20,000 Grant received for HIV/AIDS research

 

The Arts and Quality of Life Research Center in conjunction with the Comprehensive HIV Program at Temple Hospital has been awarded a grant by Johnson & Johnson and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare. Drs. Cheryl Dileo (Professor of Music Therapy) and Dr. Ellen Tedaldi (Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the HIV Program) serve as Principle Investigators.

 

The grant, in the amount of $20,000 has funded a research project involving the implementation and evaluation of physiological, psychological, social and quality of life effects of a unique choral arts/music therapy program for underserved minority HIV/AIDS patients and their caregivers. Patients and their caregivers participated in a specially designed choir that met weekly over a 9-month period. Immediately following the choir, small group music therapy sessions were provided to participants. Board-certified music therapy graduate students lead the sessions under Dr. Dileo’s supervision.

With support of the Boyer College and the Johnson & Johnson/Society of Healthcare partnership, the choir continues to meet.  Patients receiving treatment at Temple’s Comprehensive HIV Program and their caregivers rehearse weekly for 75 minutes.  The program accepts choir members on an ongoing basis.   For more information, please contact Dr. Joke Bradt.