Carolyn Kurker Gallagher

Carolyn Kurker Gallagher is a clinical instructor in child life & family-centered care at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She teaches both graduate and undergraduate child life classes and is also the child life field experience coordinator for current students who will be completing practicum and internship experiences in hospital and health care settings.

Professor Gallagher is a Certified Child Life Specialist and has over 20 years of clinical experience working in hospitals with children and families. She diligently advocated to offer a Parent in the OR Program during her tenure at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and successfully began a child life program in the pediatric emergency department at Boston Medical Center. She also worked at Newton Wellesley Hospital in their pediatric emergency department, offering play, support and preparation to patients and their families.

Professor Gallagher is a member of the board of Bright Spirit Children’s Foundation, which helps seriously ill children by providing entertainment technologies to hospitals across the country. Her other interests include pain management, family-centered care, advocacy for optimal pediatric care, alternative applications for child life programming, and clinical and academic collaboration in the child life profession.

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