New Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center integrates music in healing

The transdisciplinary center spans University of Rochester schools and its Medical Center.

The region's sole program blending music, arts, health care, and research to advance healing is now called Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center, a designation that represents the growing impact of the University of Rochester initiative.

The transdisciplinary center synthesizes the resources and artistic expertise of the world-renowned Eastman School of Music with the cutting-edge treatments and scientific research at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The newly designated virtual center focuses on clinical services for artists, creative arts therapy for hospitalized patients, scientific research, and performances in clinical spaces. It provides:

• Specialized care for artists facing acute and chronic injuries. From repetitive motion injuries, vocal cord strain, and mental health challenges, performing artists gain access to UR Medicine experts. Together they focus on therapy and recovery, while continuing to perform.
• Soothing musical performances for patients at the University's Wilmot Cancer Institute and Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals. World-class musicians offer "pop-up performances," which foster moments of peace, easing stress for visitors, patients, and staff.
• Music and art therapy for patients in care at the Pluta Cancer Center, Golisano Children's Hospital, and Strong Memorial Hospital's unit for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.
• A body of new research, conducted by an expanding team of faculty, into the neurological mechanisms that make music therapy an effective tool in healing and pain management, and data on injuries common among performing artists to improve career longevity, particularly in music education.

"I am so pleased that the University of Rochester has named Eastman Performing Arts Medicine as an official center. This designation supports the incredible work, research, and success accomplished since the initiative began in 2019, as well as the continued impact on a national and international level that the center is sure to achieve," says Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music.

"Music has a positive effect on our body, mind, and soul, and is especially powerful during recovery from illness or injury," says David Linehan, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. "The Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center brings together the strengths of the Eastman School of Medicine and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry to harness the power of music and medicine to support our patients, musicians, and community."

"The steady growth of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine over the last five years and its designation as a center validates the impact arts have on our health and well-being, and the University of Rochester's place in growing this field," says Gaelen McCormick, director of the center.