“I want to know what’s going on with my body because I’m going to have to live with it every single day,” Vassilia told the medical students from the NYU School of Medicine
Vassilia was born with a detached esophagus. Even though it was reconnected at a young age by Howard Ginsburg, MD, chief of pediatric surgery at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and recipient of The NASCAR Foundation’s Children’s Champion Award, her condition is considered chronic. Vassilia will have doctor appointments for the rest of her life to monitor her health. 
“I want to be a part of my care,” Vassilia said. Now age 15, Vassilia is in many ways an expert on her condition and on medical care for children because of her role as a Family Faculty member. The Family Faculty Program, led by the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, brings family members and young patients into the medical classroom. They teach medical students and healthcare professionals what it’s like to be in their shoes as a sick child or the parent of one.
The NASCAR Foundation is proud to support Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital by funding two Child Life Specialists, through our multi-year partnership announced in 2016.
The hospital offers Child Life Specialists to help children who are experiencing illness or injury or are being treated for a chronic condition to better understand and deal with their experiences. These specialists not only work with children to understand their own condition but help children of adult patients to understand their parents’ condition.
At Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, members of the medical team collaborate with patients and families to provide better care and communication. This family-centered culture improves the communication and engagement between families and the medical team to foster care, comfort and wellbeing and to prevent harm to the patient.
The Family Faculty Program is just one of the ways Sala Institute is creating a widespread culture of family-centered care, and ensuring that families are partners and co-creators of the care experience. The Sala Institute also engages families and patients through advisory councils and offers programs to foster care, comfort and wellbeing for children at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital.
