Mary Rorro, MD, chair of the Music in Medicine community, is a psychiatrist working with Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who brings music and poetry into her practice. In her psychiatry practice at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Dr. Rorro often can be found playing the viola for patients under her care as part of a music program she created in the VA, known as “A Few Good Notes.” As part of the program, Dr. Rorro performs as well as recruits fellow employees to perform with her at inpatient venues and in outpatient clinics. Patients are encouraged to play with her as part of their guitar lessons that are a regular offering during clinic hours. The impact music has made on their journey toward healing has been remarkable for these vets.
Dr. Rorro hopes to expand her “A Few Good Notes” program to medical schools and residency programs. Interested students and physicians who wish to become “Music Ambassadors,” and faculty mentors, are welcome to participate. She will be happy to provide guidance about how to implement a program in your facility.
Join AMWA in helping to expand this program.
Learn more about AMWA’s Music in Medicine Community: