Child Life Specialist
Jenna Priest, CCLS, CTRS
Office: (352) 273-9120
Fax: (352) 273-5941
Address: UF Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Box 100296
Gainesville, FL 32610-0296
Email: jmpriest@peds.ufl.edu
About
The Child Life Program was established to help children and families cope with the stress and anxiety during clinic visits. Child Life Specialists are certified non-medical professionals who understand child development and provide interventions in an environment that will support normal growth and development.
Jenna Priest, CCLS, CTRS earned her degree in Therapeutic Recreation at State University of New York at Brockport in 1997. She completed her internship at Shands Children’s Hospital and was certified as a Recreation Therapist in November of 1997. Her professional career began at Shands Hospital followed by her move to the out-patient specialty clinic in 1999. Since then Jenna has become a certified child life specialist in 2002 and has become an important addition to the Hematology/Oncology professional team.
Jenna is available to orient patients to the clinic and provide preparation and support during port accessing, IV placements, blood draws, or any other invasive procedure. Jenna is also a liaison between the clinic and community informing our patients and families of opportunities that may benefit them during treatment for life-threatening or chronic illnesses.