First‑ever Arts in Health Conference at Rowan highlights innovation in healing through the arts

Rowan's George Family Center for Healing Arts hosted the first-ever Arts in Health Conference, bringing together healthcare professionals, educators, students, artists and community leaders from across the state. During the May 27 event, attendees explored a simple but powerful question: how can the arts help us live healthier, more connected lives?

Sponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Inspira Health, the event reflects the Center’s growing mission to integrate the arts into healthcare, education and community well-being, while positioning Rowan and South Jersey as a leader in the arts in health movement.

For Morgan Yacoe, director of the George Family Center for Healing Arts, the conference represented an opportunity to strengthen a growing movement across the region. Since the Center was founded in 2024, Yacoe has built programs that connect the arts with healthcare, education, aging, veterans' services, community well-being and more.

“Today is about bringing together the people and organizations from across our region who believe creativity belongs at the heart of health and healing and creating new partnerships that will help this work continue to grow,” Yacoe said.

The conference welcomed more than 150 attendees and started with a community resource fair. Guests connected with organizations working at this intersection, such as WheatonArts, Discover Jersey Arts, Rowan’s Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine and more.

Participants then took a seat to listen to opening remarks from Yacoe, emcee and Rowan-Virtua SOM Professor Emily J. Balog, College of the Arts Dean Dr. Rick Dammers, Rowan University President Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, and the Center’s founder and namesake, Dr. James George.

“As an engineer who was denied access to arts and culture when I was studying, I later realized how much I missed and how much I lost and how much I value the arts,” said President Houshmand. “Rowan University is heavily invested in this area.” In March, the university announced a West Campus development project that includes a Wellness Village with an arts component.

The conference’s keynote address was delivered by Melanie Cohn, executive director of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and former president of the National Organization for Arts in Health. Blending personal storytelling with research and audience participation, Cohn shared how painting in her hospital room and holding daily dance parties became essential components of her own cancer treatment journey.

“I decided to do a little Jedi mind trick on myself and tell myself that it was an artist residency,” she said of her month-long hospital stay.

Cohn also highlighted growing evidence supporting arts participation as a tool for improving health and wellbeing. Citing a 2019 World Health Organization study, Cohn said the evidence says arts participation can affect mental health, physical health, social connection, aging, childhood development, caregiving and quality of life.”

ArtWiseRX: Healing Arts Experiences

Following the keynote, attendees stepped beyond discussion and into experience, participating in one of three healing arts experiences: drumming and music-making with Regional Samaúma and Rowan Professor of Percussion Fabio Oliveira, collaborative painting with Rowan Art Professor Nancy Sophy and art students, or an energetic line dancing session led by Rasheed Bellamy, a line dance instructor who teaches weekly line dancing classes at the Pennsauken Library.

"The Arts in Health conference is a one-of-a-kind experience,” said MA Strategic Communication student Lucas Laboy following the experiences portion of the event. “I believe you could see how the arts benefit our well-being just being in attendance – seeing people smiling, laughing and moving in ways they don't often get to.”

The conference’s presentations concluded with a panel discussion, “Arts in Health in South Jersey,” moderated by Andrew Binger of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The panel featured Dr. Faith Young of Cooper University Health Care, Pam Weichmann of WheatonArts and Cultural Center, Dr. Andi Hunt of Rowan’s music therapy program, Swati Chaturvedi of the Community Bollywood Dance Project, Kahra Buss of Perkins Center for the Arts, and Dr. Alexander King of Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, the panelists highlighted the growing network of arts and health initiatives across the region and the opportunities for future collaboration.

As attendees gathered in the main lobby for a vibrant closing performance of Brazilian music by Regional Samaúma, one message resonated: the arts are not simply an addition to healthcare and wellness, but an essential part of creating healthier individuals, stronger communities, and more compassionate systems of care.

“This is joyful work,” Dr. George told attendees during the conference. “This work makes a human being feel wonderful. If we're not having fun, then we're missing a point somewhere along the way.”

Learn more about the conference here.

About the George Family Center for Healing Arts:
The George Family Center for Healing Arts at Rowan University promotes health and well-being through the transformative power of the arts. Our work integrates creative practices into clinical care, medical education, community life, and research. Rooted in collaboration, we partner with students, healthcare professionals, and community members to create meaningful artistic experiences that support healing, learning and connection for all. Learn more.