RALEIGH, N.C. - Carolina Hurricanes star Seth Jarvis has made a generous contribution to UNC Children's to support a new facility dog program that will serve pediatric patients. Thanks to Jarvis' support, the Paws & Heel UNC Children’s Facility Dog Program will bring specially trained dogs into UNC Children’s as full-time members of the care team, working alongside healthcare professionals to support children and families throughout their care.
"I'm excited to be able to support this wonderful program that combines two of my favorite things - helping kids and dogs," Jarvis said. "Being in the hospital can be one of the toughest experiences a family will ever face, and I'm grateful for the chance to make that experience a little easier for kids at UNC Children's."
A facility dog can sit beside a child before a procedure, provide a welcome distraction during treatment, encourage participation in therapy or simply offer companionship on a difficult day.
For families, that presence can bring a sense of normalcy to an experience that can otherwise feel anything but normal. And in a demanding hospital environment, facility dogs can offer healthcare professionals moments of connection, joy and stress relief.
“We are deeply appreciative to Seth for his generosity in supporting our children and their families in this way,” said Stephanie D. Davis, MD, Physician in Chief at UNC Children's and Chief of Children’s Clinical Services at UNC Health. “Time in the hospital can feel scary and uncertain, and the Paws & Heel Program will help us provide a level of comfort and happiness that is really unique and special.”
"We are so grateful for this contribution which will help us deliver on a promise we make to the children of North Carolina,” said Eve K. Hammett, Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer at UNC Hospitals. “We want the care we provide to be accessible and of the highest quality, while also wholehearted and fun whenever possible. Having a dog as part of the healthcare team brings joy and can help break down barriers, creating a more welcoming and comforting experience for children and their families.”
Dogs already have a special place in the UNC Health community. Tar Heal Paws and the Patient & Family Resource Center have shown the comfort and connection animals can bring to patients, families and the overall hospital environment.
Paws & Heel will build on that foundation by bringing highly trained facility dogs into UNC Children’s as full-time members of the pediatric care team. Thanks to Jarvis’ generous gift, they anticipate having our first two facility dogs in place by mid 2027.
Facility dogs are specially trained to work in healthcare settings that teach them to be prepared to navigate the unique demands of a hospital and support children in ways that complement their medical care.
To learn more about Paws & Heel or to join Seth in supporting this exciting new program, click here.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the UNC SOM. UNC Health provided more than $522 million in charity care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit click here..
