Transformative Work in Child Life Earns Debbie Wagers the 2025 Distinguished Service Award
Friday, June 20, 2025
Whether she is making a patient laugh on a difficult day or developing a program to change the way America cares for kids and families, Debbie Wagers, MHA, CCLS, has been driven by the same goal: easing healthcare visits for young patients.
The Boys Town Child Life Supervisor has been named the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). As the highest honor awarded by the organization, this accolade recognizes professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and impact in the field.
“It's the ultimate recognition in my profession, and the enormity of the award has been overwhelming in a good way," she said. “I've had the opportunity to do a lot of amazing things and create a lot of programs, but the highlight of my career is serving patients and families."
Decades of Changing the Way America Cares for Kids
Wagers' professional journey began almost four decades ago after she received a bachelor's degree in Growth & Development of Children from Iowa State University. Within a handful of years, she was making a significant impact in child life.
- After observing how healthcare visits and medical visits could feel chaotic and traumatizing for children, Wagers crafted a Barry Manilow-inspired acronym to educate on how to support children during medical encounters. Since 1996, ONE VOICE has been implemented in 200+ hospitals in the U.S. and at least five other countries.
- A casual conversation with a former Disney Imagineer at a healthcare conference led Wagers to collaborate with healthcare innovation firm Reimagine Well. The resulting virtual reality program helped decrease the mean age of patients requiring anesthesia for radiation from 5 to 2.9 years, according to a proof-of-concept study conducted while Wagers was at Nebraska Medicine.
Serving in the Clinic and the Community
Since 2021, Wagers has shared her leadership at Boys Town National Research Hospital, where she spearheaded the emotional safety program known as
Boys Town CARES.
Her supportive, ambitious spirit is also evident in her community involvement. She was involved with Camp CoHoLo, a summer camp for kids with cancer and blood disorders, for more than 21 years. In addition, she founded the local Child Life Disaster Relief team in Omaha. Wagers served eight years as chair of the ACLP's Education and Training Committee and more recently went back to school to earn her master's degree in Health Care Administration from Clarkson College.
On top of all this, Wagers has taught and mentored countless students and professionals over the years. In fact, itwas a former student and colleague that nominated her for the Distinguished Service Award.
“Debbie has the remarkable ability to identify needs and gaps in patient care and produce wide-reaching solutions that are grounded in psychosocial theory and practice while recognizing the power of collaboration," wrote Laura Takeuchi, CCLS, MPA.
Lessons Learned and Accolades Earned
In May, Wagers took her mother, son and daughter-in-law to Los Angeles for the award presentation at the ACLP Child Life Conference. The spontaneous and sustained standing ovation she received felt surreal for a professional who was simply enjoying using play as a tool to put young patients at ease.
“Whether you're helping them through (what adults often think of as) a “simple" IV or the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, every single family you interact with provides you with at least one lesson that you can incorporate into your practice," Wagers said. “They invite us into their lives, even on their darkest days. That's truly an honor."
Congratulations, Debbie! Boys Town is proud of the work you've done supporting our mission of changing the way America cares for children and families!
