Kizzy Davies
Iowa City,IA
Summary
Mission-driven leader with over a decade of experience in pediatric psychosocial care, nonprofit development, public speaking, and facility dog programming. Proven expertise in fundraising, organizational leadership, and trauma-informed practice. Recognized nationally for innovation, strategic execution, and compassionate service delivery across healthcare and nonprofit sectors.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Development
Canine Assistants
01.2022 - Current
- Solely responsible for fundraising entire multi-million-dollar budget utilizing online giving platforms, CRM, grant writing, speaking engagements, community outreach, fundraising events and corporate relationships
- Solely responsible for all social media representation and PR, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, as well as professional partnership with local news media affiliates and nationally syndicated radio
- Work closely with organizational leadership and BOD to design and execute organizational strategic plan
- Attend and speak at conferences and events related to disabilities and epilepsy/neurology, diabetes, pediatrics, and more
- Create and maintain external relationships with partners such as JM Smucker, Amazon, KONG, Purina, OTIS, and many more
- Coach handlers of facility dogs in reputable children’s hospitals across the country
Child Life Program Coordinator
Children’s Hospital Colorado
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Responsible for program development, statistics, budget, annual reporting, all documentation and compliance
- Work in conjunction with legal and risk management departments to create and enforce policies and procedures related to service and emotional support dogs present in the medical center
- Initiate and participate in research related to facility dogs in the pediatric hospital setting; collaborate with in-house IRB as well as other institutions with facility dog programs
- Handle facility dog full-time; provide clinical interventions at bedside and in clinics to assist with ambulation, compliance with treatment, medication-taking, and general coping
- Coordinate all referrals for patient visits from medical teams; offer staff mental health support and rounding
Facility Dog Program Coordinator
Cook Children’s Medical Center
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Handle facility dog full-time; provide clinical interventions at bedside and in clinics to assist with ambulation, compliance with treatment, medication-taking, and general coping
- Coordinate all referrals for patient visits from medical teams; offer staff support and rounding; participate in special events, camps and support groups
- Responsible for statistics, budget, annual reporting, and all documentation for 5 facility dogs
- Work in partnership with Cook Children’s Foundation to raise $2M towards program sustainability and perpetuity for the facility dog program; establish and maintain relationships with private donors; provide communication and stewardship for existing donors; attend and present at donor relations events
- Oversee 4 volunteer-based therapy animal groups; schedule, communicate, and supervise all pet therapy programming
Child Life Zone Program Coordinator
Cook Children’s Medical Center
Fort Worth, TX
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Responsible for development, implementation, and oversight of programming within a multi-faceted therapeutic space (recording and broadcast studios, library, gaming room, business center, kitchen, open activity area) for patients and families
- Worked closely with child life staff and lateral program coordinators to create the most therapeutic experience possible for patients and families
- Direct supervisor for employees and volunteers in the space
- Primary handler for facility dog program
- Commissioned writer for Cook Children’s Checkup Newsroom blog and quarterly Promise Magazine on topics pertaining to child life and growth and development
Certified Child Life Specialist
Cook Children’s Medical Center
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Certified Child Life Specialist providing psychosocial and emotional care to hospitalized children, ages birth through 25 years, in the oncology infusion center as well as occasionally on the hematology/ oncology inpatient unit and outpatient clinics
- Co-directed Camp NOW, a weekend camp opportunity for families served by the neuro-oncology team
- Served on various committees, workgroups, and taskforces within the greater child life department and medical center
- Led in-services and topic discussions with child life interns and practicum students
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Leisure Studies, Emphasis in Child Life, Honors
The University of Iowa
01.2012
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Theatre Arts, Education, Honors
The University of Iowa
01.2010
Skills
- Fundraising
- Dynamic public speaking
- Coaching
- Strategy
- Project management
- Programming
- Leadership
- Public relations
- Trauma-informed care
- Pediatric psychosocial care
- Event planning
- Communication
- Innovation
- Donor relations
- Teamwork
Affiliations
- CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), Sworn into juvenile court 2025-present
- Child Life Specialist Grief Support, Leader, 01/01/22, present
