Sarah Thomas enjoys taking patients on a musical journey. From “On Top of Spaghetti” to “Let It Go”, she plays songs she knows patients will enjoy.
Her musical talents could recently be heard during a co-treatment session between special education and music therapy staff. Playing songs from the movie “Frozen”, while patients played homemade chimes made from keys, Thomas transformed the room into a Frozen adventure.
Thomas is the first student from Oral Roberts University to participate in the Hospital’s music therapy internship program.
“I visited the Hospital twice before considering their music therapy internship program. I fell in love with the sense of community provided to all the patients,” said Thomas.
Currently, Thomas is co-leading music therapy sessions utilizing music, instruments and singing to facilitate goals unique to each patient’s needs and abilities.
She once pondered careers in music performance and the medical field. She could not settle on one, so she took music and pre-med courses. “I reluctantly started looking into medical schools when I found the music therapy program at Oral Robert’s University. Upon reading the program description, I realized music therapy was the perfect middle ground between the two career paths I was struggling to choose,” said Thomas.
Rachel Nowels, Music Therapy Manager at the hospital, has worked with numerous music therapy interns over her 15 year career at the hospital, but none from the Tulsa area.
“They’ve built a wonderful music therapy program in a short amount of time. It’s so nice to see music therapy growing in the Tulsa area,” said Nowels.
To donate to the hospital’s music therapy endowment, click here and designate your gift to “endowment.”