Job Description

The Animal Assisted Therapy Coordinator is a certified or licensed psychosocial professional (Certified Child Life Specialist, Creative Arts Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, etc.) responsible for the coordination and delivery of animals assisted therapy within the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department’s Paws & Play program. The AAT coordinator is the primary handler for the facility dog, providing clinical interventions, overseeing the referral process for therapeutic visits with patients, families, and staff and participating in applicable research utilizing the resident dog. 

• Utilizes the facility dog to provide comprehensive supportive services for patients, families and staff in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient units and outpatient areas. 
• Coordinates the referral process for the resident dog, responding to all formal referrals across the medical setting.
• Functions as a key member of the healthcare team, communicating all relevant programmatic and psychosocial information to other team members via participation in team meetings, etc.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of special events and programming that involve the facility dog.
• Develops and assists with projects addressing the needs of staff in line with the goals of the facility dog program and those identified by the child life and creative arts therapy director and leadership team.
• Collaborates with clinical staff to create opportunities for research across all populations and medical settings.
• Develops and disseminates collateral materials for internal and external marketing initiatives. 
• Maintains communication with Donor to provide programming updates and successes.
• Develops and implements educational seminars that address psychosocial needs and challenges of hospitalization and the clinical benefits of utilizing a therapy dog.
• Maintains all requirements for dog handling set out by facility dog organization regarding weight management, vet care, home environment, grooming and reporting.
• Assesses the needs of the dog throughout the work shift to provide adequate rest and down time. 
• Maintains program statistics and budget to assess and evaluate quality of programming and to make necessary adjustments. 
• Maintains professional development and competency. 
• Participates in individual and clinical group supervision.  

• Bachelor?s Degree/Master?s Degree Preferred

• At least 1 year experience in a healthcare setting preferred. 

• Credentials or License within 12 months of employment.

Non-Bargaining Unit, 358 - Child Life Program - MSH, Mount Sinai Hospital

Strength through Unity and Inclusion

The Mount Sinai Health System is committed to fostering an environment where everyone can contribute to excellence. We share a common dedication to delivering outstanding patient care. When you join us, you become part of Mount Sinai’s unparalleled legacy of achievement, education, and innovation as we work together to transform healthcare. We encourage all team members to actively participate in creating a culture that ensures fair access to opportunities, promotes inclusive practices, and supports the success of every individual.

At Mount Sinai, our leaders are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to grow. We strive to create an environment where collaboration, fairness, and continuous learning drive positive change, improving the well-being of our staff, patients, and organization. Our leaders are expected to challenge outdated practices, promote a culture of respect, and work toward meaningful improvements that enhance patient care and workplace experiences. We are dedicated to building a supportive and welcoming environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and advance professionally. Explore this opportunity and be part of the next chapter in our history.

About the Mount Sinai Health System:

Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time — discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it. Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes more than 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. We are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals, receiving high "Honor Roll" status, and are highly ranked: No. 1 in Geriatrics, top 5 in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and top 20 in Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Urology. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 12 in Ophthalmology. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” ranks Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital among the country’s best in several pediatric specialties. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is ranked No. 11 nationwide in National Institutes of Health funding and in the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Newsweek’s “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals” ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital as No. 1 in New York and in the top five globally, and Mount Sinai Morningside in the top 20 globally.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Mount Sinai Health System is an equal opportunity employer, complying with all applicable federal civil rights laws. We do not discriminate, exclude, or treat individuals differently based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are deeply committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, students, trainees, patients, visitors, and the communities we serve feel respected and supported. Our goal is to create a healthcare and learning institution that actively works to remove barriers, address challenges, and promote fairness in all aspects of our organization.

Compensation

The Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) provides salary ranges that comply with the New York City Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $65885 - $98827 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and operational need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

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