UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the latest episode of the Penn State Alumni Association's "The People of Penn State" podcast, alumna Katie Taylor discusses her role as a child life specialist for Child Life On Call.
Child Life On Call is a digital platform revolutionizing pediatric healthcare by putting parents at the center of the medical journey.
With over 13 years of experience as a certified child life specialist, Taylor has made significant contributions to the field of child life and the families she’s served with over a decade of working at the bedside. She is an accomplished author and speaker on child life, and the host of the Child Life On Call podcast.
Taylor's work emphasizes the vital role of child life services in supporting caregivers and enhancing the medical journeys of children.
"We really help with the psychosocial well-being of children and families when they're in the hospital," Taylor said. "So, that comes with helping manage pain, helping children and families understand their diagnosis, coping with being disconnected from loved ones or their school. And we really come at it from that child development, trauma-informed, family-centered lens."
Taylor graduated from Penn State in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communications, with minors in business and sociology. During her time as a student, Taylor was a member of the Lionettes Dance Team and an active participant in THON.
You can listen to the audio version of the full podcast conversation or watch the video version on YouTube.
About 'The People of Penn State'
Spreading the good news and accomplishments of Penn State and its alumni is at the core of the Penn State Alumni Association's mission.
Hosted by Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford, graduate class of 2020, "The People of Penn State" podcast shares the stories of Penn Staters who are making an impact professionally and/or within their communities.
Other recent guests include Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid N. Mumin, sports broadcaster and producer Hannah Mears, and Founder of Black Doctors Consortium Ala Stanford.