Karen Muller honored with the Elsie T. Mead award

Congratulations to the 2022 Elsie T. Mead award winner, Karen Muller, BS, CCLS!

The Elsie T. Mead Lifetime Achievement award, the hospital's highest and most prestigious honor, recognizes a current or former Dayton Children’s employee who has made an outstanding contribution to Dayton Children’s and the community. After 39 years and counting, Karen will forever be a part of the Dayton Children's story.

Karen’s story at Dayton Children’s began in 1983, when she joined as one of three child life specialists. After thirty-nine years of dedicated service, she now holds the position of child life manager. 

Throughout her tenure, Karen has exemplified a tireless commitment to innovation and creativity, leaving an indelible mark on Dayton Children's culture. Her interventions and programs have had immeasurable impact, effectively meeting the needs of both the community and the hospital during times of rapid growth. Today, her team includes 15 child life specialists, three facility dog handlers, two music therapists and countless volunteers. 

Here's just a glimpse into the chapters of her Dayton Children's story.

Karen’s most notable accomplishments in child life include the implementation of several programs and activities that have become beloved fixtures of Dayton Children’s, such as Superhero Day, the STAR program (a non-sedation MRI anxiety reduction program), facility dog program, music therapy, internship and practicum programs and all the Halloween festivities! She has expanded her department, ensuring that child life is present in every new building or project on campus. Even when the hospital expanded to the tower, Karen made sure there was a child life specialist for each inpatient unit.

Under Karen’s leadership, each employee in her department is valued and supported. Her humble and quiet leadership style is effective in supporting the vision and ideas of her team, seeing them through to fruition without requiring personal recognition or glory. As Amy Thorson, corporate director of patient family experience, notes, “Karen’s leadership style has been one of her greatest successes.” 

Beyond her department, Karen has created connections between Dayton Children’s and the community, inspiring many gift donations that have led to the creation of programs such as music therapy and the facility dog program. 

For the past five years, she has led the bereavement committee, expanding its scope and membership to include a broad section of staff volunteers. During her time there, she implemented the butterfly release program, which has become one of the most cherished activities that honors children no longer with us.  

These are just some of the highlights of Karen’s contributions to Dayton Children’s. The programs she has brought to the hospital will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact for many years to come. 

“The Elsie T. Mead Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize an employee who has made an outstanding contribution to Dayton Children’s and the community," said Rita Falkenbach, child life specialist. "How do we define outstanding? Some people may define outstanding by the number of accolades or awards that a person achieved, titles held, financial impact or the person's renowned visibility. While none of those things are wrong, what often goes unnoticed is the humble, quiet leader who has managed to affect change and made a difference, a person like child life manager, Karen Muller.”