For many people, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate their bond with their loved one with cards and candy and champagne.  But for too many others, the day can be a painful reminder of their isolation. This is not a rare burden. A 2020 survey conducted by the health insurer Cigna found that 3 […]

Following an improvised explosive device detonation during a military mission, Captain Luis Avila was left paralyzed and unable to speak.  With intensive physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and music therapy, Avila began his recovery. The music therapy provided by the Creative Forces program proved to be an essential rehabilitation tool and helped Avila regain […]

For the fifth year running, Baltimore is set to exceed 300 homicides in 2019.  With the New York Times calling this violence a “tragedy”, it is easy to fall into despair about whether change is possible at all. Marilyn Ness’ documentary “Charm City” takes a different tack on the problems the city faces.  In the […]

At IAM Lab’s most recent Dialog Series talk, Jill Sonke, Director of the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, gave “a little State of the Union address” on the field of Arts in Health. Before an audience of healthcare practitioners and researchers, Sonke also sought to lay the groundwork for a […]

In June, a diverse group of engineers, biomedical researchers, artists and clinicians gathered in Cancun, Mexico for the 2019 International Graphonomics Conference on Mobile Brain-Body Imaging, Neuroscience of Art, Innovation and Creativity. Each year, participants gather to explore the intersection of arts and science through the lens of contemporary and portable neuroimaging. These innovative technologies, […]

Music, painting, writing and other arts enrich our lives in so many ways. But they’re not only good for the soul; they can also enhance physical well-being, including heart health, and may even lower our risk of developing certain types of heart disease. These heart-healthy benefits start with a calming influence. Whether we create art […]

It’s that time of year, when love is in the air and on the minds of couples everywhere. But what exactly are these lovebirds thinking? Thanks to modern imaging, scientists are able to take a peek inside the besotted brain and show us what goes on during all stages of love—from lust to lasting relationship. […]

Jill Sonke stood before a captivated audience of researchers, healthcare officials, museum directors and artists convening for a discussion of Arts in Medicine at Johns Hopkins University.  Sonke, Director of the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine, presented an impressive body of work—over two decades of painstaking development of academic and clinical departments […]

Healing through arts is ancient practice with innumerable applications in modern day medicine. Yet integration of the arts into contemporary healthcare has its challenges, requiring thoughtful cross-sector collaboration to shape and grow the field. With this mind, the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) at Johns Hopkins University gathered a diverse group of researchers, […]

The second annual National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH) conference, part of the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo, took place in Austin, TX this past October 2018. This dynamic event provided opportunities for a highly interdisciplinary cohort, including researchers, public health officials, policy makers, healthcare professionals and artists, to share knowledge at the intersection […]