Our Team

At Peyton Manning Children’s hospital, our team of Child Life Specialists are certified individuals who are prepared at the master’s and bachelor’s degree level in child development, child life and family-centered care, or related fields.

The Child Life team works throughout the hospital, surgery center, emergency department and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located in our women’s and infant hospital, offering support for children and families to help them cope with illness and injury.

Our team also includes pediatric trained volunteers, child life practicum students and child life interns who are committed and dedicated help change the outcome of our patients and their families.

Rachel Coombs, CCLS

Rachel began at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in 2025 as a PRN CCLS and has been in the field since 2020, beginning her career in Florida. She has experience on Med/Surg, Hematology Oncology, and is passionate about diagnosis education and empowering patients to become independent in their coping plans.

Sarah Easley, CCLS

Sarah has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2016. She works part-time weekends covering both inpatient floors, the Hematology/Oncology Clinic, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, CVICU, and the burn unit. She enjoys preparation and procedural support, celebrating birthday/treatment milestones with patients, and supporting families with legacy building opportunities during bereavements. When Sarah is not at PMCH, she can be found spending time with her 3 kiddos, her Pembroke Welsh corgi named George, and diving into a good book.

Courtney Lyon, CCLS

Courtney has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2016, joining the PMCH team in 2023 on our PICU, CVICU , NICU, and Burn ICU. Courtney serves as the Clinical Child Life Internship Coordinator and loves supporting child life students on their path to becoming a CCLS and helping them find their passion. Courtney has a passion for family centered care, helping patients meet goals of care, and being a champion for all. When Courtney is not at PMCH, she can be found outside reading in her hammock or spending time with family/friends.

Morgan Mitchell, CCLS

Morgan has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2017. She worked in pediatric surgery for 2.5 years before transitioning to the NICU in 2019. Morgan has a special passion for building relationships with long term families, co-treating with the therapy teams, and developing new programs/resources to benefit NICU families. Morgan runs the student mentor/mentee program and has a passion supporting students during their learning experiences.

Alycia Miller, MS, CCLS

Alycia began her career as a Certified Child Life Specialist at PMCH in 2018. She has worked in both the ED and Surgery. She has a passion for outpatient services and enjoys the fast pace, procedural preparation and support. She has her Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences with a focus in Child Life and shows excitement in sharing her experiences and providing educational experiences with our students. Alycia co-coordinates the PMCH Child Life Practicum Program.

Laura Keefe, CCLS

Laura has been a Certified Child Life Specialist at PMCH since 2017. She spent time as a PRN and Surgery CCLS before landing in her current role as the primary Hematology and Oncology CCLS for the inpatient unit and outpatient clinic at PMCH. She enjoys preparation and procedural support, co-treating with the hospital teacher and school program, as well as, introducing patients and families to support organizations to enhance coping with an oncology diagnosis. Laura co-coordinates the PMCH Child Life Practicum Program.

Kathleen Odinga, CCLS, MT-BC

Kathleen Odinga has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2013, and has worked on a variety of inpatient and outpatient units throughout her career. Kathleen has served as a CCLS at The Children's Hospital of Illinois, Riley Hospital for Children, and now in the Emergency Department at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, where she has been since 2021. Kathleen thrives in the fast paced environment of the Level 1 Trauma Pediatric Emergency Department, and specifically enjoys providing procedural education and support, as well as supporting patients and families experiencing traumatic events.

Jillian Haley, CCLS

Jillian Haley is a Certified Child Life Specialist who works in the Peyton Manning Children's Emergency Department. Jillian started her career in Florida at All Children's Hospital for nearly 2 years and then transitioned to Lakeland Regional Health for 8 years. She has been working in Child Life since 2011 and has a deep passion for sensory safe care for children and adults in the community, but especially within health care. Jillian created and implemented a sensory program at her previous hospital in Florida and provided education to interdisciplinary health care staff, law enforcement officers, as well as local school and church programs. Jillian firmly believes that Child Life stands on the forefront of integrated and compassionate healthcare, having the tools and education to make lasting changes that affect healthcare nationwide.

Jackie Moeller, CCLS

Jackie been a Child Life Specialist since 2014 and serves as a PRN specialist for PMCH covering a range of shifts and areas as needs arise. Jackie is a proud Indiana University alum and enjoys cheering on the Hoosiers!

Katie O'Leary, CCLS

Katie has been a Child Life Specialist since 2018, first at St Louis Children's Hospital before joining Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in 2019. You and your child may meet Katie in any of the areas child life is covered at PMCH. Her favorite part of being a child life specialist is helping kids of any age learn how to cope through a medical experience by teaching them skills they can use forever. Kids are resilient, especially if we help them gain the skills they need. Preparing kids for what to expect and helping them succeed is priceless!

Meredith Holden , CCLS

Meredith is a born and raised Hoosier and has been a Child Life Specialist for over 7 years. NICU is her passion and she loves advocating for those who don’t yet have a voice!

Maggie Garrett, MA, CCLS

Maggie joined PMCH as a Certified Child Life Specialist covering the 4th floor pediatric inpatient unit and burn outpatient clinic. Maggie started her career as a CCLS in Celebration Florida covering a pediatric emergency department, as well as supporting children of adult patients in Oncology and ICU. When Maggie is not at work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Nancy McCurdy, MS, CCLS

Nancy has many years experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist and has worked in several pediatric hospitals in the areas of leadership, pediatric rehabilitation, emergency care, surgery, and most recently NICU. She has taught Child Life courses and created Child Life curriculum; and is very active in the GLACLP (Great Lakes Association of Child Life Professionals). She is co-founder of CHAMP Camp, Inc. and also participates in Camp Healing Tree.

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