St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Services Child Life Meet the Team

Meet the Team

HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital has a dedicated team of full-time child life specialists, interns, students and volunteers.

Colleen Ducke - Child Life Manager

Ducke grew up in La Crosse and was a Boston nanny before returning to Madison to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life at Edgewood College. From there, she headed back to Boston to serve as an intern at the Boston Floating Hospital for Children. She earned a Master’s Degree in Human Development at Wheelock College in Boston. Ducke taught Child Life at her alma mater for four years and joined Prevea in 2002. She is a member of the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Ashley Thompson - Child Life Supervisor

Thompson, a Waupun native, majored in human development at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a minor in psychology. She volunteered at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in the Child Life program before going to Marshfield Clinic and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield for her internship. She joined Prevea in April 2007 and is member of the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Amy Hagel

Hagel grew up in Carroll, Iowa. She attended the University of Iowa and majored in Child Life with a minor in psychology. She volunteered at University of Iowa hospitals and clinics before coming to HSHS St. Vincent Hospital for her internship. She joined St. Vincent Hospital’s Child Life program in Sept. 2013 and is a member of the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Lauren Vanden Heuvel

Vanden Heuvel grew up in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. She attended Edgewood College in Madison and majored in Child Life with a minor in psychology. She volunteered at American Family Children’s Hospital and completed her practicum and internship at St. Vincent Hospital. She joined St. Vincent Children’s Hospital’s Child Life program in Nov. 2016 and is a member of the Association of Child Life Professionals.