Child Life Comes to Erie
When a frightened child arrives at the hospital, medical care is only part of what they need.
Comfort, reassurance, and a sense of safety matter just as much.
That's where Caitlin Wolf, MS, CCLS comes in. Caitlin recently joined UPMC Hamot as its first-ever Child Life Specialist—a role dedicated to helping children and families cope with the stress, fear, and uncertainty that can come with medical care. Through therapeutic play, age-appropriate education, and simple moments of distraction, Child Life Specialists help kids feel more at ease during some of their hardest days.
Caitlin brings four years of experience working at Cleveland Clinic with pediatric cancer patients. During her time there, she secured thousands of dollars across three grants to bring innovative ideas in patient care and family support to life.
In just her first week at UPMC Hamot, Caitlin’s impact was already clear. When a pediatric patient experienced a medical emergency on the unit, Caitlin was called in to support the family through the crisis.
As the child received emergency care and was sedated, Caitlin worked closely with an interpreter to ensure the family understood what was happening and why. She provided steady emotional support as the care team transitioned the patient from the pediatric unit to the Emergency Department and prepared for transfer to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Even after the family left Erie, Caitlin continued advocating for them—connecting with the Child Life team in Pittsburgh to share the patient’s history, preferences, and needs, helping ensure continuity of psychosocial support throughout their journey.
“Caitlin has been working here for just eight days, and already she has completely changed the way we care for pediatric patients,” said Dr. Gotowka.
The Child Life Specialist position at UPMC Hamot is funded entirely through philanthropy. We are deeply grateful to the generous donors who made this role possible for children and families in Erie, with special thanks to the Victor family.
To support Child Life services at UPMC Hamot or learn more, contact Mark Louis at 814-877-3962.