Thank you for your interest in a Child Life fellowship at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. The child life fellows work in conjunction with 9 Child Life Specialists to provide psychosocial support to pediatric inpatients and outpatient. This includes providing normalizing playroom and bedside activities, procedural preparations and support, sibling support, bereavement support, and teaching positive coping techniques.
A Child Life fellowship is another opportunity for learning and growing as a Child Life specialist once a 480-hour Child Life internship has been completed and the candidate is eligible for certification. A fellowship gives the new Child Life professional a chance to improve their Child Life skills before entering the workforce as a full time CCLS as well as a chance to increase knowledge of the medical field in general including diagnoses, procedures, value of a multidisciplinary team, and many others. Each fellow is supervised by a designated certified Child Life specialist, but the fellow is also given more independence and responsibility than when supervised during an internship. The child life fellowship is a paid, fully-benefited position. Fellows are also encouraged to attend conferences and symposiums pertinent to the Child Life field.
The fellowship is a year-long position that consists of 2 fellows who work the hours of 1 to 9 p.m., five days a week. One position covers PICU, General Pediatrics, and Infectious Diseases (1) and the other position covers Hem/Onc, Surgical, and Adolescents (2). The (2) fellow works Sunday through Thursday and the (1) fellow works Tuesday through Saturday. Our fellows are involved in staff planning and development, volunteer training and supervision, a weekly Pet Therapy session, and many other aspects of the hospital and Child Life Department.
This gives a brief description of the fellowship positions at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, and the details are subject to change at any time. Feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have regarding the Child Life Fellowship program at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. Thanks again for your interest.
Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Child Life Fellowship Applicant Requirements
*Please contact Holly Senn at 703-776-3968, or by email holly.senn@inova.org for specific due dates.
*Phone interviews are permitted, but an on-site interview is required before an offer will be extended. This is to make it fair to both you & our staff.
*Please let your references know that they may be contacted by phone for further information.
*Please indicate in your cover letter which position you would prefer to be considered for and why.
Please return the completed application materials to:
Inova Fairfax Hospital for ChildrenHolly Senn – Child Life Department3300 Gallows RoadFalls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 703-776-3968
*If possible please send the application materials Priority Mail or Express Mail to avoid delays that may occur with the regular mail system.
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Contact UsIf you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Child Life DepartmentInova Fairfax Hospital for Children3300 Gallows Road Falls Church, VA 22042703-776-6486 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.Staff hours fluctuate on the weekends.