Second Lady Karen Pence promotes benefits of arts therapy during visit
A special guest from the vice president’s office, Second Lady Karen Pence, visited Cincinnati Children’s to learn more about how our music and art therapists use the creative process of painting, music-making and other art forms to help patients and families cope with their hospitalization and disease. A former art teacher, Mrs. Pence has been a champion for art therapy programs at hospitals across the nation.
“Art and music therapy has an incredible impact on the healing experience for patients and families. We are lucky to have this opportunity to share stories of how partnering with our art and music therapists helped them during their stay,” said Kate Shamszad, clinical director, Child Life and Integrative Care.
Among the patients Mrs. Pence met was Croix Johnson, who underwent a heart transplant last year. Music Therapist Nate Ewusie-Mensah visited with the family for regular jam sessions in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Transitional Care Center. Johnson’s parents and twin sister credit music therapy with brightening his road to recovery, and it was even incorporated into his occupational therapy goals.
Now that Johnson has recovered and is back home, the family continues to use music as a way to come together and celebrate.
