Volunteerism

Cassidy Cottle

The Healing Power of Music in Hospice Care

Cassidy Cottle is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine.

In the following blog post, she reflects on how her musical journey evolved from traditional performances to deeply personal connections through singing for individuals with dementia and terminal illness, discovering the profound emotional and healing power of music in these intimate settings.

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Group of singers in a room

Music as Medicine: Health Care Students Lead Musical Brain Initiative (Video)

UVM Larner College of Medicine medical students and colleagues regularly visit the memory care unit at UVM Medical Center to play music and sing songs with patients. Launched as a personal project by Jonathan Palmer ’27 through the Larner College of Medicine Center on Aging, this “Musical Brain Initiative” is led by medical students as way to help patients with cognitive decline feel less lonely and more connected to a community. For students in health care professions, it’s a great way to bond with each other and with patients, boost everyone’s mental wellbeing, and practice valuable skills for caring for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

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