Mighty Blog

Sydney Weaver, child life specialist, recognized with the EPFCC Award for her outstanding care

Congratulations to Sydney Weaver, child life specialist at Children’s Minnesota’s Minnetonka Surgery and Specialty Center, for being awarded with the Children’s Minnesota Family Advisory Council’s (FAC) Excellence in Patient- and Family-Centered Care (EPFCC) Award!  

FAC developed the EPFCC Award as a way for patient families to recognize and honor Children’s Minnesota providers who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to patient and family-centered care. Nominating families are asked to describe how their nominee delivered patient and family-centered care in relation to four core concepts: dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration. 

Sydney was surprised during her shift at the Minnetonka Surgery and Specialty Center when she was presented with the EPFCC Award. 

Left to right: Sydney Weaver, Hannah Hill and her daughter.

The Hill family’s experience with Sydney

Children’s Minnesota patient family and FAC member, Hannah Hill, nominated Sydney for the outstanding care she provided to Hannah’s daughter during their experience with an outpatient ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery at the Minnetonka Surgery and Specialty Center last spring. Hannah shared, “From the second Sydney entered my daughter’s pre-op room, she made her feel special, as if she were the only patient she was working with that day. Sydney treated my daughter with kindness and compassion. She communicated directly with my child about her scheduled procedure, rather than through me or my husband, and invited her to ask whatever questions she had on her mind.” 

Additionally in her nomination, Hannah said it was evident that Sydney collaborates well with the entire ENT team at the Minnetonka Surgery and Specialty Center, and patients benefit from the time Sydney spends working with providers to learn what happens at each stage of a child’s surgical journey. Hannah wrote, “She takes that information and relays it to patients in a kid-friendly manner. She knows the outpatient process from beginning to end and adds value at every point to ensure a positive care experience.” 

Please join us in congratulating Sydney! 

Sydney Weaver and her patient in the hospital playing with toys
Alexandra Rothstein