Q & A: Joanne Ordono, Child Life Specialist Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Faces of Cedars-Sinai Joanne Ordono Child Life Specialist Mar 13, 2018 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post Meet Joanne Ordono, child life specialist at Cedars-Sinai for 17 years. In honor of Child Life Month, we sat down with Joanne to learn more about what she does and what inspires her. What does a child life specialist do Joanne Ordono: We are like teachers, but we teach pediatric patients about the hospital. We help kids understand the whos, whats, and whys about the hospital and their treatment journey. We help them cope with everything from pain management to anxiety—things that come with being hospitalized. As a hematology/oncology child life specialist, I support patients with blood disorders or cancer. We help them understand and learn about their disease, answering questions like, "How did I get this?" and "Why did I get this?" We use a lot of play activity to connect with the kids, because play is how kids learn best. We also offer training to medical, nursing, and other staff caring for children and teens. Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Chiara Casas, Pediatric Nurse What s the best thing about your work JO: Connecting with the kids. Even when you see the same patient often, there's something different every time. Read: Art Imitates Life on the Pediatrics Floor What inspired you to pursue this career JO: I wanted to work in the medical field, but I didn't like science or math. I've always wanted to work with kids. A college counselor told me about child life specialists and I was happy to know there was an actual name and profession for what I wanted to do. I switched majors and I finished the classes quickly because it just clicked for me. Read: Santa Comes Early Thanks to El Segundo High School Students Where did you grow up JO: I was born in Manila, Philippines, and lived in Saudi Arabia for several years. We moved to the US when I was about 12. Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Nurse Manager Maureen Chin How do you spend your free time JO: Spending time with my husband and children and making memories with them is what I love to do. We try to do adventurous and educational activities as often as we can. We're also involved with our church, so we like to do things with our church family. My husband and I sing in our worship band every week. In Discoveries: Warning: Learning Curve Ahead What s your dream vacation JO: I really want to go to Bora Bora, Santorini, and Iceland. In the Newsroom: Cedars-Sinai Hosts Holiday Party for Young Hematology/Oncology Patients How do you cope with the stress and emotions of this job JO: The key for me is acknowledging that those things exist. If I need to cry, I cry. If I need to laugh, I laugh. You just shouldn't' keep it in. Sometimes it's hard to not think about my patients outside of work, especially if they aren't doing well. But it reminds me to be grateful and to make the most of the moments I have with my family. In CS Magazines: Balancing Work, Family and Self-Care What are you rocking out to during your commute JO: Bruno Mars and Luke Bryan! Joanne Ordono with patient Áine Randle taking a selfie during a 2017 holiday party. Tags Faces of Cedars-Sinai Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics In Our Community Faces of Cedars-Sinai Patient Stories Los Angeles Behind the Scenes Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility