Children's Health

Hospital Teacher Helps Sick or Chronically Ill Children

Teacher and Educational Liaison Emmy David Joins Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Child Life Staff

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital today announced the appointment of Emmy David to its staff as teacher and educational liaison.

David provides individualized instruction for children with input from their school-based teacher in the hospital. Teaching occurs primarily on an inpatient basis but is also available for students receiving intense outpatient treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and dialysis.

David has more than 10 years of teaching experience including international tenure at elementary schools in the Philippines, Bolivia and Egypt. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and is pursuing graduate work at Washington State University.

David’s role as teacher and educational liaison is part of the child life program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The child life program works to optimize the development of each child, teen and his or her family by maintaining normal activities in an effort to minimize the anxiety that can be associated with hospitalization or outpatient care.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is West Michigan’s largest children’s hospital, serving children and families throughout a 37-county region. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians uniquely skilled in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. The hospital cares for more than 7,600 inpatients and 190,000 outpatients annually. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is committed to caring for children and families with compassion, excellence and innovation. Visit www.devoschildrens.org for more information.