Sesame Street is coming to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
The nonprofit group behind the long-running Sesame Street TV series has partnered with a New York City academic hospital to "improve health outcomes for young children by supporting their physical and emotional well-being" through the creation of videos and educational materials.
In a statement, Sesame Workshop and the nonprofit NewYork-Presbyterian health system said the partnership kicks off with a six-video series called "Ask a Doctor," which will answer questions about pediatrics in a way that appeals to kids, using their favorite Sesame Street and Muppet characters.
The series will be available on the NewYork-Presbyterian internal patient entertainment system and on the Sesame Street YouTube channel. Episodes will feature hospital clinicians and cover topics such as food allergies, preparing for an exam and developing healthy sleep habits.
“We are thrilled to work with Sesame Workshop to empower parents and caregivers with important health information and meet families where they are," said Deepa Kumaraiah, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of NewYork-Presbyterian, in the statement. "Through fun learning moments that support the health and well-being of young people in our communities, we can help reduce health disparities and work toward health justice.”
The partnership will expand to make content available to community organizations that partner with the medical center, the groups said. Plans include bilingual Muppet videos, storybooks, parent guides, and activity books—all aimed at promoting health while appealing to children of different ethnic backgrounds.
In support of these efforts, "Sesamatized" spaces at the hospital and elsewhere are being constructed, where content from this collaboration will be showcased alongside Muppet and Sesame Street decor. The groups said these spaces will begin opening later this year.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.