Delivering Science and Smiles to Pediatric Patients
Apr 9, 2014 By: admin
Project TEACH Volunteers Create Interactive Science Modules for Children in Hospitals
Explosive milk fireworks, bridges built from gumdrops and suspenseful egg drop competitions: they may sound like wacky science experiments gone awry, but these are all fun and educational activities for children that may soon be coming to a hospital near you.
Yosefa Schoor, left, and Laura Taieb, right, work with children in Columbia University's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital to create a volcano.
Welcome to Project TEACH 鈥 Together Educating All Children in Hospitals, a joint initiative from 黑料社 All undergraduates and students at the in which volunteers design, develop and implement a series of science and humanities modules for pediatric patients. The program currently operates in eight hospitals in New York, with over 270 volunteers running informational and recreational activities for children and their families. Its largest event took place this spring, when more than 30 YU students constructed volcanoes with patients at Columbia University鈥檚 Morgan Stanley Children鈥檚 Hospital.
Yosefa Schoor, now a senior at , and Yair Saperstein, a graduate who is studying at Einstein, co-founded the program last spring. Last fall, Rachel Leah Victor, also a senior at Stern, joined the team as co-director.
鈥淎fter shadowing a pediatric neurologist, I saw that the kids in hospitals, both patients and their siblings, were kids who lacked social interactions,鈥 said Schoor, explaining the impetus behind the creation of the program. 鈥淭here were so many of my friends interested in teaching who wanted to help, so we decided to do something.鈥
Dr. Edward Burns, executive dean at Einstein, personally funded the pilot program and later assisted in securing funds from Einstein鈥檚 Community Based Service Learning, which helps students who serve vulnerable populations and have an impact on health and social justice issues through community engagement.
鈥淥ur hopes and dreams for all YU students is that they internalize the lessons of our timeless Torah both in their personal behavior as well as their contributions to society,鈥 said Dean Burns. 鈥淭he students who dedicate their free time to educating hospitalized children as part of Project TEACH personify the melding of Torah values, compassion and a commitment to tikkun olam [repairing the world]. I am very proud of them as representing YU鈥檚 finest.鈥
Schoor also credits Dr. Brenda Loewy, clinical associate professor of biology and director of pre-health advising at Stern and Dr. Karen Bacon, Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern, for helping to get Project TEACH off the ground by offering their guidance and providing contacts at various local hospitals.
Project TEACH volunteers reach out to child life specialists at different hospitals to explain the rationale behind the program and why it would be valuable for each specific hospital and its patients.
鈥淏y utilizing the altruism of university students to help provide for the children who are confined to a hospital, both sides benefit: the students eager to volunteer and the children in the hospital, eager for social interaction,鈥 said Schoor. 鈥淭EACH is that and more, as it unfolds these benefits within an environment of teaching and learning.鈥
The response at participating hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive.
鈥淧roject TEACH has been a wonderful addition to our Child Life Program,鈥 said Carla Pratt, Child Life director at Jacobi Medical Center. 鈥淥ur children have certainly been impacted by this unique program and look forward to the wonderful and creative events Project TEACH offers during each of their visits. We are thrilled to have Project TEACH and appreciate their selfless contributions.鈥
There has been such a high volume of interest from YU students that there are often more volunteers signed up than the hospitals can accommodate.
鈥淲e have a great network of students,鈥 said Saperstein. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 really unique about YU鈥攖he enthusiasm that students have. We used to run modules just once a month and now we have them as often as 14 times a month because student interest is incredible. This project lets us reach out to so many people beyond our immediate community鈥攖o all patients and their families in need.鈥
The project also appeals to students because it doesn鈥檛 require them to have a background in a specific discipline, regardless of whether the module is focused on a topic in science, art or the humanities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for university students to make a difference, and it鈥檚 unique because it has an informative angle and tries to incorporate education,鈥 said Schoor.
Project TEACH volunteers at Columbia University鈥檚 Morgan Stanley Children鈥檚 Hospital
For Victor, it鈥檚 all about the happiness she can bring to the children she visits.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so gratifying to be working with these kids鈥攚ho are struggling with difficult things on a daily basis鈥攁nd being able to penetrate their tough shells and crack them open,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen I can see that smile, I know I got through to them.鈥
In addition to the fulfillment the TEACH participants get from seeing the children respond positively, it鈥檚 equally rewarding to witness the exponential growth of the program, which started out on a much smaller scale and now sends hundreds of volunteers each semester to work with patients all over the five boroughs.