- Children’s Hospital Colorado DHEI Captains of Inclusion, Selected Member, 01/01/20, 12/31/22
- Association of Child Life Professionals Abstract Review Committee, Member, 01/01/20, 12/31/22
- Association of Child Life Professionals, Professional Mentor, 01/01/18, 12/31/21
- Daily Barker, Writer/Contributor, 01/01/18, 12/31/20
- Association of Child Life Professionals Bulletin Committee, Selected Member, 01/01/17, 12/31/20
- Catholic Charities Detainee/Deportation Shelter for Children, Volunteer, 01/01/18, 12/31/19
- The WARM Place – Grief Support Center for Children, Group Facilitator, 01/01/16, 12/31/19
- Hurricane Harvey Displacement Shelter, Child Life Specialist, 01/01/17
- Child Life Council Education and Training Committee, Selected Member, 01/01/15, 12/31/17
- Aledo Lions Youth Volleyball Club, Board Member and Coach, 01/01/14, 12/31/19
- Cook Children’s Child Life Speaker’s Guild, Nominated Member, 01/01/14, 12/31/19
- Checkup Newsroom Blog, Writer/Contributor, 01/01/14, 12/31/18
- Cook Children’s Leadership Council, Elected Member, 01/01/14, 12/31/16
- Cook Children’s Family Support Services Leadership Team, Member, 01/01/13, 12/31/19
- Association of Child Life Professionals, Member, 01/01/12, 12/31/22
Certification
- Child Life Specialist, True, 01/01/12, present
- Crisis Prevention Intervention/CPI, True, 01/01/11, present
- Basic Life Support - BLS, True, 01/01/08, present
Accomplishments
- Selected ECHO Subject Matter Expert - American Cancer Society, 01/01/24
- Lisa Kinsel Award for Achievement and Innovation – National Award, 01/01/22
- SparkTalk Selected Speaker - Children’s Hospital Colorado, 01/01/21
- Patient Experience Award - Cook Children’s Medical Center, 01/01/18
- Peak Performer Award - Cook Children’s Medical Center, 01/01/18
- Community Hero - Texas Christian University and Origin Bank, 01/01/17
- Child Life Specialist of the Month - Luke’s Fastbreaks, 01/01/17
- People’s Choice Award, APHON Conference Presentation, 01/01/15
- Steve Goff Memorial Scholarship for Service Excellence, 01/01/12
Professional Presentations
- Human-Animal Interaction in Healthcare (Pediatric Grand Rounds), 500+, 01/01/20, University of Colorado Medicine, Aurora, CO
- Daily Dose of Oxytocin: Why Dogs in Healthcare Make Scientific Sense (Grand Rounds), 500+, 01/01/20, University of Colorado Medicine, Aurora, CO
- Feeling Like a Fraud: The Impact of Imposter Syndrome… (conference plenary), 500+, 01/01/20, Association of Child Life Professionals, San Antonio, TX
- Look for the Helpers… champions for children after disasters… (conference presentation), 500+, 01/01/19, Association of Child Life Professionals, Chicago, IL
- Therapeutic Modalities to Support Coping in Pediatrics (faculty lecture), 500+, 01/01/15, Children’s Hospital Association, Fort Worth, TX
- Therapy Dog Utilization in Immunocompromised Patient Population (conference presentation), 500+, 01/01/15, Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, Providence, RI
- Psychosocial Support in the Face of Epilepsy, 100+, 01/01/24, Northwell Health Neurology
- Grow with the Flow: Navigating the Impact… (conference plenary), 100+, 01/01/23, Facility Dog Summit, Greenville, SC
- When the Dogtor Becomes the Patient (conference plenary), 100+, 01/01/22, Facility Dog Summit, Oklahoma City, OK
- Feeling Like a Fraud: The Impact of Imposter Syndrome… (conference presentation), 100+, 01/01/20, Colorado Organization of Nursing Leaders, Aurora, CO
- Unleashing the Possibilities (Schwartz Center Rounds), 100+, 01/01/20, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
- Paws to Care… (quality improvement symposium), 100+, 01/01/20, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
- Who Let the Dogs In? (conference presentation), 100+, 01/01/19, Mountain West Child Life Association, Boise, ID
- Fake It ‘Til You Make It? The Impact of Imposter Syndrome… (conference presentation), 100+, 01/01/19, Facility Dog Summit, Atlanta, GA
- Say it Loud: Speaking Confidently about Your Work (conference presentation), 100+, 01/01/18, Facility Dog Program Summit, Cincinnati, OH
- A Multihospital Perspective on Facility Dog Programs (conference presentation), 100+, 01/01/18, Association of Child Life Professionals, Baltimore, MD
- More Than Just Ca-nine to Five (Schwartz Center Rounds), 100+, 01/01/18, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Fort Worth, TX
- Sit… Stay… PLAY! The Therapeutic Value of Our Dogs (Grand Rounds), 100+, 01/01/17, Cook Children’s Health Care System, Fort Worth, TX
- Over the Rainbow Bridge (conference panel), 50+, 01/01/23, Facility Dog Summit, Greenville, SC
- Who Let the Dogs In? (conference presentation), 50+, 01/01/21, O’Neil Nursing Conference, Aurora
Timeline
Director of Development
Canine Assistants
01.2022 - Current
Child Life Program Coordinator
Children’s Hospital Colorado
01.2019 - 01.2022
Facility Dog Program Coordinator
Cook Children’s Medical Center
01.2016 - 01.2019
Child Life Zone Program Coordinator
Cook Children’s Medical Center
01.2013 - 01.2016
Certified Child Life Specialist
Cook Children’s Medical Center
01.2012 - 01.2013
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Leisure Studies, Emphasis in Child Life, Honors
The University of Iowa
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Theatre Arts, Education, Honors
The University of Iowa
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