Alum Develops Healthcare Toolkit for Kawasaki Disease

Ava Quinn (BS ’24, MS ’25) presented her Pitt capstone project at a worldwide symposium

Ava Quinn’s personal connection to Kawasaki disease began long before she enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh School of Education Applied Developmental Psychology program.

Her cousin Ethan was diagnosed with the rare cardiovascular condition as an infant, and through him, Quinn’s family became deeply involved with the Kawasaki Disease Foundation , an organization founded in 2000 to support families affected by the illness.

That connection would eventually inspire Quinn’s master’s capstone project—the creation of a comprehensive Healthcare Transition Toolkit that has since been embraced by Kawasaki disease organizations around the world.

Bridging a Critical Gap in Care

While earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology (ADP) at the School of Education, Quinn’s identified a troubling pattern in the care of young Kawasaki disease patients. Many were simply not following through with medical care as they transitioned from pediatric to adult healthcare systems.

“Research showed that a very low number of children with special healthcare needs were being provided with transition planning guidance resources,” Quinn said. “This can lead to poor health outcomes, especially since this is a cardiovascular disease.”

The problem was compounded by the rarity of Kawasaki disease. While many pediatric cardiologists are familiar with the condition, adult cardiologists often are not, making it difficult for young adults to find appropriate continuing care.

Creating Tools for Independence

Working closely with  Adjunct Assistant Professor Denise Esposto and Adjunct Professor Sarah Miedel, Quinn developed a three-part toolkit to help young Kawasaki disease patients take charge of their healthcare as they enter adulthood.

The toolkit includes a readiness assessment that functions as a self-quiz, helping young people evaluate their preparedness to manage their health independently. A personalized health planner provides space for tracking medications, appointments, and health goals, all located in one place. Additionally, the practitioner questionnaire gives patients questions to ask when searching for an adult cardiologist familiar with Kawasaki disease.

“It’s meant to be developmentally appropriate and easy to understand,” Quinn said. “The goal is to improve health for Kawasaki disease from youth into adulthood, for patients to grow self-care skills, and to expand the resources for the Kawasaki Disease Foundation.”

Quinn’s approach emphasized both research and community feedback. She conducted pre-surveys with adults and youth who had experienced healthcare transitions, then gathered feedback from 37 reviewers on the toolkit itself.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the toolkit’s clarity and comprehensive approach.

From Capstone to Global Impact

What began as a master’s capstone project quickly grew into something much larger.

The Kawasaki Disease Foundation has described Quinn’s work as “an innovative Health Care Transition Toolkit,” and expressed interest in sharing the resource with Kawasaki disease organizations worldwide. That recognition caught Quinn by surprise.

“I really wasn’t expecting that,” she said.

In September 2025, Quinn presented her toolkit at the 2025 Mount Sinai Adult Congenital Heart Disease Symposium in New York City, showcasing her work to medical professionals and advocates in the field from across the world.

A Pitt Education in Action

Quinn credits the Pitt ADP program for preparing her for both the capstone project and her current career.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I loved everyone in the program. Everyone was so kind,professors and students. Everyone was just very passionate about working with children.”

The program’s emphasis on supporting children across various settings gave Quinn the flexibility to explore her interests in healthcare transitions and special healthcare needs.

Quinn completed her bachelor’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology in 2024, then participated in an accelerated fifth-year program that allowed her to earn her master’s in ADP in 2025.

“It was a really easy transition,” she said of the accelerated option. “You have a lot of the same professors, you’re going to the same building, and you’re taking some of the same classes, just at a master’s level.”

Today, Quinn works as a Mental Health Worker Associate at UPMC’s Southside Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program, where she supports adolescents ages 12 to 18 who are experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health challenges.

Though Quinn’s professional focus has shifted from physical health transitions to mental health support, the skills she developed at Pitt Education remain central to her work.

“We got an overarching view and perspective of working with children and families,” Quinn said of her Pitt Education. It has served her well in her endeavors.