Symphony of Science: Music Therapy in Health Care: Carly Flaagan at TEDxGrandForks

After witnessing firsthand how beneficial a music therapy and speech language pathology collaboration could be for the shared client, music therapy student Carly Flaagan realized, like many others before her, interprofessional health care with the inclusion of music therapy was something to explore. Now as there is a push towards healthcare becoming interdisciplinary, the health care system benefits most from taking a holistic approach. Because music is a part of everyone, a holistic approach that addresses, the "whole" person, should include music. Flaagan explains how music therapy is an integral part of tomorrow's interprofessional health care.

Carly Flaagan is a senior music therapy major at the University of North Dakota. She has had a wide variety of clinical practicum placements as part of her music therapy education and studies voice under Dr. Wesley Lawrence. In 2013, Carly was selected as the winner of the E.Thayer Gaston writing competition for her research paper titled "A Survey on Music Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Collaboration" which was given by the American Music Therapy Association.

Carly is the Program Director for the non-profit children's musical theatre company called "Summer Arts Stages" during home base in East Grand Forks and "Summer Arts Safari" while the company is traveling. While working at the East Grand Forks Campbell library, Carly has designed and implemented a "music and learning" class that focuses on providing recreational music that aids in child development.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)