Meet Our Team
Our Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Child Life Department covers our general pediatric inpatient unit, pediatric intensive care unit, and our Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders hematology/oncology outpatient clinic. Child Life Staff are required to have an undergraduate degree in a number of disciplines related to the child development field, complete a 600 hour supervised internship as well as pass a national certifying examination. Many staff members also hold multiple degrees in higher education covering a variety of specialties and services along with additional certifications. All Child Life Specialists are trained to work with hospitalized children and their families as well as to understand the difficulties that accompany hospitalization.
Anne Reilly, MS, CCLS, Child Life Department Manager & PICU Specialist
Sarah Garvey, BS, CCLS, weekend Child Life Specialist
Kelsey Gitchell, BA, CCLS, per Diem
Jillian Hinko, BA, CCLS, Outpatient Valerie Fund Child Life Specialist
Kim Hudock, BA, CCLS, Pediatric unit Child Life Specialist
Shannon Jenkins, MS, CCLS, per diem Child Life Specialist
Sara Pagano MS, CCLS Inpatient Valerie Fund Child Life Specialist
Esther Savetsky, ATR-BC, LCAT , Art Therapist Valerie Fund and Inpatient Units