Our Team
Christina Connors
Christina Connors, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist and proud mom of 2 great kids. With over 18 years of clinical experience, she has worked to enhance the function and independence of children and adults with various physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities in acute inpatient rehabilitation, home health, hospital, and educational settings. She has implemented visual, tactile, and sensory motor strategies to aid in the learning and functioning of children with autism and developmental delays. She has helped to optimize the recovery of children, adolescents and adults with brain injury in hospital, school and outpatient clinic settings. Christina takes pride in creative problem-solving and her ability to consider the big-picture in her therapeutic work with individuals facing various challenges. She enjoys identifying the meaningful activities and goals in the lives of her patients, and working with them to enhance their ability to reach their greatest potential.
Christina initially developed Child Inspired in partnership with artist John Donato after her young son faced a life-threatening illness and hospitalization. Christina was deeply impacted by this experience with her son, and based on her professional background in medical and educational settings, wanted to create developmentally-appropriate, child-centered tools that would help children visualize their progress throughout challenging medical experiences. Since Child Inspired’s inception, the mission of Get Well Map Foundation began to evolve as an organization that would continue to create and distribute child-centered tools and resources, as well as provide collaborative training to pediatric healthcare teams, in order to integrate these medical education tools into pediatric discharge planning processes and improve the patient experience.
Karen Duffield
Karen brings over thirty years of professional experience in healthcare administration, non-profit organization, grant writing, and fund development to the Get Well Map Foundation Board of Directors. Her membership development work with area businesses at the helms of local chambers of commerce, and most recent tenure at the Beebe Medical Foundation as its annual fund & grant coordinator lend strength to this governing body. Even more than her professional background, however, is Karen’s perspective as an engaged parent and committed member of our community of friends & family that qualifies her to help lead this start-up organization. Karen recognizes that children have unique and special needs, especially when facing a medical or life crisis. And she is confident that Christina’s inspired Get Well Maps will reduce anxiety and improve communication between children, families and medical teams, and make a positive impact in the recoveries of children and families facing medical challenges.
Jennifer Kelley, CCLS
Jennifer Kelley, CCLS is a Certified Child Life Specialist with almost 10 years of clinical experience and proud mom to a young daughter. In addition to Jenn’s work in Creative Arts Therapy & School Programs, she works collaboratively with pediatric oncology patients, families and medical teams at Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Wilmington, DE. She improves positive outcomes for patients with chronic and medically complex conditions that require inpatient and outpatient treatment. She has a passion for working with siblings and facilitating family-centered support groups, including the development and implementation of a 16-week sibling bereavement group in collaboration with Social Work. Jenn has been the co-coordinator of Nemours’ ACLP accredited Child Life internship program since 2013 and serves as Chairperson for Healthcare Initiatives at Get Well Map Foundation. Jenn is an instrumental child-and family advocate among Nemours’ interdisciplinary team of pediatric cancer specialists, working collaboratively to facilitate child- and family-centered discharge planning processes for pediatric oncology patients and families.
Jenn received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development from San Diego State University in 2008. She was certified from the ACLP (formerly Child Life Council) in 2010 and recertified in 2015.
Jeanette Brown
Jeanette Brown has more than 18 years of non-profit medical marketing experience. Jeanette has been responsible for enhancing and growing organization brands, as well as providing analysis and solutions to over 100 non-profit companies. She holds a BA in Psychology from Arcadia University, as well as an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Jeanette has served on the Board of Directors for both the Anne Arundel Special Olympics and Annapolis Jaycees. Jeanette is a mom of 2 children and resides outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Kirstin Wakefield
Gail Mack
John Donato
Although not an official Board of Director for Get Well Map Foundation, John Donato’s artistic character has been integral to the inception of our Get Well Maps and the continuation of this inspiring work! Whether it is experiencing his bold and playful artwork, or working alongside him in paint-drenched overalls during a school or community collaborative mural project…His work is uniquely fun, engaging, and inspiring!
John Donato, “Artist in Charge”, began his career as a freelance graphic designer and then worked in the marketing and advertisement field for a large Real Estate Development company. He became a full time fine artist in 2008 with a new found talent for painting whimsical acrylic paintings that seemed to make everyone smile. He was able to collaborate with anyone at any skill level to create a unique and stunning work of art together. He found that allowing them to experiment and succeed in a safe environment was an incredible tool for developing their character and confidence through artistic self-expression. “I am dedicated to developing artwork and creative projects that bring joy, introspection, inspiration, self-expression, heightened communication, and innovative thinking to communities. I have a passion for collaborating with members of a community, their school systems, and their businesses to create mutually beneficial and educational communications projects using art as the creative catalyst”. To learn more about John’s collaborative murals and fine art visit: www.artsmack.com