Happy Child Life Month – Meet our Child Life Specialists at Beads of Courage!

Happy Child Life Month – Meet our Child Life Specialists at Beads of Courage!

Beads of Courage, Inc. is proud to employ staff from all fields and experiences to serve our mission to provide innovative arts in medicine programs for children and teens coping with serious illness, their families, and the clinicians who care for them. 

March celebrates the work of child life specialists across the globe as they prioritize the emotional safety of children, youth, and families impacted by healthcare and other significant life experiences. Beads of Courage, Inc. joins in on the celebration and extends our deepest gratitude to the Certified Child Life Specialists on our team who dedicate their time, talent, and expertise to support our mission. We also celebrate and extend this gratitude to all the child life specialists worldwide who partner with us and use Beads of Courage programs to transform the science of caring. 


Happy Child Life Month – Meet our Child Life Specialists at Beads of Courage!, Beads of Courage

Krista Burgbacher, MS, CCLS – Program Director Krista was raised in Western Pennsylvania and currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, two daughters (and two cats!). She has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from West Virginia University with a focus in Child Development and Family Studies. She also holds a Master of Science in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh with a focus in Child Life. She has been a certified Child Life Specialist for over 20 years with clinical experience in the pediatric and adult hospital setting and in community-based non-profit organizations. She has been with Beads of Courage since 2017. She spends her free time with her family and friends and enjoys being outdoors, skiing, and seeing live music. 


Happy Child Life Month – Meet our Child Life Specialists at Beads of Courage!, Beads of Courage

Lindsie Padden BS, CCLS – Program Manager  Lindsie was born and raised in Oklahoma and currently lived there with her husband, daughter, and two furbabies. Lindsie attended Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) and fell in love with the field of child life. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for over 10 years. Throughout her career, she has served pediatric patients with several life-threatening illnesses in the hospital setting. During her time at the hospital, Lindsie helped to create several special projects to support the unique needs of her patient populations like prom, a teen group, and a closed-circuit television channel. Lindsie joined the Beads of Courage team in 2021 and loves supporting patients and families around the world with Beads of Courage. 


Molly Timkey, MS, CCLS – Program Manager Molly celebrated her first year with Beads of Courage as a Program Manager this year. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Applied Developmental Psychology and received her MS in Child Life from Bank Street College. Before joining the Beads of Courage team, Molly used her child life and child development education in various roles – from a Certified Child Life Specialist at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital to a Child Development Researcher at Fisher-Price. Molly spent most of her life in Pennsylvania, but after graduating from college, she moved to Western New York. This is now where Molly calls home with her husband, son, and beagle. Molly enjoys doing all things outdoors (skiing, hiking, and golfing), spending time with family and friends, and cooking.


Beth Moneck, MS, CCLS, CIMIAssistant Executive DirectorBeth joined Beads of Courage, Inc. after working nine years as a Certified Child Life Specialist I and II, and Interim Manager of Child Life, Volunteer Services, and Family Resource Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Beth served as a Beads of Courage Ambassador for those coping with cardiac conditions for six years. Beth holds a BS in Psychology and Neuroscience from Allegheny College, a MS in Applied Developmental Psychology with a focus in Child Life from the University of Pittsburgh, and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. Beth says her favorite part of her job is supporting our BOC team, donors, and interdisciplinary staff all over the world to support kids and families coping with serious medical experiences. Beth lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, daughter, dog, and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys time with her family and friends, enjoying music, fishing, gardening, and being outdoors. 

Happy Child Life Month – Meet our Child Life Specialists at Beads of Courage!, Beads of Courage