Stroke Rehabilitation Program Supports Survivors through Music-making

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, United States, expanded the STROKESTRA® program in May, bringing together more than 15 stroke survivors, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), AdventHealth clinicians, and local musicians. The stroke rehabilitation program aims to provide accessibility and patient-led recovery through the power of collective creative music-making.

“A lot of people don’t understand what we went through. It’s like we are in a land of forgotten,” one participant shared with the arts center. “But you all didn’t look at us like we had a stroke and gave us a chance. You made us feel like humans again — like people. Thank you for believing in us and making us believe in ourselves again.”

STROKESTRA® (pronounced “stroke-es-tra”) requires no prior musical experience, and rehabilitation depends on individual patient needs — including physical therapy, communication, social therapy, and mood-lifting.

“It’s always been about building up this program and offering more frequent opportunities for participants,” Kathy Ramsberger, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Center, said. “Since before we opened our doors, we’ve been seeking opportunities to serve our community through arts and wellness initiatives, and it’s a priority to grow this department over the next five years.”

This year, community sessions were held at Dr. Phillips Center and inpatient sessions at AdventHealth Winter Park’s neurological rehabilitation unit. The program ended with an awe-inspiring performance with nearly 30 participants.

“The last two years of STROKESTRA® have been incredibly rewarding for our clinicians and stroke survivors in the community,” said Rich Moats, director of integrative and creative arts therapies at AdventHealth. “And now, to expand this amazing program directly into the hospital, it affirmed what our music therapists see daily — music forges connections and lifts the spirits of our patients.”

This residency allowed Nolan Williams Jr. to immerse himself in the program, as he will assume the artistic director role under the leadership of arts and wellness director Alana Jackson. Connected through his love of the arts and his personal experience of seeing his father suffer a stroke nearly 20 years ago, Williams plans to bring additional artistic elements to the program.

STROKESTRA® is supported by AdventHealth, the American Friends of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Florida Blue Foundation, the Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, and the Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation.

About AdventHealth

AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health under the mission of “Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ.” More than 92,000 skilled and compassionate caregivers in physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospice centers provide individualized, wholistic care. A shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health, and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system’s more than 50 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in diverse markets throughout nine U.S. states.

The original version of this story was posted on the AdventHealth news site.