Youngstown State University students bring the healing power of music to patients at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

The idea of collaborating with St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital came from Dr. Caroline Oltmanns, faculty member at Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music. Originally conceived as a series of six live concerts performed at the hospital, adjustments were made because of COVID-19, after the project was put briefly on hold. The project, called "Just What the Doctor Ordered," is intended to lift the spirits of both patients and caregivers at the hospital. Representatives from both the university and the hospital were happy to collaborate on a project that allows music students to both gain performance experience and give back to the community during a difficult time.

The two organizations have worked together previously, when St. Elizabeth hosted the Stained Glass Concert Series presented by the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in February 2020. The response to that was so positive that President of Mercy Health Foundation, Paul Homick, was eager to work with the Dana School of Music again. As Homick explains in a press release from YSU, "Working with the Dana School of Music to bring live performances to the hospital more frequently evolved from that experience and the desire to provide an even greater benefit to patients, families and Mercy Health associates."

Dr. Oltmanns thought of the concept for the project while brainstorming for new venues for music students at Dana. In addition to providing students with additional opportunities for live performances, she wanted to challenge her students to consider how their music can improve the lives of others. Oltmanns said, "The idea began as we searched for an additional performance venue for students and emerged into an opportunity for students to think outside of their own worlds, and to experience what other people have to go through in their lives, such as during an illness. The intention was for it to be an experience in performing, in sympathy and in altruism."

In all, four live performance recordings have been made available to hospital patients and staff on the hospital television channel. Three of those videos are recordings of the McDonough Museum Honors Recital Series and the fourth is a performance by the brass ensemble. 

Director of the Dana School of Music, Dr. Randall Goldberg, expressed his enthusiasm for "Just What the Doctor Ordered" and is eager to build on the project, "Sharing our music with the patients and staff at Mercy Health is one small way we can give back to the community of health professionals who have done so much for the Valley this year. I look forward to the growth of this partnership and to a time when our students and faculty may perform at Mercy Health - St. Elizabeth and deliver our thanks in person."

Homick explained the value of bringing music into the clinical setting of a hospital, "Music is very powerful in addressing the well-being of the whole person. It calms the mind and lifts the spirit, so the body can heal. That is especially important right now, when many of our patients can't be with their families. We know this will be a tremendous benefit to them, and we are so very grateful to YSU, the Dana School of Music and the students and faculty who made this possible."