Joanna Peña-Bickley (Vibes AI) joins the Music Has Power® Symposium to explore how human-centered design, AI, and neurotechnology can scale music-based interventions and translate innovation into everyday care.

NYU’s Dr. Pablo Ripollés joins the Music Has Power® Symposium to examine how music engages reward and memory systems - and how these mechanisms translate to health and well-being.

Mount Vernon, NY – Sept. 16, 2025 – Institute for Music and Neurologic today announced that Fierce Life Sciences and Fierce Healthcare have named Dr. Concetta Tomaino as one of 2025’s Fierce 50 honorees. The Fierce 50 showcases 50 individuals and companies driving advancements in medicine, fostering innovation and shaping the future of biopharma and healthcare. "The Fierce 50 of 2025 is about shining a light on the people and organizations who are genuinely making a difference in pharma, biotech and healthcare," said Ayla Ellison, Editor-in-Chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare. "These honorees are tackling some of the toughest challenges in medicine, and they're doing it with real ingenuity and heart. They're the ones developing new treatments, building companies that work better for everyone, and never losing sight of the fact that behind every breakthrough is someone's life getting better. We're proud to celebrate their work." Dr. Tomaino is a world renown music therapist and researcher who co-founded the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) in 1995 to open dialogues across the disciplines of neuroscience and music therapy to advance knowledge about music and the brain and to create efficacious music-based interventions to help people with various brain related health issues. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by Fierce along with the other outstanding awardees. This year IMNF is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It is wonderful to celebrate our accomplishments in this way.” Dr. Tomaino Chosen by the editors of Fierce Biotech, Fierce Pharma and Fierce Healthcare, this year’s Fierce 50 honorees reflect the breadth of talent and vision shaping the life sciences and healthcare industries today. From startups to established organizations, each has made a distinct contribution, whether by advancing scientific discovery, improving the health of communities, expanding access to care, or reimagining how healthcare is delivered at a local level or on a global scale. The Fierce 50 honorees will be celebrated live at an evening gala at the Lighthouse at Pier 61 in New York on November 20th. For more information visit https://fierce50.fiercelifesciences.com/ . About Institute for Music and Neurologic Function Founded in 1995 by Concetta M. Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Oliver Sacks, MD and others, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) is an internationally recognized non-profit agency advancing knowledge about music and the brain and offering groundbreaking music therapy programs to restore, maintain, and improve patients’ physical, emotional, and neurological function through the methodical use of music. About Questex Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

IMNF’s Director of Programming, Justin Russo, joins Shaping the Future of Aging to discuss how personalized music can support cognitive and emotional well-being in dementia care and other neurologic conditions.

Maejor will be honored at the 2025 Music Has Power® Awards for his visionary work at the intersection of music, healing, and innovation. Join us in celebrating his global impact and commitment to advancing the therapeutic potential of sound.

Celebrating three decades of music-driven healing, research, and education, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function marks 30 years of transforming lives through therapeutic music.

Receive 10% off an annual subscription to Spiritune—a music-based app designed to support emotional regulation, focus, and well-being. Use code imnf10 at checkout.

Be part of an event that blends science, wellness, and celebration - learn from leaders in music & brain health and support IMNF’s work advancing the healing power of music.

Discover how music can regulate the nervous system and support healing in a new Westchester Magazine feature on IMNF Executive Director Dr. Concetta Tomaino. Learn how IMNF continues to lead in clinical music therapy.

Mount Vernon, NY – June 2025 – The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) is proud to announce the launch of its Intergenerational Ukulele Club, a new initiative designed to bring people of all ages together through the power of music.

The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) has launched a new pilot study in collaboration with the Songs of Love Foundation to explore how custom-written, personalized songs may benefit older adults living with dementia and other cognitive impairments. Building on the principles of the Music & Memory program, this study investigates whether individualized compositions—created using personal details such as the individual’s name, favorite activities, and family references—can help support memory recall, reduce anxiety, and increase emotional engagement. This initiative expands the scope of person-centered music interventions by introducing novel music tailored to the individual, rather than relying solely on familiar, pre-recorded songs. The study will collect qualitative and observational data from caregivers and care staff across a small cohort of participants to assess the therapeutic impact. By evaluating these outcomes, IMNF aims to contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting music-based interventions in dementia care and further refine strategies for effective, accessible applications in both home and institutional settings. If you or a loved one is interested in receiving a free personalized song, download this form and email to imnf@wartburg.org.

