family Science. She holds also holds a Master’s degree from Texas State University in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Child Life. Kelly completed her practicum and internship experiences at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital before beginning fulltime work on our Pediatric Medicine unit. Her professional focuses are working with children who have ADHD, Autism, and Asperger’s. 

Leah T. Frohnerath, MS, CCLS is a Certified Child Life Specialist.  She is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and received her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from University of St. Francis. Since completing her internship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 1998 and starting her career at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Leah has provided Child Life Services across all diagnosis groups and in many areas.  Leah joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in February of 2013. She is a co-coordinator for the Pet Therapy Program which boasts 25 dog teams and 1 miniature horse.  Leah primarily provides Child Life Services to the Cancer and Blood Disorder In-patient unit.  Her professional focus is on facilitating a collaborative relationship between the child and family and the medical team and empowering children through their medical journey. 

Katie Grabowski, MS, CCLS has been with the child life department since 2013 and serves as an inpatient child life specialist. She spends much of her time in the neurosciences/surgical unit (7N), but also provides additional coverage to the inpatient team, particularly the general pediatrics unit. Katie has a Bachelor's degree in Social Science Education from the University of Central Florida as well as a master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Child Life from Illinois State University. Katie is an Item Writer on the Association of Child Life Professionals’ Child Life Certifying Committee and serves as a mentor in the field. She also has previous experience assisting in conference planning for the Florida Association of Child Life Professionals.

Laura Johnson, MA, CCLS graduated from the University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  Laura attended graduate school at the University of Missouri – Columbia where she completed her master’s degree in human development and family studies with a concentration in child life. She completed her internship at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital before starting her child life career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville, NC.  Laura is now the child life specialist in the NICU at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital where she works to support premature and sick infants and their families.

Kate holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University as well as a Master’s in Child Life from the University of La Verne. She completed her internship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and then immediately transitioned to the Per Diem role at our facility.

Beth Phillips holds a BA in sociology from Michigan State University as well as a Master’s of Science degree in Child Life from the University of La Verne in California. She has previous experience in the early childhood education as well as residential summer camping industries. Beth began at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in 2012 and now works in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit. She has a passion for children’s programming and events. Additionally, Beth also serves on the conference planning committee for the Florida Association of Child Life Professionals and has been selected to present at an upcoming conference of the Association of Child Life Professionals. 

Kelli is a Per Diem Child Life Specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Kelli graduated from Auburn University with a major in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child Life and a minor in Psychology. She completed her internship at Children’s of Alabama and is devoted to aiding patients and their families cope successfully through hospitalization.

Ashley is a Per Diem Child Life Specialist at John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Ashley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child Life from the University of Alabama. After completing her Child Life internship at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Ashley then went on to the University of South Florida to receive a Master’s in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling with a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a Per Diem, Ashley supports the Child Life Department in all units of the hospital where Child Life services are provided, both inpatient and outpatient.

Kat Leibbrandt, BS, CCLS is a Certified Child Life Specialist currently in the Per Diem role as a member of the child life department at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa holding a degrees in Health Sciences and Health Communications. She completed her practicum at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, and her internship at Tampa General Hospital. Kat was the primary Specialist on the General Pediatric Unit for approximately 2 years prior to entering the role of Per Diem.

Danielle is a Per Diem Child Life Specialist. Danielle received her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child Life from the University of Alabama. Additionally, she graduated in 2018 with a Masters in Healthcare Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining our Per Diem team, Danielle has held roles as the primary child life specialist at the Tampa Outpatient Clinic and in the CVICU.