Kaitlyn Brickl ’25 is a child life specialist at Mayo Clinic Children’s in Rochester, Minnesota. In her role, Brickl supports and prepares children for medical situations they find scary or stressful. At its core, the child life profession strives to make healthcare experiences positive. Through education and play, Brickl helps children before, during and after procedures.
In this Q&A conversation, Brickl shares how pivotal experiences as a student prepared her for this rewarding career.
How did your education prepare you for your current role?
Earning my bachelor of science degree in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) with certificates in Disability Rights and Services, Promoting Activity for Diverse Abilities and Criminal Justice provided me with a holistic and unique perspective to bring into the child life practice. The program equipped me with a strong background in child developmental theory focused on Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, which explains that an individual’s development is shaped by interconnected environmental systems. My studies aided me in developing psychosocial interventions that are developmentally tailored and holistically informed.
What experience-based opportunities did you take advantage of as a student?
For three years, I worked with Julie Poehlmann (Dorothy A. O’Brien Chair in Human Ecology and HDFS professor) as an undergraduate research assistant in her lab on the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study. I learned about the processes within conducting inclusive research with children and families and presented on diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the UW–Madison Undergraduate Research Symposium. I plan to continue to research and contribute to the public’s knowledge of child development and the ways in which to promote positive development for all children.
Through Dr. Poehlmann’s research lab, I worked as a volunteer for child-friendly visits at the Dane County Jail. I engaged with incarcerated caregivers and their children in various craft and relationship-building activities. These learning experiences helped me better understand patients and families with diverse living circumstances. It also showed me how child life practices can be incorporated into nontraditional settings.
Looking back, how did your internships impact your career path?
My clinical internship at Mayo Clinic Children’s was a critical turning point that prepared me to enter the professional field of child life. In fact, it led to my full-time position after graduation. During the internship, I completed month-long rotations in outpatient radiology, the pediatric intensive care unit and a three-week mini rotation in the emergency department. The holistic and integrated approach I was able to practice with at Mayo Clinic — as well as the support and advocacy for child life services — played a large part in my choice to apply and accept a role here.
As a student, I also completed child life practicums at the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and Mayo Clinic Children’s outpatient primary care clinic. These varied learning experiences taught me to be adaptable within my child life practice. Each helped equip me for my current position, where I split my time between floating to cover various units and the neonatal intensive care unit.
What is the most gratifying aspect of your work?
I am passionate about providing children and families with the tools and strategies to master and cope through both present and future healthcare challenges. It is gratifying to assist children in creating a positive medical experience where they receive the procedures and treatments they need to grow and thrive into adulthood.
A big moment is when I work with returning patients who have established coping plans from their last visit. Seeing their comfort and sense of autonomy and self advocacy in healthcare settings is so rewarding.
When do you know you’re making a difference?
One example that comes to mind is an IV placement for a child in the emergency department. This patient was tearful and nervous. However, through utilizing their developed coping strategies — looking away, having a visual screen while someone vocalizes the steps of the procedure and engaging in conversation with family members — the patient persisted through tears and fears and was able to complete the IV placement.
What does human ecology mean to you?
Human ecology is about making a positive impact in the lives of individuals through examining and providing interventions to the systems and institutions they interact with. In terms of child life, a human ecological perspective in practice considers the diverse backgrounds, experiences and systems that a patient or family may be enmeshed in. Leading as a human ecologist means taking all of these factors into account when providing psychosocial interventions to improve their medical experience and reduce stress.
Kaitlyn Brickl ’25 is one of more than 17,000 alumni of the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
More than a degree. A difference.
Learn more about the bachelor of science in Human Development & Family Studies.