MMA partnered with Main Line Health (Lankenau Hospital) through the Annenberg Science Symposium. Annually, Merion Mercy Physiology classes research broad topics; they then break out into small groups and focus on sub-topics for more detailed work. Ultimately, each group writes a paper, creates a presentation, and presents the sub-topic in a creative manner. The various groups combine all of the projects’ information into one large presentation. And, one group’s creative piece is selected as part of Merion Mercy’s presentation at Annenberg.
This year’s topic was immunotherapy. The creative piece selected was a children’s book that will be published and used at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in their Child Life Services program.
CHOP’s Child Life Services program is part of CHOP’s Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy, which provides care and support designed to meet the unique needs of children and families as they cope with illness, injury, treatment, hospitalization and the overall healthcare experience. This is done by providing age-appropriate and therapeutic play, art therapy, music therapy, education, pet therapy, and so much more. The MMA book will become part a tool to engage children in normal day-to-day activities, support their development, and enhance their ability to cope with the hospital experience.
Front: Bethy Gallagher, Meg McGrath, Megan Leahy, Katrina McDermott, and Julia Halas.
Back: Gianna Giordana, Keara Gilligan, MMA Science teacher Karen McClennen, Sarah Capuzzi, Marlow Galbraith, Daniella Colavita, Lauren Thomas, and Emma Iannone.