Project TEACH eventually hopes to expands its programming to include students from other universities and is exploring additional ways to grow and secure grants and partnership opportunities with other hospitals and organizations.
Yosefa Schoor, left, and Laura Taieb, right, work with children in Columbia University's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital to create a volcano.
Schoor also credits Dr. Brenda Loewy, clinical associate professor of biology and director of pre-health advising at Stern and Dr. Karen Bacon, Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern, for helping to get Project TEACH off the ground by offering their guidance and providing contacts at various local hospitals.
Project TEACH volunteers reach out to child life specialists at different hospitals to explain the rationale behind the program and why it would be valuable for each specific hospital and its patients.
鈥淏y utilizing the altruism of university students to help provide for the children who are confined to a hospital, both sides benefit: the students eager to volunteer and the children in the hospital, eager for social interaction,鈥 said Schoor. 鈥淭EACH is that and more, as it unfolds these benefits within an environment of teaching and learning.鈥
The response at participating hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive.
鈥淧roject TEACH has been a wonderful addition to our Child Life Program,鈥 said Carla Pratt, Child Life director at Jacobi Medical Center. 鈥淥ur children have certainly been impacted by this unique program and look forward to the wonderful and creative events Project TEACH offers during each of their visits. We are thrilled to have Project TEACH and appreciate their selfless contributions.鈥
There has been such a high volume of interest from YU students that there are often more volunteers signed up than the hospitals can accommodate.
鈥淲e have a great network of students,鈥 said Saperstein. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 really unique about YU鈥攖he enthusiasm that students have. We used to run modules just once a month and now we have them as often as 14 times a month because student interest is incredible. This project lets us reach out to so many people beyond our immediate community鈥攖o all patients and their families in need.鈥
The project also appeals to students because it doesn鈥檛 require them to have a background in a specific discipline, regardless of whether the module is focused on a topic in science, art or the humanities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for university students to make a difference, and it鈥檚 unique because it has an informative angle and tries to incorporate education,鈥 said Schoor.
Project TEACH volunteers at Columbia University鈥檚 Morgan Stanley Children鈥檚 Hospital
Yosefa Schoor, left, and Laura Taieb, right, work with children in Columbia University's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital to create a volcano.
Schoor also credits Dr. Brenda Loewy, clinical associate professor of biology and director of pre-health advising at Stern and Dr. Karen Bacon, Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern, for helping to get Project TEACH off the ground by offering their guidance and providing contacts at various local hospitals.
Project TEACH volunteers reach out to child life specialists at different hospitals to explain the rationale behind the program and why it would be valuable for each specific hospital and its patients.
鈥淏y utilizing the altruism of university students to help provide for the children who are confined to a hospital, both sides benefit: the students eager to volunteer and the children in the hospital, eager for social interaction,鈥 said Schoor. 鈥淭EACH is that and more, as it unfolds these benefits within an environment of teaching and learning.鈥
The response at participating hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive.
鈥淧roject TEACH has been a wonderful addition to our Child Life Program,鈥 said Carla Pratt, Child Life director at Jacobi Medical Center. 鈥淥ur children have certainly been impacted by this unique program and look forward to the wonderful and creative events Project TEACH offers during each of their visits. We are thrilled to have Project TEACH and appreciate their selfless contributions.鈥
There has been such a high volume of interest from YU students that there are often more volunteers signed up than the hospitals can accommodate.
鈥淲e have a great network of students,鈥 said Saperstein. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 really unique about YU鈥攖he enthusiasm that students have. We used to run modules just once a month and now we have them as often as 14 times a month because student interest is incredible. This project lets us reach out to so many people beyond our immediate community鈥攖o all patients and their families in need.鈥
The project also appeals to students because it doesn鈥檛 require them to have a background in a specific discipline, regardless of whether the module is focused on a topic in science, art or the humanities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for university students to make a difference, and it鈥檚 unique because it has an informative angle and tries to incorporate education,鈥 said Schoor.
Project TEACH volunteers at Columbia University鈥檚 Morgan Stanley Children鈥檚 Hospital
