Symme W. Trachtenberg, MSW

female silhouette icon
Symme W. Trachtenberg, MSW, is the Director of Community Education and works with the Transition to Adult Care Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Children, youth and young adults with chronic illness and/or disabilities, and their families, Transition to adulthood, Care of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)

Education and Training

Undergraduate Degree

BA in Social Welfare - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Graduate Degree

MSW - University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, Philadelphia, PA

Additional Training

University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work

Titles and Academic Titles

Director, Community Education

Social Work Director, Children’s Seashore House

Clinical Associate in Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2018

Wu K, Szalda D, Trachtenberg S, Jan S, Transitioning From "Sick Kid" to Community Health Worker: Building Better Bridges to Adult Care. Pediatrics: 03 July 2018, doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-1536.

2015

Stollon, N., Weirich Paine, C., Lucas, M., Brumley, L., Poole, E., Peyton, T., Grant, A., Jan, S., Trachtenberg, S., Zander, M., Bonafide, C., Schwartz, L. (2015, November). Transitioning adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease from pediatric to adult healthcare: Provider perspectives. Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, 37(8), 577-583.

2014

Paine, C.W., Stollon, N.B., Lucas, M.S., Brumley, L.D., Poole, E.S., Peyton, T., Grant, A.W., Jan, S., Trachtenberg, S., Zander, M., Mamula, P., Bonafide, C.P., Schwartz, L.A. (2014, November) Barriers and facilitators to successful transition from pediatric to adult inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care from the perspectives of providers. Inflammatory Bowel Disorders, 20(11): 2083-2091.

2013

Taylor A, Lizzi M, Marx A, Chilkatowsky M, Trachtenberg SW, Ogle S. (2012, Aug) Implementing a Care Coordination Program for Pediatric Patients with Special Healthcare Needs: Partnering with Families and Providers. J Healthc Qual. 2013 Sep-Oct; 35(5):70-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1945-1474.2012.00215.x. Epub

1997

Trachtenberg, S., The Role of the Social Worker in a Pediatric Rehab.  Northeast Healthcare Management, 1997, 16-19.

1991

Neef, N., Trachtenberg, S., Loeb, J., Sterner, K., Video-Based Training of Respite Care Providers: An Interactional Analysis of Presentation Format.  Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 1991, 24, 473‑486.

Neef, N., Trachtenberg, S., Loeb, J., Sterner, K., Stern, L., Caring for Persons with Developmental Disabilities: A Training Program for Respite Care Providers ‑ Leader's Guide. Research Press, 1991.

Books

Chapters

2007

Trachtenberg, S., Batshaw, M. Caring and Coping: The Family of a Child with Disabilities, Children with Disabilities: A Medical Primer, Sixth Edition, Mark L. Batshaw, M.D. (Ed.), Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, 2007.

1999

Coplan J, Trachtenberg, S., Getting the Diagnosis. When Your Child has a Disability, Second Edition, Batshaw, M.D. (Ed.), Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, 1999.

1998

Trachtenberg, S., Rouse, C., The Family. The Child with Cerebral Palsy: A Team Approach. Dormans, J., Pelligrino, L. (Eds.), Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, 1998.

1997

Trachtenberg, S., Batshaw, M., Caring and Coping: The Family of a Child with Disabilities. Children with Disabilities: A Medical Primer, Fourth Edition, Mark L. Batshaw, M.D. (Ed.), Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, 1997, 743-756.

Trachtenberg, S., Rights of Children with Developmental Disabilities. Pediatric Primary Care, A Problem‑Oriented Approach, Third Edition, Schwartz, W., Curry, T., Sargent, A., Blum, N., Fein, J. (Eds.), Mosby-Year Book, Inc., St. Louis, 1997, 889-894.

1996

Trachtenberg, S., Social Work. Children’s Seashore House Handbook of Developmental Disabilities: Resources for Interdisciplinary Care, Kurtz, L., Dowrick, P., Levy, S., Batshaw, M. (Eds.), Aspen, Gaithersburg, 1996, 77-79.

Trachtenberg, S., Lewis D., Case Management. Children’s Seashore House Handbook of Developmental Disabilities: Resources for Interdisciplinary Care, Kurtz, L., Dowrick, P., Levy, S., Batshaw, M. (Eds.), Aspen, Gaithersburg, 1996, 203-208.

Trachtenberg, S., Hale Sills, N., Collaboration with Parent and Child. Children’s Seashore House Handbook of Developmental Disabilities: Resources for Interdisciplinary Care, Kurtz, L., Dowrick, P., Levy, S., Batshaw M. (Eds.), Aspen, Gaithersburg, 1996, 526-534.

