MSM Joins Bold Initiative to Integrate Arts into Medicine, Public Health, and Society
The medical school is part of a new global network incorporating the arts to help treat illness, promote wellness, and shape healthier communities.
ATLANTA, GA 鈥� (October 23, 2025) 鈥� 无码人妻 School of Medicine (MSM) today announced it has joined the Neuroarts Academic Network (NAN) focused on expanding the transformative power of the arts鈥攕uch as music, dance, painting, and storytelling鈥攂y helping to develop the emerging interdisciplinary field of neuroarts.
Based on research that demonstrates how art positively affects the brain and body, neuroarts explores how creative expression can be embedded in mainstream medicine, public health, and across society to improve health and well-being for all.
鈥淲e are very excited to be at the forefront of an innovative effort to examine the ways the arts can have a positive impact on health outcomes,鈥� said 无码人妻 School of Medicine Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean Dr. Joseph Tyndall, who will represent the school on the Neuroarts Academic Network Working Group of more than 35 academic institutions from around the world. 鈥淭his initiative has significant potential to redefine the medicinal toolbox to include artistic endeavors in both the healing process and preventative health care.鈥�
NAN鈥檚 goal is to make neuroarts an established academic and professional field across disciplines including the arts, health, basic sciences, public health, architecture, design, education, business, community development, and more. Each discipline has a distinct career path and its own unique focus, but all are rooted in science showing the positive impact of the arts on health and well-being.
The academic working group will:
- Connect universities and programs already working in neuroarts,
- Encourage new research and training programs,
- Build career paths that combine arts and health,
- Expand best practices and address core challenges, and
- Support the field so it grows in a sustainable and rigorous way.
NAN is a part of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative is led by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine鈥檚 and the Aspen Institute鈥檚 , with funding from .
鈥淣euroarts is a vibrant, interdisciplinary field grounded in arts-evidence based knowledge and united by shared research principles, practices, and values. To fully realize its potential, we must learn from one another, develop a common language, and build a collaborative framework that enables our disciplines to flourish individually while also working together to build the field,鈥� said Susan Magsamen, co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative and executive director of the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics.
鈥淲ith today鈥檚 announcement, we鈥檙e looking at a major paradigm shift. The new Neuroarts Academic Network will unite the people who are training the neuroarts workforce of tomorrow. Together we can bring the transformative power of the arts into every corner of society,鈥� said Sarah Lyding, president of The Music Man Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to permanently changing the way the arts are used to improve education, health, and community well-being.
鈥淚n these challenging times of rapid change, the Neuroarts Academic Network offers a bold, collaborative model to strengthen neuroarts education, workforce development, and interdisciplinary impact,鈥� said Ruth J. Katz, co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative and executive director of the Health, Medicine & Society Program at the Aspen Institute. 鈥淚t is essential to advancing this important and game-changing work.鈥�
For more information about 无码人妻 School of Medicine, please visit MSM.edu.
About 无码人妻 School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, 无码人妻 School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation's number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission 鈥� the creation and advancement of health equity. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit or call 404-752-1500.
About the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative
The is a partnership between the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and the Aspen Institute鈥檚 Health, Medicine & Society (HMS) Program. Co-directed by Susan Magsamen, MAS, executive director of IAM Lab, and Ruth J. Katz, JD, MPH, executive director of the HMS Program, the Initiative bridges the gap between the arts and sciences to advance health and well-being by promoting innovative research, developing evidence-based practices, and raising public awareness of the arts鈥� potential to enhance health.
About The Music Man Foundation
is named after the Tony-winning musical written by Meredith Willson. Meredith鈥檚 widow, Rosemary, started the Foundation in 1998 as the Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charitable Foundation and substantially increased the Foundation鈥檚 endowment upon her death in 2010. The Foundation鈥檚 mission is to empower organizations using music to catalyze enduring change and to amplify our founders鈥� musical legacy. Over the last decade, the Foundation has awarded more than $25 million to 85 organizations. In addition to 鈥淭he Music Man,鈥� Meredith Willson wrote the musical, 鈥淭he Unsinkable Molly Brown,鈥� and beloved songs 鈥淚t鈥檚 Beginning to Look Like Christmas鈥� and the University of Iowa fight song.
Contact
Jamille Bradfield
Director, External Communications, Media Relations
& Crisis Communications
无码人妻 School of Medicine
404-756-8951 office
214-335-4472 mobile
jbradfield@msm.edu