Experienced Pediatric Feeding Specialist Helping with the Most Medically Fragile Patients
Kristin Cichowski
Speech Language Pathologist
Kristin Cichowski: Experienced Pediatric Feeding Specialist Helping with the Most Medically Fragile Patients
Kristin Cichowski has dedicated her life to serving the most medically fragile infants.
Since she started working at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago in 2000, her focus has been on working closely with vulnerable infants in the NICU as a pediatric feeding specialist.
Having Kristin as a dedicated team member at M Street means not only giving our families the opportunity to work with an expert pediatric feeding specialist, but also giving our team access to a strong mentor who is happy to share her knowledge on feeding disorders and challenges.
“M Street’s work really bridges the gap perfectly.”
Kristin’s Story
As the mom of two teenage boys, Kristin keeps up her energy by working out and deriving satisfaction from her career. She’ll often get home from work, work out, run her sons to their various sports activities and then work some more on consulting and research projects. She’s tireless and driven by a desire to grow and learn new ways to help the families and children in her care.
“It’s my nature to want to help those in need. I love being able to support families and children to succeed in ways that circumstances may not have naturally allowed.”
Kristin brings impressive experience to the M Street Pediatric Therapy team, having worked extensively with the treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Care Unit at Lurie Hospital. She’s taught many workshops and webinars, presented at national conferences on feeding disorders in medically fragile populations, and is a published expert in her field.
Building on her experience working in the NICU and CCU, she’s a Certified Lactation Counselor and continues to participate in research to assist medically complex infants. Kristin always knew she wanted a career in a helping field and working as a pediatric feeding specialist has been a perfect fit.
“Years ago, when I was going to school and deciding on a career, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I started going down the premed line, looking into chiropractic, pharmaceuticals and other possible specialties. At Northern I took a course in speech pathology, and I was sold. The course introduced me to more oral motor feeding courses and it really struck me. Becoming a pediatric feeding specialist perfectly aligned with my interest working with infants and children.”
Her choice was solidified by additional placement in the NICU at Loyola Medicine. Kristin knew she was on her ideal career path.
While working in the field, it became very apparent to Kristin there was a lack of transition between the NICU babies she was working with and home-based support. Once they were discharged from the hospital, parents were often left to navigate these confusing waters alone.
“That’s where M Street’s work really bridges the gap perfectly. In a hospital setting, we’d see babies from the beginning and support them through the developmental feeding process and try to ensure they had support in place once they were discharged. The multi-disciplinary approach they need is a real challenge in the home and although the industry is getting better, it was still difficult,” says Kristin.
“Offering home-based therapy in early intervention is critical. I think M Street is visionary in their collaborative approach to offering families what they need within their natural environment. It’s the puzzle piece to providing continuity of care.”
“M Street Therapists are so passionate about what they’re doing”
Working with Kristin and M Street Pediatric Therapy
Kristin’s presence on the M Street staff is one of a mentor and educator to many of her fellow therapists.
“I was at a point in my career where I was really looking to take on another challenge. I’ve always had a passion for supporting newer therapists, so M Street has been a perfect fit.”
Kristin shares her knowledge with the therapists freely. Early intervention hasn’t always had a history of support and resources for feeding specialists. In the past there has been a lack of continuing education and mentorship, but Kristin is part of the changing and growing face of this specialty.
“M Street Therapists are so passionate about what they’re doing, and they want to continue to learn. To see a therapist bring all their passion to the table helps me to support them and helps all of us learn and grow. Hands on support, collaboration and guidance helps us all become better therapists.”
When a family is working with Kristin, or any of our M Street therapists, they’re given a unique opportunity to address the needs of their child within their home setting. Working within the comfort of the home environment is a huge changemaker for many children.
Therapists collaborate with parents and work with them in a very real-to-life way. In many therapeutic settings children are brought to an office or hospital. The clinician doesn’t get the opportunity to adapt therapy to their day-to-day lives and challenges.
Something as simple as observing mealtimes—how the environment supports feeding and how to improve on the current practices, sets the context and shapes the care plan. This gives parents and their children a great chance for success.
“Working within the home gives you a sense of what a family’s day-to-day life is like. It helps you know how to best support families and their babies. A hospital-based facility or other clinical setting is sterile and planned. Working within the home you get to think on your feet, really dissect the challenges, and apply what’s needed based on the environment the families have access to.”
Typically, when families work with staff at the NICU, they’re given plenty of supportive care. The challenges often arise once they get home with their child. How should they continue care, apply their new knowledge and fit it within their regular routine as a family? That’s when working with a feeding specialist like Kristin is so critical.
“ As I’ve worked with clients in their homes, it’s changed my approach to therapy. Because of my history of working with a hospital-style approach, I had to adapt and grow. The most amazing part is I see better progress for these patients in their homes. They’re learning what to use and how to adapt their home environment to support their child.”
“The most amazing part is I see better progress for these patients in their homes”
For Infants Feeding Challenges Go Beyond the “Latch”
Feeding your child is a deeply personal experience and one nearly any new mom may struggle with. This struggle is often compounded when a child also has challenging medical diagnoses.
“There’s a definite need for assistance with breastfeeding. As they say, ‘breast is best,’ but breastfeeding is a challenge for many parents. I’m so grateful for the knowledge and background in working with lactation so I can help put a comprehensive care plan together for parents,” explains Kristin.
This background in breastfeeding aligns with Kristin’s background in speech and oral motor challenges. As a pediatric feeding specialist, Kristin knows there are plenty of times when feeding issues are more about aspirating, swallowing, and struggling to find a feeding plan to fit the needs of a particular infant.
“There are many times when feeding challenges go beyond the latch or issues of supply and demand. Understanding and having a foundation of oral feeding and swallowing challenges helps me really take our care to the next level. I have a strong foundational knowledge of feeding and swallowing challenges that come along with breast feeding, but then I help the parent understand how it aligns with oral motor challenges.”
At M Street, Kristin and our therapists typically work 100% hands-on with families. They’re visiting the home during feeding times. They’re able to guide the family and apply the strategies effectively to fit their life and environment. This approach is immensely helpful for parents as they navigate challenging early months at home with their infant.
Working with medically fragile infants is the most rewarding aspect of the job for Kristin.
“I gravitate toward the most challenging cases. Often when there are multiple diagnostic challenges involved, you step back and look at the child as a whole. There may be multifaceted reasons why their experiencing these feeding challenges. It’s my goal to take my knowledge, research, consult, and assess the situation, to find a solution to these challenges.”
Kristin is driven and passionate about the care she gives—always with an eye to the future wellbeing of the infant and their family.
“Seeing a baby who’s critically ill or medically fragile as they come out of the NICU, working with them, and then later seeing them thriving at age three or four, is one of the best parts of this job. You know you really helped them when they were under your wing and provided them with the best care to promote a positive long-term feeding outcome. “
At M Street Pediatric Therapy, Kristin has found opportunities to grow and apply her expertise to guide her peers.
“Working at M Street has been so rewarding. The time was right in my life to become a part of the amazing work happening here. I feel lucky to work with our families and their infants. Each day is a new learning opportunity and challenge. It’s very exciting.”
“Working at M Street has been so rewarding.”