Video Highlights

Concert pianist and Weill Cornell psychiatrist Richard Kogan, M.D. plays Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 1 and explores the connection between Tchaikovsky's troubled mind and his extraordinary music.

Music, Medicine and Madness : A Visit with Richard Kogan MD in Huffington Post

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edical students typically excel in science, but few people know that many are also gifted musically. From conservatory-trained professional musicians to serious amateurs who have studied and played music for many years, all are part of the Weill Cornell Medical College Family.

Reasons for musicians turning to a career in medicine - in some cases as a second career after years of performing - are varied. But all share a passionate pursuit of the expression of beauty and perfection through music.

Once musicians become medical students, they often find that their passion for exploration seamlessly translates into the pursuit of knowledge. Students who bring music to their academic careers begin to think of their medical training as an art form in itself.

With this in mind, the Weill Cornell Medical College Music and Medicine Initiative - spearheaded by David A Shapiro, MD and Richard Kogan, MD and supported by a generous gift from the Block Family Foundation - allows medical students to continue to enjoy their musical life by offering quiet rehearsal spaces, performance venues and mentors from partner art institutions. The program emphasizes continued academic excellence with the added opportunity for students to practice music as a way to balance a busy academic life.

The Music and Medicine Initiative

Supporting the student musician as he or she segues into the role of medical student is the primary intent of the Music and Medicine Initiative. This has been accomplished by developing a structure that enables medical students to continue a musical life while studying medicine at Weill Cornell. This may include such things as access to private rehearsal spaces and performance venues throughout New York City. It may also include specialized mentoring from faculty - both medical and musical - from Weill Cornell and partner institutions such as The Juilliard School and the 92nd Street Y, institutions famous for their commitment to the arts in New York City and beyond.

Music as Medicine

Thanks to a strong clinical affiliation with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, opportunities for unique programs and partnerships abound. Several existing programs at the Medical Center actively seek to include the artist as active participant.

Music and Healing

There currently exist programs devoted to music and healing at Weill Cornell, as well as at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a partner institution just blocks from the Weill Cornell Campus. Music and Medicine develops a framework between institutions to create unique translational research opportunities.

Music and Research

Research groups nationwide are studying many aspects of music and the brain. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center has many active neuroscience research groups, and the Music and Medicine Initiative will help to develop partnership opportunities.

The Art of Collaboration

The Music and Medicine Initiative has budding relationships with some of the world’s foremost musical institutions, including The Juilliard School, the 92nd Street Y, and Carnegie Hall. The goal is to find ways to bring benefit to both medical students and the partner institutions.

For example, a string quartet formed by Weill Cornell students may need a space in which to practice in their limited spare time. The Music and Medicine Initiative partnerships will allow these students access to quiet rehearsal rooms at the 92nd Street Y.

Students musicians will also benefit by close collaboration with faculty from The Juilliard School, several of whom will serve as volunteer coaches. In exchange, our partner institutions have access to one of the world’s finest academic medical centers.

For example, a viola player at The Juilliard School may develop an upper back problem due to poor posture while playing. This student will be referred to one of New York’s finest physicians at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, someone who is attuned to the unique needs and problems of the musician.

As part of an academic medical center, the Music and Medicine Initiative will offer lectures, seminars and services that will prove invaluable to both educational partners and students.

Becoming the Best

It is no secret that medical college admissions officers compete to recruit the best and brightest applicants to their institutions. When students are considering a medical school, many factors contribute to their final decision.

Weill Cornell Medical College is fortunate to already have many elements that make it an attractive institution: its location in Manhattan, commonly referred to as the cultural capital of the world; a large and diverse faculty, student and patient population; a unique Problem-Based Learning curriculum that focuses on student discovery rather than standard lecture; and one of the country's leading global medicine programs, including a campus in Qatar and a unique education and clinical training program at the Weill Bugando Center in Tanzania.

The Music and Medicine Initiative serves as another contributing factor to attract students who want to pursue a career in medicine, but do not want to sacrifice their love and passion for music in the process. While the Medical College will continue to attract the brightest and most intellectually curious students, the Music and Medicine Initiative will serve to attract musically creative applicants, who are then more likely to matriculate at the Medical College knowing that their interest in music will be supported throughout their academic career at Weill Cornell.

An Investment in Creativity

Weill Cornell's Music and Medicine program is an entirely privately funded initiative undertaken by our faculty and students. We believe strongly that the program will enhance the medical college experience for our students, and that it will also be of great benefit to the Weill Cornell community at large.

Music and Medicine relies on the generosity of friends and patrons to underwrite its programs and mission. Opportunities for involvement are available at various levels, and every dollar raised is directed to the program and its success.

For further information on how you can become more involved, or to learn how you can support this important program, please contact David A. Shapiro, MD, Program Chairman, at (212) 534-3448. You may also contact Weill Cornell Medical College's Office of Development at (646) 962-8720, to make a donation or request more information about supporting this unique program.

Dr. David A Shapiro, Chairman

Dr. Richard Kogan, Vice Chairman and Artistic Director

• Advisory Board
• Jack D. Barchas, MD
• Charles Bardes, MD
• Barry Coller, MD
• Harvey Klein, MD
• Larry Norton, MD
• Stephen Paget, MD
• Zev Rosenwaks, MD
• Thomas Sculco, MD
• David Skorton, MD
• Michael Stewart, MD
• Hazel Szeto, MD, PhD

• Student and House Staff Committee
• Jenna Devare (3rd year)
• Isaac Andrew Klein (MD-PhD)
• Lee Kiang (MD-PhD)
• Peter Morgenstern (4th year)
• Curtis O’Neal, (MD-PhD)
• Ankit Patel (MD-PhD)
• Tiffany Peng (1st year)
• Jeff Russ (MD-PhD)
• Kristi Shigyo (3rd year)
• Joanna Spencer, (MD-PhD)
• Charles Vorkas (4th year)
•  

 

• Friends and Faculty Committee:
• Peter Block
• Joseph Cousin, MD
• Josh Levinger, MD
• Laura Lieberman, MD

For more information about the Music and Medicine Initiative at Weill Cornell, please contact David A. Shapiro, MD by email at
dshapiro@bcn.net or by phone at (212) 534-3448 – or
Richard Kogan, MD by email at richardkogan@aol.com
or by phone at 212-744-3324.