Trachtenberg, S., Trachtenberg, J., Prevention of Burnout in Parents and Professionals. Children’s Seashore House Handbook of Developmental Disabilities: Resources for Interdisciplinary Care, Kurtz, L., Dowrick, P., Levy, S., Batshaw, M. (Eds.), Aspen, Gaithersburg, 1996, 593-597.

Trachtenberg, S., Dowrick, P., Organizations and Associations. Children’s Seashore House Handbook of Developmental Disabilities: Resources for Interdisciplinary Care, Kurtz, L., Dowrick, P., Levy, S., Batshaw M. (Eds.), Aspen, Gaithersburg, 1996, 639-651.

1993

Thomas, G., Thomas, B., Trachtenberg, S., Growing Up with Patricia. The Child with Developmental Disabilities, Pediatric Clinics of North America, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1993, 40, 675-683.

1992

Batshaw, M., Trachtenberg, S., Caring and Coping: The Family of a Child with Disabilities. Children with Disabilities: A Medical Primer, Third Edition, Mark L. Batshaw, M.D. & Yvonne Perret (Eds.), Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, 1992, 563-578.

1990

Trachtenberg, S., Rights of Children with Developmental Disabilities. Pediatric Primary Care, A Problem‑Oriented Approach, Second Edition, Schwartz, W., Charney, E., Curry, T., Ludwig, S. (Eds.), Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc. Chicago, 1990, 735‑37, 937.

1986

Trachtenberg, S., Rights and Resources for Children with Developmental Disabilities.  Principles and Practice of Clinical Pediatrics, Schwartz, W., Charney, E., Curry, T., Ludwig, S. (Eds.), Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc., Chicago, 1986, 651‑52, 838‑39.

Posters and Presentations

2018

Trachtenberg S. Transition to Adulthood: Preparation, Planning, Process and Patient/Family Engagement. Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, Northwell Health, June 8, 2018.

Trachtenberg and Greenberg, MSN. Transition to Adulthood: Preparation, Planning, Process and Patient Engagement. CRNP Society of Urology Nurses Association, April 7, 2018.

Lawrence W. Brown, MD and Symme Trachtenberg, MSW. Improved Health Care Transition for Youth with Epilepsy: A Goal for All Providers (Webinar) For Improving Access to Care and Transition Services for Children and Youth with Epilepsy in Eastern Pennsylvania (I-ACT for Epilepsy) Grant, May 1, 2018.

Mary Pipan, MD and Symme Trachtenberg, MSW. Beyond the IEP: Developing the Foundational Skills your Child Needs to Support a Successful Adolescents and Young Adulthood. Trisomy 21 Symposium May 2018.

Audrey Vincent, Jamie DiIanni, Symme Trachtenberg, MSW. Transition to Employment: Preparation, Process and Programs = Possibilities. Trisomy 21 Symposium May 2018.

Oana Tomescu, MD, Sheila Quinn, MD, Symme Trachtenberg, MSW. Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities April 2, 2018 LEAH class. LEAH and Penn MPH Students. Healthcare Leadership.

Trachtenberg S. Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Sickle Cell Consortium for Children with Special Health care Needs, Within State, 2018.

Trachtenberg S. Adulting: Putting it all Together LEND Jan 22, 2018.

Symme Trachtenberg and Jen Plumb, DSW. Social Work Careers in Developmental Disabilities, University of PA School of Social Policy and Practice. Developmental Disabilities class.

Trachtenberg S. Legal Needs of People with Developmental Disabilities, Joint CHOP-Penn Social Work CEU training. March 2018.

Trachtenberg S. Social Work focused on Developmental Disabilities for CHOP Social Work Student Supervisors 2018.

Dawn DeVan-Bertrand and Symme Trachtenberg, MSW. Passport to Adulting: Moving Out & Moving On with Diabetes Care 8th Annual Living Well with Diabetes. 2018.

Samuel Rauch, MA; Adam Greenberg, MSN CRNP; Natalie Stollon, MSW MPH; Katie Wu, BA; Lauren Ford, RN, Symme Trachtenberg, MSW, Dava Szalda, MD, MSHP. Baylor Characteristics of and Interventions for Patients Referred to a Transition Consult Service Health Care Transition Research Consortium Meeting. October 24, 2018.

Awards and Honors

2000, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work Alumni Recognition Award
1998, Mary J. Gerace Award for Extraordinary Service
1998, D. Bruce Yoppi Award for Outstanding Personal Commitment, Caring and Contributions to the Field of Developmental Disabilities

Editorial and Academic Positions

Academic and Institutional Committees

1997-present, Community Liaison and Education, Director