Ursula Stahl, MEd, CCLS

Ursula Stahl, a Master of Education (MEd) and Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), brings compassion and expertise to her role in supporting children and families facing challenging medical experiences and life transitions. With a background in child development and family systems, her skills in therapeutic play, education, and advocacy ensure that children receive comprehensive psychosocial support during their own or a loved one’s healthcare journey. Ursula is committed to promoting resilience and well-being among children and their families beyond the healthcare system through personalized care and empathetic guidance in her private practice.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a Master’s degree in Applied Human Development from Boston University and certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

Ursula is also a dedicated child life specialist at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, where she established the child life specialist role in the Pediatric Allergy & Immunology clinics across Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty Centers.  She developed a program focusing on one-on-one patient preparation for oral food challenges, an essential but highly anxiety provoking diagnostic procedure.   Her interventions include providing developmentally appropriate education and coping strategies aimed at alleviating fear and distress during procedures, while empowering patients to actively participate in their care management.  

Ursula’s work has been recognized in the medical community, including her publication titled "The emerging role of child life specialists in the pediatric food allergy clinic" in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2023), demonstrating her commitment to advancing patient care through innovative approaches.  She has also collaborated with Dr. Stephanie Leeds and the Department of Robotics at Yale University to pilot a program using social robots to reduce patient and caregiver anxiety during oral food challenge procedures. Their manuscript on this research is currently under review.

Prior to joining Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, Ursula gained extensive experience as a child life specialist at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. In the Emergency Department, a Level 1 Trauma Center, she assessed and addressed the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients during emergency visits, providing crucial education and preparation for medical procedures and hospital stays. She also covered the General Medical/Surgical Inpatient Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Procedure Unit.  Her role extended to providing end-of-life and bereavement support, demonstrating her compassion and sensitivity in supporting families during the most challenging times.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ursula joined the Child Life Disaster Relief team, where she facilitated group sessions as part of the Coping Through Connection program. She continues to volunteer her expertise in providing ongoing psychosocial support and resources to children and families affected by disasters.

Outside of work, Ursula is a dedicated mom and a travel enthusiast.  She enjoys living an active lifestyle, cheering at various youth sporting events, and exploring the world with any time that is left!

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