Dr. Dan Bowling is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine and Director of the Music, Brain & Health Lab. His translational research is focused on understanding how music helps people feel and function better and turning that knowledge into tools that lower the bar to more reliable therapeutic listening. His approach integrates expertise in neuroscience, bioacoustics, music therapy, and technology to apply insights from music's underlying biology to medicine.

Dan earned his PhD in Neurobiology from Duke University and holds graduate certificates in Cognitive Neuroscience and Translational Medicine. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Science, PNAS, and Molecular Psychiatry.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How music actively shapes the brain and mental health, beyond just enjoyment
• What “personalized” music-based treatments mean in clinical practice
• The interdisciplinary blend of neuroscience, bioacoustics, music therapy, and technology driving this work

• The challenges of translating lab findings into real-world care and the potential for scalable mental health tools
• Reflections on youth mental health and the evolving role of therapeutic music

Support the Creative & Healing Arts ProgramYour gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR, visual arts, and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Stanford Health Care

Creative & Healing Arts by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

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A San Francisco Bay Area based illustrator and multidisciplinary artist, Liz brings a playful, expansive approach to creative work that spans poster design, book and editorial illustration, apparel, advertising, merchandising, and multimedia. Her work often intersects with art as a therapeutic tool, supporting both children and adults in creative exploration and emotional expression. Liz brings curiosity, humor, and a deep sense of play into everything she creates both on and off the page.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR, visual arts, and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Stanford Health Care Creative & Healing Arts by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Kenny is a chaplain fellow at Stanford Health Care who explores the intersection of spirituality, healing, and care. Through his work with The Sacred Pause, Kenny creates spaces of reflection, mindfulness, and restoration for healthcare providers, helping them reconnect with their own well-being while caring for others.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Sarah, who shares how crocheting helped her navigate personal trauma and became a source of healing and resilience. Now, she brings that same sense of comfort and connection to her work at Stanford Health Care. This inspiring conversation reminds us that creativity can be a powerful tool for healing, grounding, and finding hope in difficult times.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Iris, a talented Stanford University intern whose curiosity and creativity brought a thoughtful perspective to our Creative & Healing Arts team. Iris reflects on her experiences working alongside patients and staff, what she’s learned about the human side of health care, and how art can create moments of connection, expression, and healing within clinical spaces.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

What happens when sound becomes care? In our Season 3 premiere, Sheila shares how sound baths can create space for rest, reflection, and healing—offering comfort through vibration, presence, and intentional listening.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In this episode, we sit down with Grace Soontornviwath, a recent Stanford University graduate who was a bioengineering major at the time of this recording and an intern with our Creative & Healing Arts program. From engineering problem-solving to human-centered healing, this conversation explores what the next generation of healthcare leaders can bring to the intersection of creativity and care.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Peter Poullos, radiologist at Stanford Medicine and Founder and Co-Chair of the Stanford Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity (SMADIE). Dr. Peter Poullos shares his unique medical journey—from internal medicine and gastroenterology to radiology following a spinal cord injury—and how lived experience shaped his commitment to disability advocacy, access, and equity in healthcare. Together, we reflect on how Creative & Healing Arts helps build belonging and inclusive care for people with disabilities.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Join us for a conversation with Mariechristine Lopez, a classically trained violinist and music facilitator with Creative & Healing Arts at Stanford Health Care. She shares her music philosophy, her path into healthcare, and how live music becomes a powerful tool for comfort and connection.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In this Season 2 premiere of Where Arts Meets Medicine, we’re joined by Dr. Diana Farid, a physician, storyteller, and artist at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Farid shares how creativity and storytelling can expand the way we think about healing in healthcare, moving beyond traditional clinical models to include emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing.

Learn more about Dr. Farid here.

Support the Creative & Healing Arts Program

Your gift helps bring innovative, therapeutic tools—like VR and live music—directly to the bedside and visitors at the hospital.

Donate today: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stanford Medicine Giving⁠⁠⁠⁠ and type “Creative & Healing Arts” under “Other.”

You can also make a direct donation by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or calling 650.723.8285

Connect with us!

Want to learn more? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our webpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Email us at: Creative&[email protected]

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠!