Gwynedd Mercy University student Hannah Ruch, a junior studying education, is gaining unique experience via her Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, according to a staff report from GMercyU.

After attending GMercyU’s Autism Conference last April, Ruch was motivated to seek a position that would deepen her understanding of diverse learning needs. With the help of assistant professor Dr. Cheryl Malfi, GMercyU’s Field Placement Coordinator for Education, she secured a placement at CHOP, where she shadows six teachers and works closely with young patients on an individual basis.

Her role requires adapting to students’ emotional and educational needs within the challenging environment of a hospital.

“I’ve already learned so much, and you feel so grateful for what you have grown up with if you haven’t been in the hospital,” Ruch said. “I saw these two little girls who have cancer, and they’re so happy to be alive and to be learning, and you get to see what’s important versus what’s not important.”

Ruch acknowledged the emotional weight of teaching in a hospital, sharing how teachers deal with the loss of a patient and the grief she sees parents experience when their child has been in an accident or has a chronic illness. She’s learned that showing emotion is OK within the teaching profession, and that it’s valuable to talk about anxiety and mental health.

“Just asking how students are feeling that day is important,” said Ruch. “I think at the hospital it’s even more important because they’re going through such a tough time mentally and physically.”

Read more about Hannah Ruch’s teaching experience at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from Gwynedd Mercy University.