February 5, 2020

Updated for Craniofacial Gala Spring 2020

Dr. Jane Aronson was an educator for ten years and attended medical school at thirty-one to fulfill her destiny as a change agent in the field of global child health. She specialized in adoption medicine through her practice, International Pediatric Health Services, PLLC and evaluated over 20,000 orphans in the United States and abroad. Witnessing abusive conditions in orphanages around the world, Jane was compelled to found a non-profit organization in 1997 – Worldwide Orphans (WWO). WWO has provided direct services to 140,000 orphans and at-risk children in 19 countries over 22 years. Under Jane’s leadership, WWO developed a trademarked brand, Element of Play®, with 62 toy libraries in 5 countries: Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Haiti, the United States, and Vietnam. She raised over $20 million during 22 years of her leadership and partnered with many esteemed not for profit organizations, governments and corporations. WWO successfully managed grants from PEPFAR, USAID, Merck, Bristol Myers, OSI, the Phillips Family Foundation, Caplan Foundation, Eule Family Foundation, Stephen Lewis Foundation, Orakawa Fund, Karakin Foundation; there were grassroots organization partnerships in every country where WWO provided services and never any duplication of services.

As the former CEO of WWO, Jane envisioned innovative and holistic programs to transform the lives of children and families in communities impacted by the trauma of poverty. WWO is part of the universal effort of deinstitutionalization and provides healthcare, child protection, education, and psychosocial support to children as they transition from institutions to the community. WWO was always trauma informed!

WWO works with children from infancy to youth to heal trauma. They use play-based interventions to disrupt negative developmental trajectories for families in crisis. The WWO curriculum trains adults in early childhood development, building capacity in child care and enhancing attachment, expressive language, and cognitive abilities. Jane dreams of deploying hundreds of toy libraries with a fleet of toy librarians around the world!

The science of early brain development, Adverse Childhood Experiences studies (ACEs) studies, and home visits informs WWO’s practices and is what makes them unique among their peers. Element of Play® is a trauma-informed, evidence-based, and scaled program that addresses the needs of the whole child. Toy libraries featuring 120 curated toys are installed in libraries, hospitals, pre-schools, food pantries and shelters; they provide music, art, dance, literacy, sport, recreation, camp, and workforce development. Metrics show toy libraries improve development, strengthen attachment, and promote positive youth development. WWO trains adults, caregivers, and teachers about how children think and feel. This strengthens attachment between children and adults, reunifying families and building capacity in communities.

Jane speaks at universities, medical schools, high schools, elementary schools and conferences including Women in the World and the Unite for Sight Global Health Conference at Yale. Her many recognitions include the Angel in Adoption Award, Glamour Woman of the Year, CNN Champion for Change, World of Children Hero Award and Humanitarian Award, Time 100 Nominee, Distinguished Alumna from UMDNJ-SOM, Hunter College Hall of Fame Alumni Award, and Honored Alumna of Valley Stream North High School. She is particularly proud of her continued commitment to medical education and teaches at Cornell Weil College of Medicine. Jane is often featured in the media and has made guest appearances on CNN and NPR. She is the author of “Carried in Our Hearts” published by Penguin in 2013 and has two adopted sons: Benjamin from Vietnam and Desalegn from Ethiopia.