Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

Meet Our Child Life Team

Learn a bit more about the unique, creative individuals available to help patients and families.

Child Life Leadership

Heather Bailey, M.S., CCLS — Heather Bailey, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Program Manager

Heather Bailey is the Child Life Program Manager at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2007. Heather earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology-Child Life from Utica College of Syracuse University in Utica, New York, followed by an internship at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida.. She completed a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Heather is honored to be a part of this organization and team to serve patients and families in this community.

Emily Prior — Emily Prior
Program Coordinator

Emily Prior is the program coordinator for Child Life, Service Excellence, Patient Academics, Music Therapy and Spiritual Care at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Before joining the Child Life department, Prior worked with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Home Care as a patient service coordinator. She also worked as a lead certified medical assistant at Moffitt Cancer Center. Prior graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in health administration and a concentration in health management.

Dara Jackson, B.S., CCLS — Dara Jackson, B.S., CCLS
Child Life Supervisor

Dara Jackson, BS, CCLS is the Child Life practicum coordinator and an outpatient Child Life specialist. She sees patients in pre-operative surgery, dialysis and in the infusion center. She joined the hospital staff in 2008. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining our hospital, Jackson worked in Child Life, specializing in hematology/oncology. Jackson is a member of the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Child Life Specialists

Kellie Carlson, B.S., CCLS — Kellie Carlson, B.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

Kellie Carlson is a per diem certified child life specialist who began working at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2022. Carlson earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She completed her internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Katherine “Kate” Coltrane, M.Ed., CCLS, CTRS/LRT — Katherine “Kate” Coltrane, M.Ed., CCLS, CTRS/LRT
Child Life Specialist

Kate is a Certified Child Life Specialist in peri-operative services at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Kate earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, followed by a master’s degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She completed her internship at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Carol Dahlquist BA, CCLS — Carol Dahlquist BA, CCLS
Child Life Specialist

Carol Dahlquist BA, CCLS is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Exceptional Education. She joined All Children’s Hospital in 1997 as a child life assistant, completed her internship internally, and ultimately received her Child Life Certification in 1998. Carol was the child life volunteer coordinator and most recently covered Peri-op until retiring in June 2021. Carol has since returned to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital as a per diem CCLS to cover areas, as needed.

Carli Fischer, M.S., CCLS — Carli Fischer, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

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 T. Frohnerath, M.S., CCLS, CEIM — Leah T. Frohnerath, M.S., CCLS, CEIM
Child Life Specialist

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 E. Grabowski, M.S., CCLS — Katie E. Grabowski, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Education Specialist

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 M.S., CCLS — Carlye Hubert M.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

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.

Claire Jennings, B.S. — Claire Jennings, B.S.
Child Life Specialist

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.

Renee Savic, B.S., CCLS — Renee Savic, B.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

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.

Stephanie Sharf, M.S., CCLS — Stephanie Sharf, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

Stephanie Sharf is a certified child life specialist in the cancer and blood disorders unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida, followed by a master’s degree in Developmental Disabilities from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stephanie completed her internship at AdventHealth for Children in Orlando, Florida.

Rayna Tanis, B.S., CCLS — Rayna Tanis, B.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

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, B.S., CCLS — Maggie Teichmann, B.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

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.

Anna Zeiba, M.S., CCLS — Anna Zeiba, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Specialist

Anna Zieba is a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. Before joining our hospital, Zieba worked as a child life specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, New York. She also worked as a child life specialist and perinatal bereavement coordinator in the Women’s and Children’s Services at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Zieba earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Arizona, followed by a master’s degree in Professional Studies, Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts. She completed a child life internship at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Child Life Techs

Madison Dilgard, B.S. — Madison Dilgard, B.S.
Child Life Activity Tech

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.

Kaylee Zichy — Kaylee Zichy
Child Life Activity Tech

Kaylee Zichy is a Child Life Activity Tech at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined hospital staff in May 2022. In her role, Kaylee provides opportunities for play and diversion for patients and their families. Kaylee helps support the CVICU, CDH, and general pediatric units. Kaylee is also the volunteer coordinator for the Child Life department. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.

Child Life Aides

Tasha Ellis — Tasha Ellis
Child Life Aid

Tasha Ellis is a Child Life Aide who focuses on patient safety through ensuring the sanitation of departmental toys and providing memorable play experiences in RJ’s Activity Center. She began her Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Career in the Environmental Services department in 1999 and after two years, transitioned to the Child Life Team.

Elijah Shannon — Elijah Shannon
Child Life Aid

Elijah Shannon is a Child Life Aide who focuses on keeping patients and families safe through sanitizing toys in the playrooms of our facility. He is a Florida native and has been working with the department since 2015.

Rebekah Young — Rebekah Young
Child Life Aid

Rebekah Young is a Child Life aide at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. Before joining the hospital, Young was a preschool teacher, infant care provider, and camp director. She has also worked as a chiropractic assistant.