Meet Child Life On Call
Our team is passionate about creating tools and solutions to empower every child and family facing medical experiences.
Katie Taylor, CCLS
CEO and Founder, Child Life On Call
Even though I supported children and parents day-in and day-out as a child life specialist, it wasn’t until I became a mom myself that I realized just how deeply terrifying and lonely it can be to parent a sick child.
I worked even harder during my shifts, trying to connect with as many families as I could. I felt their pain more deeply, and saw their fear more clearly. And when I passed parents in the waiting room at the end of my workday, I was gutted to know they wouldn’t have the help they deserved.
It was here that the idea for Child Life On Call began to take shape.
By leveraging technology, and putting education and support into an easy-to-use app, I found a way to empower patients, their families, and the care team, and expand access to child life services to people who needed it the most.
The key to better care is here, and it fits in the palm of your hand. Let me show you what the Child Life On Call app can do for you.
Bachelor of Arts, Penn State University
Practicum, Children’s National Medical Center
Internship, Inova Children’s Hospital
Fellowship, Hem/Onc & Adolescent Medicine, Inova Children’s Hospital
12+ years Clinical Experience in PICU, ER, Adult, Outpatient, Inpatient Services
International, National Speaker on Child Life Services
Jim Donovan
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
40+ years experience as a health care executive
Managed care consultant for children’s hospitals and pediatric specialists
Bachelor of Science in Business, University of California-Berkley
Master’s in Public Health, UCLA
Stanford Executive Program Graduate
Emily Martinec
Customer Success Specialist
10+ Years as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Dell Children’s Medical Center and Ochsner Hospital for Children
Experience in several specialties including an outpatient clinic.
Bachelor in Science in Child and Family Studies from Louisiana State University
Lyndsey Fedorko
Manager of Operations
Former Director of Operations for Primrose School of Dripping Springs
Experienced preschool teacher
Associate of Arts, Itasca Community College
Mom to a child with complex medical issues
Annie Gunning
Child Life Virtual Services
22+ Years of Child Life Experience
Experience in Acute, Critical, Emergency, NICU, Rehab, Hem/Onc and Private Practice
B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Missouri
Child Life On Call Parent Advisory Council
The Child Life On Call Parent Advisory Council gives input and insight into ensuring our content and tools are impactful, relevant and compassionate for every parent.
Kate Kostolansky
Katie is a mom and the founder of the Brave Bears Club. Their mission is to empower children with epilepsy through educational & inclusive resources that provide comfort and representation.
Alex Zavala
Alex is the founder of The NICU Dad and The NICU Dad Podcast. He works with several NICU organizations and am a NICU dad advocate.
Tanisha Burke-Wormley
Tanisha is the creator of Medical Moms of NICU LLC helping NICU Moms of medically-complex children navigate the medical system with ease through Medical Mom Tips, MMON Podcasting, and Postpartum Consultations.
Mijha Godfrey
Mijha is the founder of Jambo Books and race-positive educator and activist. Jambo Books is a children’s book box subscription company that exists to shine a spotlight on children of color and their stories through the power of literature. I offer presentations to parents teaching them how to celebrate diversity and nurture feelings of belonging using children’s literature.
Kimberly Reyes
Kimberly Reyes is an educator, historian and parent to a preschooler who was born at 26 weeks. She speaks often on the NICU experience and other challenges facing parents whose journey has been anything but the ordinary.
Courtney Morey
Courtney is the founder of the Annie Louise Foundation and she is so grateful to help uplift and validate the experiences of other medical families. Proper support and access to resources changes everything and Courtney wants that for all families, no one left feeling isolated!
Emma Springer
Emma became a caregiver to a medically complex child through a prenatal diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Although hard, it was the honor of a lifetime to be her daughter’s voice and advocate. As a bereaved mother, it is her hope that every parent and child would get as much as they can out of life, no matter what challenges that includes.
Cortney Given
sCortney is a mom to three daughters, one who has Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She help other medical moms build confidence, find parenting solutions, and create self care practices through emotional health skills.
Ryan Sheedy
Ryan created Mejo, your ultimate digital assistant for caregiving, revolutionizing how you support you and your loved ones by centralizing all information to make caregiving more efficient and effective. Ryan is a Dad, Rare Disease Caregiver and the lives in Bentonville, AR with his wife and 3 sons.
Child Life On Call Board of Advisors
These highly qualified individuals ensure the delivery of accurate, innovative, and practical resources to every user.
Jamie Gentille, MPH, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University
Master’s in Public Health, Walden University
System Director of Child Life Services and Community Engagement
Adjunct professor, George Mason University
Ambassador, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Author, Surviving HIV: Growing Up a Secret and Being Positive.
Billy Baker, MPH
Consultant specializing in managed Medicaid spaces
Past clients include National Medicaid HMO’s, Government, and Health Systems; Cook County Health and Hospital System
Leslie Lipscomb
Founder and CEO of Inspired Engagement, LLC
Healthcare strategist, practice optimization expert, and motivational storyteller
15+ years industry experience, including 9 years working in the Inova Health system
Jody Thomas, PhD, LCP
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, specializing in pediatric medical illness and trauma
Bachelor of Arts in Child Development, California State University-Northridge
Adjunct faculty member, Stanford University
Consultant, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Founder, Meg Foundation
Kami Stone, RN, MSN, CPN
Director of Pediatrics, St. David’s Children’s Hospital, Austin, TX
Previous experience as a nursing educator, charge nurse, and emergency room nurse at Texas Children’s in Houston, TX
Bachelor of Applied Science, Registered Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Master’s Degree, Nursing Administration, The University of Texas at Arlington
Miriam Damvar, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Clinical experience at St. David’s Children’s Hospital, Dell Children’s Medical Center, and Miami Children’s
Implemented Child Life program at Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Munich, Germany
Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
Annie Jones, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Clinical experience at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Children’s Health in Dallas, TX
Passionate about helping children and families impacted by trauma and bereavement
Dr. Carla Laos, MD
Medical Director, St. Rose Children’s Hospital Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Henderson, NV
Experience in pediatric urgent care, pediatric telemedicine, and school specific telehealth
Pediatric residency, University of Florida-Jacksonville
PEM Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston TX
Lisa Sykes
Medical Parent, Sickle Cell Anemia
Business Owner, Lifestyle Influencer
Hannah Lewellen
Contract Artist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, Rhodes College
Brady Lucas, M.Ed., CHES
Bachelor of Science Biobehavioral Health, minor in Health Policy and Administration Penn State University.
Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction emphasis in Children’s Literature from Penn State University.
Assistant Director of Foundation Relations, Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health.
. Institutional Review Board Member, National Marrow Donor Program (Be The Match®)
– 2-time childhood cancer survivor
– Board member Prep4Gold
Meet our Partners
Child Life On Call is proud to recognize and support these outstanding organizations.
