The healing power of music
As members of World Doctors Orchestra, UTSW physicians and medical students give back in benefit concert performances
When she is not teaching medical students as a Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern or caring for patients as a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Sing-Yi Feng, M.D., is often busy bringing the healing sound of the violin to audiences worldwide.
As a member of the World Doctors Orchestra, Dr. Feng is among more than 100 physicians from 60 countries who play in charity concerts from Munich to Costa Rica. This month she will appear close to home when the World Doctors Orchestra performs Oct. 19 at Caruth Auditorium in Dallas and Oct. 20 at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.
“This is just such a pleasure and a privilege,” Dr. Feng said of the upcoming concerts. “It’s an opportunity to play music and be part of giving back to our community.”
Dr. Feng is one of five physicians from UT Southwestern who will play with the orchestra. She will be joined by Raymond Quigley, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics; Walter Kutz, M.D., Professor of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery at UTSW, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Children’s Health, and former Chair of Credentialing at Parkland Memorial Hospital; Lakshmi Ananthakrishnan, M.D., Associate Professor of Radiology at UTSW and Medical Director for CT Radiology at Parkland; and Shan Su, M.D., a Radiology resident at UTSW/Parkland. Behind the scenes, providing audiovisual and photography support, will be Matthew Lewis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Radiology, and Fernando Benitez, M.D., Professor of Emergency Medicine and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Angela Wang, a UT Southwestern medical student, is also performing as an orchestra member.
Founded in 2008, the World Doctors Orchestra combines the pleasure of fine music with global medical responsibility. For the Dallas-area concerts, the orchestra includes 86 doctors and musicians. Participants were selected based on their prior musical experience. Although physicians make up a large percentage of the World Doctors Orchestra, a few nurses, psychologists, and other health professionals also appear in concerts globally. After performing around the world, Dr. Feng said she is thrilled to play the violin for North Texas audiences.
It was Dr. Feng’s idea to bring this specific orchestra to Dallas. Globally, a mix of both local and international physicians and professional musicians are members of the World Doctors Orchestra.
Proceeds from the North Texas concerts will benefit the Woven Health Clinic, a provider of high-quality medical care at lower costs to adults in the area, and Gill Children’s Services, which offers last resort health care funding for Tarrant County children.
For the physicians, the concerts offer a chance to combine two things they deeply care about: “It’s a way to promote a cause I believe in, while doing something I love,” Dr. Ananthakrishnan said.
Music and medicine
The connection between medicine and music is strong for the physicians performing with the orchestra.
As a specialist in pediatric nephrology, Dr. Quigley recognized the healing power of music when he played his viola for babies in the NICU of Parkland.
“It is very interesting to see how these tiny infants respond to the music in a positive way,” Dr. Quigley said.
For Dr. Kutz, playing the tuba is not only artistically fulfilling, but it also helps develop valuable skills such as teamwork, concentration, and preparation, which are transferable to his medical practice.
“Music allows me to connect with my patients on a deeper level,” he said. “Music provides a creative outlet that results in me being a better doctor.”
While in medical school, Dr. Feng recognized how many of the skills she needed for music overlapped with medicine.
“Learning to be a musician is like learning a different language,” she said. “In medicine, you have to learn the language of that specialty and also translate it for your patients.”
Radiology resident Dr. Su sees similarities in how she approaches a new piece of music and an imaging study.
“I listen to and play the piece on repeat, just like I make multiple passes through a study until I have reviewed what I need to know,” she said. “I compare my interpretation of the piece and of the imaging report with other interpretations to see what I can potentially do differently.”
There are so many commonalities between music and medicine, it is no wonder a lot of physicians are musicians, Dr. Ananthakrishnan said.
“At its core, music makes us feel better,” she said. “This could be as simple as turning up the music in the car after a bad day – or as formalized as established music therapy programs, such as drumming lessons for patients with Parkinson’s disease.”
A lifetime of music
Years before they became physicians, music played a significant role in the lives of UT Southwestern’s World Doctors Orchestra members. Dr. Feng grew up in a musical family where her Julliard-trained grandmother taught piano for more than 25 years. At just 6 years old, Dr. Feng was already fascinated with the violin.
“The violin is an incredibly expressive instrument,” she said. “It is as close to human voice in its ability to express emotion.”
At exactly the same age, Dr. Ananthakrishnan also fell for the violin. By the time she enrolled at the University of Louisville, she decided to major in music.
“My entire childhood revolved around music,” she said. “I feel fortunate to still have the opportunity to continue playing.”
In the sixth grade, Dr. Kutz was drawn to the unique qualities of the tuba. He later performed with the Texas All-State Symphonic Band before pursuing a music degree in college. While attending Baylor College of Medicine, he played with the Doctors Orchestra of Houston, now known as the Texas Medical Center Orchestra.
“The experience of performing great works of music with the orchestra and fellow musicians is incredibly rewarding,” he said.
The Joy of performing
Dr. Su discovered the magic of the viola in the fifth grade – and has been performing ever since. The viola functions as the glue that holds a piece together, she said.
“What we play is not always apparent, but there is a noticeable gap if our part is missing,” she said. “I love that even though our viola contribution can sound nebulous in the overall picture, what we play can determine the mood or tone of the melody line.”
Although Dr. Quigley performs with local groups, this will be his first time appearing with the World Doctors Orchestra.
“Playing with other people is rewarding because you also listen to the music being created around you,” he said. “I have read that this combination of playing and listening involves many parts of your brain. I believe that to be true, and it can be very exhilarating.”
Playing with the orchestra is a big commitment. Most doctors take a week off from work for rehearsals and travel time. After appearing in Dallas, they may be chosen for future concerts.
Despite being a busy physician, Dr. Ananthakrishnan said she always tries to make time for performing.
“Music is healing,” she said. “I just love it.”