Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently held a two-day workshop to provide physicians, allied health professionals, researchers, and educators training in the use of evidence-based music interventions to treat a variety of health conditions.
Titled Management of Social, Emotional, Cognitive and Neurological Disorders Using Evidence-Based Music Therapy Techniques, the workshop offered attendees presentations and symptomatology of common social, cognitive and neurological disorders, in addition to guidelines on how to refer, plan, conduct, and report a music therapy session.
Music help foster self-esteem, express emotions
Participants had the opportunity to understand how music and music tools, such as drumming circles, can help individuals foster self-esteem and express emotions, and how evidence-based sensorimotor and cognitive techniques can be used to treat speech and motor deficits such as those found in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, autism, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The workshop was directed by neuroscientist and WCM-Q Biology Assistant Professor Dr Ghizlane Bendriss, the lead investigator of the first music-based clinical trial registered for Qatar titled EEG Responses to Arabic Music Scales. Other speakers at the workshop included physician, music therapist and professional lyrical soprano Dr Aseel Massoud; music therapist Rula El Barghouthi; and WCM-Q Associate Professor of Clinical Paediatrics and Neurology Dr Khaled Zamel.
According to Dr Bendriss, they are delighted to once again bring together a team of expert music therapists, neuroscientists and physicians to share their valuable insight into the effects and applications of music-based therapeutic intervention on a wide range of neurological conditions and diseases.
She said that the course is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to understand and implement music-based interventions effectively.
We look forward to continuing to work with responsible parties to facilitate the development of this service in healthcare Institutions in Qatar by creating a ‘community of practice’.
Deema Al Sheikhly, director of medical education and continuing professional development, and lecturer of education in medicine at WCM-Q said that music therapy is an evidence-based treatment that can positively improve the health and well-being of patients suffering from a range of health conditions.
The workshop, says Al Sheikhly, comes as part of their commitment to providing healthcare practitioners and educators with enriching educational opportunities that help facilitate continuous learning and professional development.
Workshop participant Klelia Antoniou from Doha College said it was an absolutely insightful and engaging workshop. She said the presenters were knowledgeable and inspiring and enabled the participants to deepen their understanding of neuroscience and learn how we can use music as a tool to enhance learning and create stronger connections.
WCM-Q is accredited as a provider of continuing medical education by the Department of Healthcare Professions of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). It is accredited internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
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