About me

In what kind of setting do you practice? Primarily medical, but I have a private practice with children/teens autism, PDD, ADHD.I teach at a Drexel University in the Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Masters Program. I also consult to build programs in hospitals in the US and abroad.

How/Why did you get into your particular field? Music has always been by raison d'etre, my religion, my specialty, my deepest love.I learned at a young age how to create cohesion amongst groups of people through playing-bringing together peers, families, friends, children etc. I have seen the miracles of music throughout my life-used at birth, at death-music helps people breathe and let go;it settles fears creates a container. Music is our greatest gift in life and it is within each of us and it is a natural part of what we do.

What are your greatest professional accomplishments thus far? Developing the Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine at Beth Israel has been a great accomplishment; from one unit (Pediatrics) to most of the hospital, to the opening of our new Music & Health Clinic on Union Square, where we treat musicians-this is quite unique. The greatest part of this is being called on by doctors, nurses, SW, PT, OT--the respect and commradary that we have within the Beth Israel Continuum is fantastic. Music therapists are called into the OR, we assist in biopsies, provide sedation for some medical testing. The day-to-day work with patients and families, and teaching our interns is meaningful. Working alongside an incredible team of 7 music therapists is empowering. It is a great accomplishement to assist therapists and allied staff at other medical centers as well. I have helped team members and former interns and students take the steps to build programs. Witnessing these accomplishments has been wonderful. Knowing how to program build is an important skill; assisting in helping other hospitals accomplish the development of music therapy programs is quite gratifying. I love to consult and travel.

What are your professional goals for the future? We have several research studies in the works. Research is grueling but very necessary to our growth. My goal is to take these projects to their completion and to further spread the power of music therapy through the quantitative and qualitative data that we are currently collecting. The more hospitals, schools, and communities that can have music therapy services, the better. Music has so much to offer-and we have only tapped the tip of its (and our own) potential. The art and science of music will continue to bloom as we study and report on its profound effects.