Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Sweet Music to Patients' Ears, Musicians Help Physicians Tune in to Patients at University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine

Music and medicine is in the news today at The University of Western Ontario this Tuesday, April 15, with London Free Press reporter John Miner's article, "Sweet Music to Patients' Ears." Miner reports that James McKay, Professor at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, brought music students to the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry to help train medical students how to listen to their patients.


In the article, Dr. Terri Paul, Assistant Professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry explains,
"We physicians tend to talk a lot and talk quickly, and usually interrupt patients within about 18 seconds of them starting to tell us their story. This is learning to sit back and listen. It's also about learning to read patients' non-verbal signals."
Dr. Terri Paul

(A recent report on health literacy from the Canadian Public Health Association, found communication between doctors and patients wasn’t as effective as it could be. Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and The Don Wright Faculty of Music teamed up to provide medical students with ways to improve their lines of communication. “The Sound of Silence: Developing Effective Patient Partnerships” was one of a series of lectures given by Professors in Music and Medicine which focused on listening and speaking with patients as equal partners and illustrated the skills that musicians use playing in a small group to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. )
source: http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/news/index.php?article=000439


I have published posts about a number of programmes in Canada that use the arts in medical education. This is yet another indication that the arts in many forms when applied in education and training can help increase sensitivity and understanding in the physician, patient relationship. CM


Saturday, April 12, 2008

"We Think" and other innovative projects underway








Tonight we think....
with the focus on creativity, community,



democracy and
new forms of idea sharing.
Youtube at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiP79vYsfbo
 
(Thanks to Robert Kelly, Fine Arts, University of Calgary, for sharing this cool video inspired by Charles Leadbeater's new book, "We Think".)
Just off the press....Robert Kelly, as we speak, is creating a hot new book which will will examine the process of creativity (no small task) and idea generation and development.This book will target teachers and parents in accessible language presenting a case for creativity with close to 20 creative thinkers sharing their experiences and bearing witness to acts of creativity in practice. Now that's a progressive concept for a new book that could open the way for new methodologies, innovation and change. Congrats, Bob. Save a copy for me.
CM.




































































Friday, April 4, 2008

Oliver Sacks, Music Therapy and Parkinson's Disease

Tonight Oliver Sacks author of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "An Anthropologist on Mars" discusses the effect of music therapy on Parkinson's disease patients.

Front row seats at Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nnLTPPDRXI&feature=related

Arts and Aging Featured at Edmonton's Creative Age Festival

We recently heard from CCAHTE subscriber Pamela Brett-MacLean, Co-Director of The Arts and Humanities in Health and Medicine Program, University of Alberta, about a new festival in Edmonton taking place this June celebrating the many contributions of the arts in work in aging and health.



The Creative Age Festival, Edmonton’s newest festival, celebrates arts and aging by showcasing arts-based workshops, performances and events, including special film screenings and an Arts Café. This week-long celebration of creative aging has been organized to recognize the vital contributions of the arts in relation to lifelong learning, creative expression, health and well-being in later life.



A symposium has been organized as part of the Creative Age Festival offering a unique training and development opportunity for senior-serving agencies, health providers, seniors, students, and researchers.
Presentations and workshops will be showcased that explore the significance of arts and aging, in terms of cultural contributions, lifelong learning, community connections, social service and health care. This symposium will also provide a forum for sharing experience, innovative program models, best practices and research.

As part of this symposium, we are pleased to have Susan Perlstein, Director of Education and Training, National Center on Creative Aging (Washington DC) as keynote speaker. Susan will consider the significance of “creative aging” in relation to everyday life, and also summarize findings from a study she collaborated on with Dr. Gene Cohen from the Centre of Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University which provides evidence about positive benefits associated with involvement in arts and cultural programs.

Creative Age Festival June 2-8, 2008
Edmonton, AB (Various Locations)

1st Celebration of Creative Aging Symposium, June 3, 2008
Telus Centre (University of Alberta Campus)
Edmonton, AB

Call for Presentations - Submission Deadline: May 14, 2008