The arts in medicine
programs at the University of Florida
specialize in using the arts to help
people whose lives have been interrupted
by illness or injury.
Our artists in residence impact the culture of care by
engaging patients, families, and staff in
creative activities that transform the
hospital experience.
A few years ago my
friend had an accident and was in a coma
for over a year. I came in almost every
day and played for him at the time I
couldn't tell if it was making a
difference but he later came out of the
coma and told me that he remembered me playing for him.
That was my first time really seeing the healing power of music. Today more than
half of the hospitals in the United
States invest in arts programming the
arts in medicine programs at UF has
been a pioneer and leader in the
development of this rapidly growing
discipline since 1990, through graduate
undergraduate and professional 
 development programs, the Center for arts in Medicine's
faculty and UF health Shands Arts in Medicine's artists in residence
work together to train the
next generation of artists as experts
and leaders in the field. Our faculty
conducts research that is documenting
the many ways in which the arts are
helping health care systems and our
students gain the knowledge and skills
needed to expand the field by developing
new and innovative programs in their own
communities
Together we are advancing 
how creativity transforms health.
