DISCOVER
The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
Pediatric Facility Dog, Icee, Joins the Team
Meet Icee, our newest and furriest team member. Icee, named after the beloved frozen drink, is Mount Sinai's fifth facility dog and will join the team to provide support to patients, families, and staff. Icee, along with handler Kaleigh Bieling, Certified Child Life Specialist, and secondary handler Kyla O'Hayon, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, will provide Animal Assisted Therapy in the pediatric hematology/oncology settings.
Kaleigh and Kyla spent a week at Canine Assistants Camp in Georgia where they bonded with Icee and grew together as a team before arriving at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital. This immersive experience helped them build a strong foundation and prepared them to integrate Icee into clinical care in a safe and meaningful way.
In his first two weeks, Icee has already jumped into his role with enthusiasm. He’s been busy visiting patients and families in both the outpatient clinic and inpatient unit, quickly becoming a familiar and welcoming presence.
Icee’s personality is a perfect match for the pediatric environment. He is incredibly calm, gentle, and loving. He has a natural ability to provide comfort, often leaning in for snuggles or lying alongside a patient's bed. His cuddly nature and warm demeanor bring a sense of peace and connection wherever he goes.
As Icee continues to build relationships within our hospital community, the team is excited to see the joy and comfort he will continue to bring.
Noel’s Spotlight: Finding Joy and Connection Through KidZone TV
KidZone TV (KZTV) is not only a production studio, but also is a play space for our patients and families. Patients can create their own shows, host during live studio sessions, technically direct with our producers, and engage in live studio activities, like the green screen. One of our patients, Noel, has participated in all these services and more.
Noel has been a very active KZTV creator and participant. He watches every show from his room, and when able to visit the studio in person, he takes center stage and hosts the programming. Through his experiences at KZTV he can make connections with our producers and clinicians. Through co-hosting with child life specialists and our creative arts therapists, Noel can form stronger bonds with the entire department.
Noel created his own bingo show, “Noel’s KidZone TV Bingo,” which highlighted all his work with the studio. Noel also was featured in the “Why I Love...” video series where he talked about his experience hosting at KZTV. He shared that he finds it “really cool to be on TV.” Noel is an excellent example of how a patient can use the studio to try new things and enjoy the Zone during their admission.
Icee stands tall in his new home in the hematology/ oncology clinic.
Noel's enthusiasm for the studio brings joy to the other patients and to staff. When Noel is here, he truly is a part of the KidZone TV team.
National Conference Offers Opportunity to Share Innovative Work
Every year, the Association of Child Life Professionals hosts a national conference where professionals are invited to come together to share expertise and innovation within the field. It is a great opportunity to discuss programming and research, as well as to network with professionals across the country and internationally. This year’s conference was held in Los Angeles during May. Morgan Stojanowski, Director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, and Katherine Parker, Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator and Supervisor, attended the conference to represent our team and to present on two important topics. This first presentation, titled “Family-Centered Care: Supporting Children Impacted by a Parent’s Cancer Diagnosis,” examined the administrative development of a unique role in the child life profession, as well as Katherine’s current clinical work in that role. Morgan and Katherine presented together, providing a concrete overview of interdisciplinary collaboration, networking and marketing of the role, and recommendations for clinical assessments and interventions.
Katherine also presented solo on “Promoting DEI Dialogue through Interdisciplinary Health Equity Journal Clubs,” where she discussed the current collaboration between the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, the Pediatric Residency Program, and Social Work that provides opportunities for community building and professional growth within a safe space to discuss topics related to health equity, racism, and interdisciplinary healthcare.
Arts in Medicine | Programming Update
The Arts in Medicine Program, part of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, provides an opportunity for different artists, organizations, and institutions to bring art, culture, and history into the hospital. Patients and caregivers can engage creatively with various community partners while receiving care at the hospital. This spring, the Arts in Medicine program hosted several groups for patient and caregiver interactions in both the Zone and the KidZone TV Studio. In April, Carolina Rial from NBC’s “The Voice,” visited the KZTV Studio to host a music show. Later in the month, the meditation group “Sound Observer” facilitated sound relaxations for caregivers, siblings, and patients. Other partners have included local digital animators, authors/ illustrators, and nearby museums. Collaborating partners have shared enthusiastic feedback about their collaboration with the team. “I would tell other visitors to be prepared to have an incredible time! Everyone is so welcoming, and the environment is very comforting,” one visitor stated. “I would encourage all colleagues [in similar programs] to also participate and not hesitate to be part of such a rewarding opportunity,” another visitor added. To refer different community artists, partners, or organizations to the program, please reach out to the coordinating music therapist, joseph.cooper@mountsinai.org.
Staff Accomplishments
Abby Patch and Katie Messina presented for the Association of Child Life Professionals 2025 on-demand series focused on interventions that connect child life. They presented “A Cohort Model: How collaboration across units and disciplines with a similar patient population allows for increased creativity and care.”
Todd O’Connor co-authored an article titled “The Arts Therapies in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Insights from a CrossCultural Knowledge Exchange Forum.” It was part of a special issue Behavioral Sciences is publishing on Innovations in Music-Based Interventions for Psychological Wellbeing.
Olivia Centonza received her Licensed Creative Arts Therapist licensure in April 2025.
Morgan Stojanowski and Katherine Parker presented at the national Association of Child Life Professionals Conference in May; the title of their talk was “Family-Centered Care: Supporting Children Impacted by a Parent’s Cancer Diagnosis.” At the same conference, Katherine presented on: “Promoting DEI Dialogue Through Interdisciplinary Health Equity Journal Clubs.”
Morgan Stojanowski (L), Director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, and Katherine Parker (R), Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator and Supervisor, presented at the Association of Child Life Professionals conference.
