Parent
Co-Founder of TrachCare, Inc.
Faculty Associate, Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice, Children’s Hospital Boston
Erin holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling and is committed to combining her personal experiences as a mother of a child with complex medical needs with her professional skills to work towards improving parent-professional relationships and the quality of healthcare for children and adults with tracheostomies.
Erin is a founding member of TrachCare, Inc., a Massachusetts-based, non-profit organization established in 2005 providing support and information to parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers of children who have, or previously had a tracheostomy (www.trachcare.org). As a Faculty Associate for the Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice at Children’s Hospital Boston since 2005, Erin contributes to developing curricula and facilitates medical education programs that focus on enhancing relational and communication skills. (http://www.ipepweb.org/ward.html) Previously, Erin also worked for the Center for Families at Children’s Hospital Boston, where she coordinated the Family Initiatives program and developed a Family Advisory Board for the Complex Care Service Department. (http://www.childrenshospital.org/chnews/09-01-06/erin_ward.html)
Erin’s interests include promoting parent-professional partnerships, improving the transition of care process from the hospital to home, care coordination, and supporting inclusion of individuals with tracheostomies in schools and communities.