Research Tuesdays: Music as medicine

Music isn’t just about fun and entertainment. It’s also a powerful tool for self-expression, human connection, and motivation. But did you know it can be useful for pain regulation, boosting immune health, lowering blood pressure, and easing clinical anxiety and depression?

Indeed, music therapy is an established allied health profession, applied to support both psychological and physiological needs. It can be used as a therapeutic intervention on its own, or in co-treatment with other health practitioners.

Since 2020, University of Adelaide researchers have been working to map these incredible benefits, filling crucial gaps in Australian data.

One singing scientist in particular, Dr Patsy Tan, has been working with patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) as they battle health issues and face uncertainty in a post-COVID world.

Join us to hear how Dr Tan uses music to manage pain, orient people with dementia, and alleviate anxiety for patients and staff alike.

The presenter

Dr Patsy Tan is an Honorary Research Fellow through the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and a full-time music therapist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital under the Hospital Research Foundation. She has over 25 years of experience in healthcare and education settings, having worked in the United States and pioneered medical music programs in Singapore and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

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