The goals of Affinity Groups for the Sound Health Network are to:

• facilitate connections among stakeholders who have a mutual interest in music and health
• facilitate cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration (e.g., researchers, music therapists, musicians)
• provide a forum to discuss topics of interest (e.g., appropriate control conditions, study designs, music interventions, training)
• build community and provide support
   

Student Affinity Group

If you are interested in getting more involved in the Student Affinity Group, please create a Profile in the Sound Health Network Directory and identify yourself as a student (as your “discipline”).  We hope to host a virtual introductory chat on the SHN virtual networking platform in the fall. 

Join the Student Affinity Group Listserv

Music in Medicine Reimbursement and Sustainable Funding Affinity Group

Judy Simpson, MT-BC
American Music Therapy Association
Music in Medicine Reimbursement and Sustainable Funding Affinity Group Lead​

Bio Judy Simpson, AMTA Director of Government Relations, represents the music therapy profession with legislators, agencies, and coalitions on the state and federal level. In this role, she has provided testimony to the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Administration on Aging, and legislative committees in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Representing AMTA as a National Partner, Judy serves on the Legislative Planning Committee for Arts Advocacy Day, an annual national arts initiative sponsored by American for the Arts.
Since 2005, Judy has led AMTA’s national state recognition initiative in collaboration with Certification Board for Music Therapists’ Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Dena Register and Regulatory Affairs Associate, Kimberly Sena Moore. She has presented and participated in advocacy trainings and events in 26 states and has contributed to legislative and regulatory language in 40 states. Judy has personally met with state and federal legislators and state agency officials to support increased access to quality music therapy services provided by qualified board certified music therapists.
In addition to her government relations work, Judy is also responsible for providing reimbursement guidance to AMTA members and music therapy consumers. She holds the professional designation of “Managed Healthcare Professional” from America’s Health Insurance Plans, (AHIP) and is the co-author of “Music Therapy Reimbursement: Best Practices and Procedures”. Prior to her work with AMTA, Judy’s 20+ years of clinical experience as a board certified music therapist involved developing music therapy programs in hospital settings, including physical rehabilitation, oncology, labor and delivery, psychiatry, ICU, and general medicine.

Music in Medicine Reimbursement and Sustainable Funding Affinity Group Participants

Join the Music Services Reimbursement Affinity Group Listserv

Music and Integrative Health Affinity Group

Suzanne Hanser, EdD, MT-BC
Berklee College of Music
Music and Integrative Health Affinity Group Lead

Bio Dr. Suzanne Hanser is Founding Chair Emerita & Professor of Music Therapy at Berklee College of Music and President of the International Association for Music & Medicine. Dr. Hanser is the author of Integrative Health through Music Therapy and The New Music Therapist’s Handbook, and co-author of Manage Your Stress and Pain, book and CD. Suzanne conducts research in the impact of music-based interventions, and she is the recipient of a Sage Publications Prize, Model of Healing Award from the Children’s Music Fund, and the American Music Therapy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Music and Integrative Health Co-Chairs

Join the Music and Integrative Health Affinity Group Listserv

Past Members