Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone

09/05/2025

PJ is back at school for a brand-new year. But with a new classroom, new friends, and new routines, he’s feeling all sorts of emotions. Thankfully, Dr. Samantha Glickman, a licensed clinical psychologist at our Child Study Center, is here to talk it through with him.

Together, Dr. Glickman and PJ—our puppet brought to life by a creative arts therapist from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care—discuss ways to beat the back-to-school jitters, what to do if reading takes a little longer, and how to handle when someone isn’t being kind.

With these tips from Dr. Glickman, PJ and other children can feel braver, happier, and ready to tackle everything the new school year brings!

08/28/2025

A good night’s sleep is key to starting the school year off right. Dr. Ayala Wegman, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Global Pediatrics, recently shared her top back-to-school bedtime tips with ABC News.

Watch the interview: https://bit.ly/4oSm1jT

Dr. Ayala Wegman, pediatrician at NYU Langone, breaks down why proper sleep matters for back-to-school routines.

08/28/2025

It’s time for PJ to go back to school! Dr. Ayala Wegman, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Global Pediatrics, is sharing some helpful tips with him so he can start the new year off strong.

Dr. Wegman walks PJ through how to reset his sleep schedule, reminds him to get his annual physical before soccer season, and explains why back-to-school shots are so important. To help ease the transition from summer vacation to the classroom, Dr. Wegman also recommends that parents help their children trade screen time for activities like puzzles, reading, and board games; keep a water bottle handy to stay hydrated; and start the day with a balanced, fiber-rich breakfast to boost focus and learning.

PJ is a familiar face to our patients here at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital. Brought to life by a creative arts therapist from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care, he’s known for bringing smiles and comfort to children during their hospital stays. But this week, he’s putting Dr. Wegman’s advice to the test as he gears up for a brand-new school year.

With these tips, PJ—and kids everywhere—can head into the school year feeling healthy, prepared, and ready to learn!

08/15/2025

Our annual Camp Week once again brought joy and fun to our patients and their families, thanks to our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care!

From therapy dog visits, kite decorating, and disco parties to castle painting, magical potion-making, and campfire singalongs, every activity brought a taste of summer camp to the hospital. Each day featured its own playful theme, with bedside kits ensuring every child could join in the fun.

Thank you to our incredible Child Life team and all who were involved in making Camp Week such a success! Check out some of the highlights ⬇️

08/05/2025

After their son James beat leukemia with care from Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, Michael and Stefani Krystalla turned their gratitude into action, launching a foundation that’s already making a meaningful difference for the hospital.

Diagnosed in December 2022, James was cared for by a dedicated team led by pediatric hematologist-oncologist Dr. Gabriel Robbins. Certified child life specialists from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care helped make James’s experience more manageable, engaging him in fun activities like movies, video games, and his favorite: hospital bingo. These moments brought him a sense of normalcy throughout his treatments.

James completed treatment earlier this year in April and is now thriving in remission at age 9. But for Michael and Stefani, the journey sparked a new mission: The James Krystalla Foundation, which they launched to support organizations conducting research to prevent, treat, and cure serious childhood illnesses. In June, they held their first event—a charity golf tournament—where James reunited with members of his care team. The event raised nearly $500,000, and proceeds will benefit Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital.

“We’re blessed to have met people that care this much about other people and children,” says Michael, who hopes the foundation’s efforts will offer comfort, resources, and hope to families receiving care through our programs.

Thank you to the Krystalla family and The James Krystalla Foundation for your support!

07/01/2025

Can children learn to meditate?

More parents are turning to mindfulness coaches to help their young children build calm, focus, and regulate their emotions. In an interview with The New York Times, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Becky Lois explains how these playful, age-appropriate sessions—which may include practices like breathing and sensory games—can ease anxiety and strengthen parent-child bonds.

Learn more about how mindfulness is being reimagined: https://nyti.ms/44aPqxC

There’s a lot for parents to feel stressed about, including stress itself. Enter the modern meditation coach.

06/12/2025

We’re proud to share that the NYU Langone Transplant Institute and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital have been recognized for delivering the highest quality outcomes for pediatric liver and kidney transplant in New York state, according to recent data from the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

Our programs were rated best in the state for how quickly children receive transplants, and for 100% organ survival one year after surgery. Along with the highest quality transplant care, our patients and their families receive vital support services thanks to our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

Hear from Dr. Adam Griesemer, liver transplant surgeon and surgical director of our pediatric transplant programs, and Dr. Rebecca Pellett Madan, medical director, as they share what this recognition means for patients and families. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3TqPT8o

05/19/2025

Dr. Michael Dolinger, director of our Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program, is changing how we diagnose children with gastrointestinal conditions like IBD using a simple tool: intestinal ultrasound (IUS).

