In May, music once again filled The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital atrium for the 7th annual Medical Music Day. The event included performances by a variety of musicians and singers, as well as the first performance from Healthcare Harmonies, UAB Medicine’s staff choir.
Medical Music Day provides an opportunity for UAB Medicine employees, volunteers, and medical students to share their talents and the healing energy of live music with those around them. It is a key event for UAB Arts in Medicine (AIM), which provides active and passive arts experiences through performances and visual art in our health care environments and by bringing artists to patient bedsides.
Overwhelming response
Medical Music Day receives positive feedback each year, but the 2024 event was made even more special thanks to the Healthcare Harmonies performance. The group is led by Joycelyn Whatley, who also directs the Healing Harmonies community choir that performs for people affected by cancer.
Erin Yarbrough, associate vice president for Clinical Operations at UAB Medicine, says the response to the choir was overwhelming.
“The various performers who get involved for this day always do such a good job,” Yarbrough said. “We had the same amount of enthusiasm this year, but it was special because it was the first performance of Healthcare Harmonies. The energy in the response to the choir was amazing, with each floor of The Kirklin Clinic atrium lined with staff and patients from start to finish. Having this opportunity for our employees to contribute their talents for the benefit of patients and staff is something that makes UAB really special.”
Fulfilling its mission
AIM was created in part due to research showing the benefits of a whole-body approach to health care – one that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit of patients as well as caregivers. Integrating arts into clinical settings improves the quality of care for patients and promotes an atmosphere of better healing and workplace satisfaction. About half of America’s hospitals have some form of arts program.
Since it began in 2013, AIM has served more than 107,000 patients, family members, and staff at UAB Hospital. Yarbrough says Medical Music Day and Healthcare Harmonies are successful examples of AIM’s mission.
“Our vision is that the UAB staff choir will become a celebrated group that brings joy and pride to our employees,” Yarbrough said. “Whether by singing at events – such as the staff holiday party or giving scheduled performances during mealtimes for our staff to enjoy – we believe Healthcare Harmonies will be a meaningful offering to celebrate the wonderful talents and contributions of our UAB team.”
Click here to learn more about the UAB Arts in Medicine program.