MUHC honoured for efforts to promote music therapy

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is proud to be the recipient of the Citation Award from the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT).

Nominated in spring 2022, the MUHC was praised by the CAMT as “an exceptional organization that has been brilliantly growing music therapy in Quebec and Canada for more than 40 years.”

Statement from CAMT at its annual general meeting.

The second presentation is a CAMT Agency Citation Award. This award recognizes an institution or organization whose efforts have promoted music therapy in Canada, through public relations and fundraising ventures; by providing employment, educational or training facilities; or by promoting research in the field.   

The McGill University Health Centre (Centre universitaire de santéMcGill) is an organization that since the 1970’s has contributed to the employment, training, research and promotion of music therapy in its province and across Canada.  

More than 40 years ago, it began by including music therapy in Canada’s first palliative care unit, with Susan Munro and Deborah Salmon.  

It currently employs 7 music therapists in its various sectors: three in pediatric/NICU/pedopsychiatry; two in adult mental health; one in oncology/palliative care; and one in long term care.  Across the agency, doctors, health professionals, caregivers and families often emphasize the exceptional contribution of music therapy to the service of patients, young and old.  The music therapists and their advocates are regularly featured in various media, and they can frequently be found passing on the passion for the work in congresses, symposia, seminars and forums.  

A number of music therapy master’s research projects have been conducted at this agency, and through the years it has hosted many students and interns, enriching clinical and practical training with excellent supervisors and mentors.  

Overall, in the words of a nominator, this is “an exceptional organization that has been brilliantly growing music therapy in Quebec and Canada for more than 40 years.”