Page 15 - COM-16-25365_Summer2016THRIVE-wMagnet.indd
P. 15
And now, Summa Health is taking the Cornell Music and Medicine Program in Joseph D. Varley, M.D.
power of music to the bedside as it New York City. In between his specially Chair, Summa Health Behavioral Health Institute.
launches Music and Mental Health, a selected numbers for the Summa The Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Chair in
pilot program in which Akron Symphony Health event, he engaged the audience Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
orchestra musicians will perform in a discussion of the role of music in The Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Chair in
regularly in inpatient behavioral health healing and the influence of psychiatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
settings within the health system. The and medical illnesses on the creative
new program, made possible through a output of composers such as Mozart,
grant from The Margaret Clark Morgan Beethoven and Schumann. Famed cellist
Foundation, will support the clinical Yo-Yo Ma once said of Dr. Kogan, “I came
integration of music into a therapeutic away from this extraordinary lecture
group setting and promote recovery. and performance deeply moved by a
fascinating presentation that only Dr.
“We hope that through these endeavors Kogan, psychiatrist and concert pianist,
with the Symphony we can raise can deliver.”
awareness throughout the community
about the therapeutic power of music to “Music has an enormous capacity to
promote recovery,” said Dr. Joseph Varley, heal,” said Dr. Kogan during an interview
chair of the Behavioral Health Institute at with 91.3 FM at the Summa Health event.
Summa Health. “We are extremely proud “Music is now an underutilized modality
to bring this unique program to our area in healing…that can pretty reliably make
and to the patients we serve.” people feel better. Music seems to have
a power that is unique…and has a very
“Music has important role to play in the lives of
an enormous people who have emotional and mental
capacity struggles. We’re trying to see to it that
to heal.” more people recognize music as an
important therapeutic tool.”
- Dr. Kogan
Then on Saturday, February 6, Dr. Kogan
Earlier this winter, Summa Health and joined the Akron Symphony on the
the Akron Symphony kicked off the stage of EJ Thomas Hall where he both
Music and Mental Health program with a discussed the life and work of troubled
couple of very special events. On Friday composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and, in
evening, February 5, the Summa Health concert with the orchestra, performed
Ann and David Brennan Pavilion lobby Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2,
was transformed into an intimate concert which, interestingly, the Russian composer
hall as renowned pianist and psychiatrist dedicated to his hypnotherapist.
Dr. Richard Kogan performed for the rapt
audience of professional staff and “All of us at Summa Health, and especially
invited guests. those who work in the Behavioral Health
areas, are extremely grateful to The
Dr. Kogan, a Harvard Medical School- Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation and
trained psychiatrist and acclaimed the Akron Symphony for supporting music
pianist, is the artistic director of the Weill therapy and mental health services in our
health system,” said Dr. Varley. “This new
program, bringing professional musicians
to therapeutic settings, has the potential to
make a big difference in people’s lives.”
Thrive - Summer 2016 15
