Meet Annie
Annie became a Certified Child Life Specialist in the year 2000. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she completed her formal training at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, which laid the foundation for her career. Over the past two decades, Annie has worked across a spectrum of medical settings, including Rehabilitation, Pediatric Emergency Department, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care, Hematology/Oncology, General Pediatric Surgery Unit, Radiology, and Adult ICUs—supporting children of adult patients. Annie earned her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Missouri.
Over the course of her career, Annie has discovered a particular passion for supporting families through the grief and healing journey. She retains certification as a Grief Counselor, demonstrating her dedication to this vital aspect of her work. Annie is a facilitator at KinderMourn, a local grief organization. She contributes to the Helping The Hurt school outreach program and leads weekly support groups. Annie collaborates with local organizations to deliver presentations that benefit the community she resides in and international organizations such as The Standish Foundation. In addition, Annie is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, showcasing her commitment to holistic support for families.
Annie has embraced Charlotte, North Carolina, as her home since 2008. She balances her professional commitments with family life, toggling between the mountains and beach with her two children, husband, and golden retriever, Mack.
Child Life Specialist
Child Life Specialist
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are educated and clinically trained on the developmental impact of illness and injury. Because children process information from the world around them much differently than adults, they have distinct needs for managing the effects of stress and trauma. CCLS help infants, children, teens, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement. They are experts in child development and medical terminology. Child Life Specialists provide evidence-based, developmentally, and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation, and education for healthcare experiences to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. Specialists empower children and strengthen their ability to cope with individual experiences and situations.