Cara currently serves as the Child Life Clinical Lead for the intensive care units at Inova LJ Murphy Children's Hospital. She has a bachelor's degree in Youth, Adult, and Family Services with a specialization in Child Health from Purdue University. She completed a child life internship at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, IL and a child life fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. Cara has completed training and certification in child life (ACLP), trauma and resilience (STARR), crisis intervention (CPI), compassion fatigue (IATP), and digital health and wellness (NIDHW). Along with the child life team, Cara is forever working toward elevating child life practice to prevent/reduce medical trauma and improve the ways we provide psychosocial care to help each child and family feel safe in mind and body.