Palliative Care Music Therapy
Mary-Carla MacDonald, MA, MT-BC, FAMI, has built a music therapy program for the Division of Palliative Care and Department of Neurology since 2019. An instructor at Lesley University, Ms. MacDonald attracts music therapy interns to UMass Memorial Health from all around the state. She and her colleagues promote healing and connection through music for patients and their families as well as health care workers.
She is a sought-after educator who presents on music therapy to trainees, clinicians, and other interdisciplinary team members. Ms. MacDonald also participates in innovative research, including a randomized controlled trial of music therapy to prevent delirium in hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
Read more about music therapy here:
Providing Emotional Support in Difficult Times Through Therapeutic Music
Music Therapy Tales
Learn more about Mary-Carla MacDonald's work here:
Sound Health Network
Ms. MacDonald featured on Instagram
Interview with Ms. MacDonald
Read our publications and watch our Grand Rounds presentations here:
Music therapy during the pandemic
"Use of Palliative Care Music Therapy for Hospitalized Patients and Staff During the COVID Surge"
Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, September 24, 2020
Speakers: Jennifer Reidy, MD, MS, FAAHPM; Mary-Carla MacDonald, MA, MT-BC, FAMI, NMT
"Art and Science of Music Therapy in Medical Settings"
Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, January 9, 2020
Speaker: Kathleen Howland, PhD, MT-BC, SLP-CCC, Berklee College of Music
