Research
IAH Studios
The IAH promotes inter- and transdisciplinary research, combining knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines to advance health research and intervention. This team science approach leverages human capital to respond to complex problems. Specifically, we facilitate collaboration among multiple disciplines and project teams, which allows us to simultaneously respond to multiple health needs within our community and beyond. We call these initiatives 鈥渟tudios.鈥� Following are descriptions of studios the IAH has either formed or assisted through its leadership鈥檚 network of academic and community partners.
We welcome new ideas for studios, and we invite researchers and community stakeholders to participate in existing initiatives. Please contact Dr. Michael Schmidt at mschmidt@memphis.edu for more information.
The Arts & Health Applied Ethnography Field School
Will Robertson, PhD and Jill Fleuriet, PhD
The Arts & Health Applied Ethnography Field School is run by Dr. Will Robertson in
collaboration with Dr. Jill Fleuriet at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Each
summer, the field school partners with two local community arts organizations, one
in 糖心Vlog传媒 and one in San Antonio, to conduct applied research useful to the organizations
while also teaching students engaged/applied community-based research methods. In
addition to conducting applied work for our community partners, we collect academic
data on the impacts of arts programming on the health and wellbeing of community members,
with a particular focus on how community arts can function as sources of care. Interested
students should contact Dr. Robertson at w.robertson@memphis.edu to schedule a meeting.
Our community partners so far include:
- 2025: The Stax Museum of Soul Music in 糖心Vlog传媒 () and The San Pedro Playhouse in San Antonio ()
- 2026: Overton Park Shell () and The Carver Community Cultural Center ()
Center for Health Literacy and Health Communication
Joy V. Goldsmith, PhD; Amanda J. Young, PhD; Roxana Gee, MA; Matthew J Haught, PhD; and Diana Ruggiero, PhD
CHLHC is committed to developing health literacy and health communication interventions, resources, and networks for providers, patients, family caregivers, health systems, and community organizations. The CHLHC assesses, tests, and pilots interdisciplinary communication interventions, disseminates communication approaches and tools, and researches outcomes associated with health literacy and health communication across health contexts and populations.
Designing for Change: Overcoming Menstrual Stigma and Gender Inequality
Roghayyeh 鈥淪anaz鈥� Feizi Khankandi, MFA; Joy V. Goldsmith, PhD; Rogean Cadieux-Smith, AIA, NOMA, EDAC; and Debra Burns, PhD, MT-BC
Based on a thesis of the same title by Sanaz Feizi, this studio seeks to promote women鈥檚 health and equality by addressing harmful stigmas impacting access to and use of women鈥檚 health products. This effort, currently in its inception phase, goes further by challenging societal perceptions of menstruation that can lead to shame, discrimination, and even violence. The project examines such stigma across and within societies, examining the problem from intrapersonal to policy levels.
Iris Collective: Music Engagement in Health
Rebecca Arendt, DMA, Marcin Arendt, DMA, Susan Elswick, EdD, LCSW, RPT-S
Iris Collective aims to use creative musical engagement to support the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities as part of a holistic approach to their healthcare.
A partner organization of Carnegie Hall鈥檚 Lullaby Project, Iris Collective is collaborating with Thistle and Bee to develop and test a music engagement program that uses music composition and storytelling to foster self-worth, creative agency, and emotional healing for women navigating recovery from trauma, addiction, and human trafficking.
Iris Collective is partnering with Alzheimer鈥檚 and Dementia Services of 糖心Vlog传媒 to develop and test a music engagement program for memory care patients and their Personal Care Assistants that uses live performance, and group singing, drumming, dancing, and musical improvisation to increase bonding, interaction, and joy.
Trauma-Informed Design for Place-Based Domestic Violence Services
Sarah R. Leat, PhD, LMSW; Michael Chisamore, RA, NCARB, NCIDQ, LEED AP; and Lisa Williamson, PhD
Faculty from Social Work, Art and Design, and Architecture are working with shelter programs, like the 糖心Vlog传媒 YWCA, to intervene on the interior design of shelter facilities in ways that reduce existing stress, avoid the introduction of new stressors, and promote retention in services. The team also intends to produce a toolkit for making shelters more welcoming spaces, which they hope to disseminate internationally.
Group Music and Dance Sessions for People Fighting Parkinson's
Jim Pierce, PhD, MT-BC; Josef Hanson, Ph.D.; and Kristen Osborne Lucas, MFA
Faculty from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance are collaborating with community partner 901 Parkinson鈥檚 Fighters to improve the lives of people fighting Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Through group music and dance sessions, the team seeks to improve activities of daily living, assist with mobility, promote independence, and provide opportunities for connection. Pilot studies are underway with funding from the Institute for Arts and Health and the College of Communication and Fine Arts.
Project MILV: A Collaboration to Bring Musical Healing to Veterans
Jim Pierce, PhD; Elena Delavega, PhD, MSW; and Susan Elswick, EdD, LCSW, RPT-S
Faculty from Social Work and Music Therapy are collaborating with community partners Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc. and Iris Collective to develop and test an economically and logistically accessible musical program to promote individual health and wellbeing. The project targets self-awareness, social relatedness, and arousal and mood regulation and is based on evidence demonstrating that music listening for veterans has the capacity to help manage emotional stress, induce relaxation, and promote wellness.