This month, Texas Children’s celebrates a remarkable milestone: the 50th anniversary of our Child Life department, newly renamed Child Life, Creative Arts & Education to reflect the full breadth of its programs and people.
What began in 1975 as a one-person effort focused on therapeutic play has grown into a multidisciplinary team of nearly 70 professionals embedded across inpatient, outpatient and emergency care. These team members—certified child life specialists; activity, school, library and program support coordinators; music and art therapists; media producers; patient technology and animal-assisted therapy coordinators—play a vital role in ensuring our patients and families feel seen, supported and empowered.
A Department Transformed
In its early days at Texas Children’s, Child Life operated mainly within the walls of a playroom. But over time, its services expanded to meet patients at the bedside, in clinics and across high-acuity settings. Mary Tietjens, who joined the team in 1989, witnessed this evolution firsthand. She spent 22 years in direct patient care before transitioning to management and then to assistant director of the department. “It’s unusual for someone to be in one spot their entire career, but Texas Children’s is an amazing place,” she expressed. “I can still see a commercial for the hospital and feel the emotion well up. How lucky am I to have a career I’ve cherished? It’s really been joyful.”
Today, Child Life, Creative Arts & Education is integrated throughout our hospital system. In the Emergency Center, for example, specialists like Molly Johnston provide support, education, and distraction techniques for patients and their families in crisis. “When families experience Child Life for the first time and have that lightbulb moment of peace that comes with understanding their care plan,” she said, “it is powerful for both children and caregivers.”
Creativity and Connection in Action
Whether promoting NICU infant well-being through music, explaining complex procedures to a newly diagnosed child, or crafting personalized legacy projects for patients facing life-limiting conditions, this team brings joy, compassion and creativity to the patient experience.
Art therapist Jenson Maydew worked with a long-term patient to create a unique legacy, developing a therapeutic board game inclusive of chronic illnesses and accessible to children with autism. With support from palliative care psychologist Dr. Rachel Kentor and patient technology coordinator Marty McMahon, who 3D-modeled and printed the game components, the project is now shared with other patients and hospitals.
“Creative expression gives patients and families a way to process the unthinkable and connect in ways medicine alone cannot always reach,” Jenson said.
In the NICU, music therapist Maribeth Brinkley uses music to support neurodevelopment and parent-infant bonding. “Sometimes we swap lullabies for something meaningful to the family, like a Beatles or Fall Out Boy song,” she explained. “That really joyful, personal moment of connection stays with them.”
Andrew Robertson and his fellow in-house media producers deliver that same spark through ZTV, our closed-circuit television station. From virtual rodeo visits to interactive game shows, ZTV brings the outside world in.
“We pick subjects for shows that engage our patients and maybe teach them something about themselves, others, or topics of interest,” said Andrew. “We want them to laugh, learn, and have a great time doing so.”
A Broader Scope of Care
Education services have also become a key focus for the department. Dr. Alana Moser, a school coordinator and former dyslexia specialist, supports children returning to school after injury or illness, especially those with new cognitive or learning challenges.
“Education is what a child does—it’s their job,” she explained. “They need to know we’re not giving up on them.”
Volunteers assist with tutoring, reading aloud, creative activities, and special events that bring comfort to both patients and siblings.
The Pawsitive Play Program also helps children cope and adjust to the hospital experience with professionally trained facility dogs like Noelle, who works closely with child life specialist Shannon Stowers. “Whether Noelle is comforting a child before heart surgery or walking laps with a patient after a procedure, she brings joy, comfort, and motivation in every interaction,” Shannon shared.
A Legacy of Light and Support
Over five decades, Child Life has become an essential part of the patient and family journey at Texas Children’s. The Child Life, Creative Arts & Education team’s work reflects the very best of our HEART values—Humility, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Trust—and their impact is felt every single day.
Here’s to 50 years of comfort, creativity, and connection at Texas Children’s as we honor the people who turn those moments into lifelong memories for our patients and families.
