A child or adolescent who is diagnosed with cancer often misses a lot of school. When he or she can return to the classroom, the transition may be difficult.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s of UPMC’s Back-to-School program, coordinated by the Child Life Department, is designed to make the changes easier and is individually tailored for each patient diagnosed with cancer from grades K–12.
When the patient is ready to return to school, a child life specialist visits the child’s or teen’s classroom to educate peers about cancer. The 45-minute program’s objectives are to:
- Relieve anxieties
- Answer questions
- Encourage support upon the student’s return
To schedule a Back-to-School Program session at your school, contact Mike Shulock at michael.shulock@chp.edu.
