麻豆直播

The baby鈥檚 heartrate is high, and in collaboration with the NICU medical team, Rachel uses the strategies she learned at the Mary Pappert School of Music to help bring it to a safer level.
 
As Rachel slows her tempo on the guitar, the baby鈥檚 heartrate decreases 鈥� matching her pace.
 
鈥淚 just feel so blessed to be doing this,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for infants in the NICU to create an environment of relaxation.鈥� 
 
In addition to medical benefits, music therapy can provide spiritual and emotional support and social opportunities. Rachel enjoys catering each bedside experience to the child鈥檚 individual needs to foster connections.
 
鈥淲e might write our own lyrics to a song about their hospital visit or diagnosis. We can record the heartbeat of a child and incorporate it into a song for parents if the child is really sick and they pass,鈥� says Rachel. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the music therapist interacting with patients and families, forming a rapport and using music as that medium.鈥�
 
Despite originally planning to work in nursing homes, Rachel鈥檚 time at UPMC Children鈥檚 solidified her decision to pursue a career in a hospital setting because it provides so many opportunities to support patients and their families.
 
鈥淚 saw a toddler consistently over the semester who didn鈥檛 have a life outside the hospital,鈥� says Rachel. 鈥淭o provide eye contact and bright, colorful instruments that sounded really fun made the hospital environment a little better. Knowing that I can enhance quality of life means everything.鈥�
 
Rachel knew she wanted to help others and make an impact on the world from a young age. Though she鈥檚 from Frederick, Maryland, she also knew she wanted to pursue these aspirations in Pittsburgh after visiting Duquesne in middle school with her aunt, a School of Nursing alumna.
 
鈥淓ven back then I said I was going to Duquesne,鈥� says Rachel. 鈥淲hen I decided on music therapy, I found that Duquesne was one of the few schools that offered it. I fell in love with the program.鈥�
 
Rachel enjoys spreading awareness about her intended profession and the impact it can have on others. 鈥淎 large part of music therapy is advocating for what we do as an accredited profession,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trained clinicians in addition to musicians.鈥�
 
Rachel鈥檚 primary instrument is the clarinet, but through the music therapy program she鈥檚 worked on her singing voice and learned to play piano and guitar. With these skills under her belt, she鈥檚 decided to pursue even bigger goals. She plans to learn the ukulele and add additional songs to her repertoire in preparation for her next role in a psychiatric hospital.
 
After graduation, Rachel hopes to become a music therapist at a general hospital so she can help patients of all ages with diverse needs. Her time at Duquesne and the convenient campus location have given her the professional confidence and experience needed to get a running start on this meaningful career.
 
Rachel is grateful that Duquesne鈥檚 proximity to numerous hospitals and clinical sites has provided so many hands-on learning opportunities, and she looks forward to connecting with other students in new, meaningful ways as the 麻豆直播 College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomes its first class.
 
鈥淚 prioritize a holistic health approach in my own practice and consider physical, emotional and social wellbeing. It鈥檚 really exciting that Duquesne is expanding and working to train new professionals in these resources,鈥� she says. 鈥淥pportunities are here when I want to take them. Duquesne and Pittsburgh are flourishing.鈥