A new partnership between The Brett Torino Foundation and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation (NVCCF) is bringing education directly to children hospitalized at the Children’s Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital.
The Education Services Bedside Program, launched this week, provides one-on-one tutoring and academic support to young patients receiving treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer. This program ensures that children can keep up with their studies even while focusing on their health.
“It’s all about the kids and how we continue their education when they’re struggling through things with their families,” said Brett Torino of The Brett Torino Foundation.
Funded by The Brett Torino Foundation, a long-time supporter of children’s health in Southern Nevada, the program places licensed teachers and support staff directly in hospital rooms. They work with patients on subjects like reading, writing, math, and science.
Each tutoring session is designed to match the child’s grade, learning style, and energy level. Besides academic help, the program offers a mental break from the challenges of medical treatment. It also helps reduce stress for families worried about their child falling behind in school during long hospital stays.
“If they’re working on fractions at school, we work on fractions with them in the hospital. This way, when they return to school, they feel normal and not far behind their classmates,” said Jessica Anderson, director of education at NVCCF.
Looking ahead, the program aims to establish a dedicated learning space at Summerlin Hospital. This would make it the only medical center in Nevada to offer such an inpatient education program.