Child Life and Social Work Coordinate the First NICU Reunion in
Many Years
In June, Katie Messina, NICU CCLS, and Kelly Gallagher, NICU Social Worker, hosted the first NICU reunion in eight years. Held in Guggenheim Pavilion, the reunion attracted over 200 people who came to see staff, share memories, and participate in fun stations. These child-life themed stations, planned by Katie, addressed development, comfort and coping. They also included a play mat with developmentally appropriate toys, a sibling station with normalizing activities such as coloring and video games, a station to write a letter to current NICU families, a photo booth, a handprint activity and a giveaway station. Families also enjoyed catered food throughout the event thanks to donations and NICU leadership. Extra special moments included seeing families who went to caregiver events together reunite, and seeing siblings from old visits proudly show how they play with their babies. It was also great to see various staff members reunite with the families and reflect on their NICU journey.
Creating
Comfort and
Joy:
Child Life and UMPS CARE Team Up for a Memorable Day
Thanks to a collaboration between the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department and UMPS CARE Charities, the official philanthropy arm of the Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires, pediatric patients and families enjoyed a funfilled day in the Child Life Zone and inpatient units. The July event featured a special visit with four MLB umpires, the delivery of 100 Build-A-Bear stuffed animals and goody bags, as well as the opportunity for patients to select personalized outfits for their new furry friends. The MLB umpires warmly greeted the children, adolescents, and caregivers while helping them dress the bears in their new wardrobes. One adolescent patient was particularly excited to meet the umpires and receive a Build-A-Bear adorned in the uniform of her favorite baseball team, the NY Mets. The umpires exchanged playful banter with the patient as her ear-to-ear smile lit up the room. Another young patient enjoyed quality time with one of the umpires as they worked their way together through an activity book inside of the goody bag. “Special visits play an important role in supporting the emotional well-being of our pediatric population. We are grateful to UMPS CARE Charities for helping us to build treasured memories for patients, families, and staff alike,” Cheryl Strauss, CCLS, Zone Clinical Coordinator, said.
Art Provides a Pathway to Expression for Patient
Lucia, 17, recently completed admission to Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, where she actively engaged in a wide range of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy services. During her extended hospitalization, Lucia participated in animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, and visits to the KidZone TV studio. A regular in the Zone, she spent considerable time in the KZTV studio, taking part in shows as both a studio audience member and a co-host. In collaboration with Kyla Ohayon, art therapist, Lucia co-hosted “Art 4 The Soul.” On the show, Kyla and Lucia used medical materials to make art. Lucia made butterflies using medical gauze for the wings, and band aids for the body. The goal of the show was to promote sustainable artmaking using readily available materials, while also encouraging patients to explore their medical experiences and feelings through creative expression. Lucia noted that the show helped her see medical supplies in a new light, and made the hospital setting, “feel less scary.”
In addition to her enthusiastic participation in hospital programming, Lucia also submitted two original paintings to the upcoming edition of Reflections, the hospital’s teen art and literary magazine.
Professor Bunsen Honeydew Retires from Facility Dog Role
It is with profound gratitude and bittersweet emotions that we announce the retirement of Professor Bunsen Honeydew, our cherished facility dog and a foundational member of the Paws and Play program. In June, Professor embarked on his well-deserved retirement, marking the conclusion of an extraordinary tenure.
Since joining the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department on March 20, 2017, Professor has been a true trailblazer, establishing Mount Sinai as the first hospital in New York State to pair a Certified Child Life Specialist with a full-time, trained facility dog. Throughout his remarkable eight years of service and 40-hour work weeks, he and his clinical handlers helped establish animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as an essential component of pediatric care, providing over 22,000 sessions of comfort and support to patients, families, and staff.
Professor made a particularly meaningful impact on the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology population, serving as a steadfast companion and helping to ease pain and anxiety during challenging procedures. He also played a crucial role in research studying the effects of facility dogs on pediatric pain and anxiety, contributing significantly to our understanding of animal-assisted interventions. His remarkable contributions have been featured in numerous publications and events. Professor will now enjoy his golden years being a full-time big brother, taking long walks in Central Park with his “paw-rent” Ali Spikestein and enjoying cozy naps on the couch. We thank Professor for his many years of service to Mount Sinai Hospital.
Patient Makes Connections through Play
Patient Sylvester, 12, recently received care at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, where he embraced everything the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department has to offer. He was often heard laughing from across the Zone as he played air hockey with his dad. Sylvester was also a familiar face in the audience of various KZTV shows and was always accompanied by his favorite companion, facility dog Summer, and her primary handler, Bethany Pincus. From the moment he arrived, Sylvester’s genuine kindness and enthusiasm was felt by all, as he consistently checked in on others and wished everyone a wonderful day. His warm and thoughtful nature came through not only during his individual session with child life and creative arts therapy staff, but also in his interactions with fellow pediatric patients throughout the Zone and the KZTV studio. While hosting “Master Jedi” bingo with his child life specialist, Sarah Griffiths, Sylvester inspired other patients.“It was so impressive to watch Sylvester continuously encouraging other patients watching the show to be brave, try new things, and step outside of their comfort zones like he was by hosting his own show,” Sarah remarked. Moments like these, offer a special kind of encouragement from one patient to another.
Welcome, New Staff Members
Amelia Edwards, CCLS in the NICU, graduated in May 2024 from Baylor University with a BS in Child and Family Studies. Amelia has experience working with children and families in a variety of settings including nurture centers, child development schools, and other clinical programs.
Martha Morton, a graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in both Television and Children’s Literature, recently joined the department as a Production Assistant with KidZone TV. Before starting this role, she interned for KZTV in 2019 and joined as On-Call Producer in 2022.
Pictured here is Professor Bunsen Honeydew.
Sylvester holds his amazing drawing of Summer while the two share time together.