A groundbreaking new economic analysis from the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative—backed by AARP and conducted by Deloitte—has revealed what many in our field have long understood: music engagement is not just meaningful, it’s cost-effective. The study, part of the growing movement to integrate the arts into healthcare through the science of neuroarts, found that incorporating music engagement into the care of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease yields a return on investment (ROI) of up to $2.40 for every dollar spent annually. For individuals with Alzheimer’s, the ROI is estimated at $1.70 per dollar, and for caregivers, $0.70 per dollar. These findings are more than just numbers. They reinforce the real-world impact that music-based interventions—like those championed by the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function—can have on quality of life, emotional well-being, memory recall, and caregiver resilience. As an organization proudly listed among the NeuroArts Blueprint resource partners, IMNF has long been committed to advancing the science and practice of music and health. This new report gives validation to what our clinicians and partners have seen firsthand in care settings across the country. We encourage care providers, policymakers, and researchers to take note of this momentum and invest in scalable, person-centered music programs. Now is the time to bring music engagement further into the fabric of healthcare and long-term support. Read the full report: Link Watch the video overview: Link  Together, we can continue to transform care through the power of music.

In collaboration with the award recipient, Dr. Daniel Bowling of Standford University, IMNF’s music therapist, Sarah Fogler and Dr. Tomaino will explore how music therapy can be translated into a digital therapeutic for young adults with depression and anxiety.”

IMNFs new online course, Best Practices from Music Therapy for Using Music in Senior Wellness and Healthcare is approved for Continuing Education Credits by CBMT, NAB, NCTRC, and NYSED. Developed by Dr. Concetta Tomaino and the IMNF team, this on-demand course equips practitioners, caregivers, and leaders with the knowledge and tools to implement therapeutic music practices in senior care. Now with CEU approval across disciplines, the course is accessible and meaningful for a broader audience of professionals seeking to expand their impact. “ We developed this training to enhance knowledge of best practices in the use of music in senior care for many people already working in this area ," says Dr. Tomaino, " i.e., musicians, therapeutic recreation specialists, volunteers, and caregivers. The advanced credential for master's-level music therapists is to elevate the role of MTs to an advisory and consulting role in senior care. Only a small percentage of MT-BCs work in senior healthcare, yet there are 1.3 million seniors living in nursing homes in the U.S. We not only want to be sure these individuals benefit from intentional use of music programs, but that music therapists who want to work in this area are elevated and recognized for their expertise.” About the Course Based on the book Music Has Power® in Senior Wellness and Healthcare , this nine-module training bridges the gap between music therapy and everyday care. It draws on over 40 years of clinical and research experience and is designed for: Long-Term Care Professionals and Administrators Recreational Therapists and Activity Professionals Music Therapists and Master’s-Level Clinicians Musicians and Artists in Healthcare Family Caregivers Participants who successfully complete the online course earn certification as a Senior Care Music Specialist , along with a one-year IMNF membership and listing in our referral network, along with a complimentary copy of Dr. Tomaino’s book. Master’s-level MT-BCs interested in earning the Advanced Senior Care Music Therapist (ASCMT) credential can complete the course online and then participate in a specialized in-person training at IMNF’s headquarters in Mount Vernon, NY. Learn More Download Course Flyer

Spiritune uses scientifically informed music to reduce stress, enhance mood, and improve focus through personalized soundscapes.

Experience the transformative insights of the Music Has Power® Symposium. Learn how music enhances brain health and senior wellness in this on-demand course, available now on Teachable.

Discover how music helped Carter regain mobility, confidence, and joy through IMNF’s Music Has Power® for PD program.