It’s the same kind of scan used during pregnancy, but here, it helps children avoid the need for sedation for MRI scans, contrast dyes, and repeated radiation from CT scans. It’s fast, safe, and can be done as often as needed to track their treatment.

Dr. Dolinger was the first gastroenterologist in the U.S. certified to use IUS during regular office visits. This World IBD Day, he shares why it’s a game-changer for children ⤵️

At NYU Langone, Dr. Michael Dolinger has pioneered the use of intestinal ultrasound as a tool for assessing disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

04/29/2025

This National Superhero Day, meet the real heroes of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital—our incredible young patients! 💜

They may not wear capes, but their superpowers are undeniable. Whether they’re facing a new diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or finding joy in small victories, these children show us what true bravery looks like every single day.

With the support of our clinical teams and Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care, they’re continually uplifted by people who believe in them every step of the way. Hear from some of our physicians and care team members as they celebrate the strength and spirit of our superhero patients!

04/23/2025

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the role nature can play in healing!

For children like Celine, horticultural therapy is a fun part of their experience in the hospital. Activities like planting, floral arranging, and nature-based crafts serve as more than just creative outlets—they’re thoughtfully designed to support each child’s physical and emotional growth.

These sessions, powered by our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care and facilitated through Rusk Rehabilitation, provide a sense of calm and focus, helping children feel more grounded, connected to the outside world, and ready to take on the rest of their therapies. Whether it’s sowing seeds or crafting with flowers, every interaction with nature is a step forward in healing 🌿🌸

04/02/2025

Nevaeh Tyus has already been through more than most people will in a lifetime—a heart transplant and cancer treatment. But today, she's celebrating her two-year "heartiversary" (and her third birthday!) and is thriving like never before!

Nevaeh was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where her heart couldn’t pump blood properly, and required a transplant to survive. Landing in the expert hands of specialists in our Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program, she received her new heart after just two weeks on the organ waitlist. Not long after, she developed symptoms of a rare cancer that can affect organ transplant recipients, leading to even more treatment. But with targeted therapy at our Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, she recovered well.

Thanks to her dedicated, expert care teams—including doctors and nurses, as well as certified child life specialists and board-certified music therapists from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care—Nevaeh is now enjoying dance classes and making memories with her family and friends. “You would never know that she had been sick. She’s happy all the time,” says Nevaeh’s mom, Leshonda Armstrong.

Learn more about Nevaeh’s story and the care she received: https://nyulangone.org/news/nevaehs-second-chance-celebrating-two-years-new-heart?tags=Area%3A+Pediatrics+%2F+HCH%2CArea%3A+Cancer%2CArea%3A+Transplant&utm_campaign=osc&utm_content=1743627901&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

03/30/2025

This National Doctors' Day, we’re celebrating all our physicians at NYU Langone Health and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital—including "Dr. Lily,” a smart, vibrant 6-year-old who makes her hospital visits a little more fun with medical play.

Lily was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at just 3 years old. After a successful surgery, she now comes in regularly for MRI scans. To make these visits less intimidating, her mom, Heather, found creative ways to bring joy to the experience, with support from child life programs powered by our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care. Their favorite tradition? Dressing Lily up as a doctor for every appointment.

Known as "Dr. Lily" by everyone at the hospital, Lily confidently walks into the MRI room, her toy doctor’s kit in hand. She decorates her anesthesia mask with stickers, plays “the floor is lava” down the hallway, and eagerly picks her anesthesia mask’s flavor—some of the many little rituals that make her feel in control.

“Medical play is one of the most popular approaches to help make the hospital experience fun,” says certified child life specialist Lauren Maxwell. “We encourage kids to use their imaginations, role-playing with doll-sized medical equipment and turning stuffed animals into patients. The shift in roles empowers them and gives them a sense of control.”

Lily’s care team includes Dr. David Harter, director of our Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Dr. Jessica Clymer, director of our pediatric neuro-oncology program at Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

“She’s always smiling and excited,” Heather says. "Despite everything Lily has been through, she’s still our happy, bright, resilient girl.”