Division of Biology and Medicine
Well-Being Program
Lunch & Be Series
Engaging in the arts is a well-documented way to support mental wellness. The Lunch & Be series aims to engage students, faculty and staff in different art practices co-led by artists from the community, whether it be through movement, music listening, observing art, or writing activities.
Lunch & Be Series
Engaging in the arts is a well-documented way to support mental wellness. The Lunch & Be series aims to engage students, faculty and staff in different art practices co-led by artists from the community, whether it be through movement, music listening, observing art, or writing activities.
The Lunch & Be series aims to engage students and faculty/staff in different art practices co-led by artists from the community, whether it be through movement, music listening, observing art, or writing activities. These sessions will teach students and faculty/staff arts-based wellness practices to integrate into their day-to-day, ultimately impacting their ability to show up for themselves, for their colleagues, and for their patients.
The Lunch & Be Series will take place September 18, October 16, December 4, January 29, March 19, April 2, and May 14.
Program Coordinators
Rachel Balaban, Kelsey Bogdan, Diana Wang, Ashley Knebel & Mariah Stump, MD
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | 12-1 pm
Join us in person in LH160
Rachel Balaban is a Rhode Island teaching artist and movement educator committed to helping people access their vitality and health through movement and to making dance accessible to all populations. She is the founder of Dance for All People (DAPpers), a multigenerational dance program designed for people with movement challenges and aging bodies, and she is a certified instructor in Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease) and regularly teaches people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. As adjunct lecturer at Brown University, Ms. Balaban co-founded Artists and Scientists as Partners (ASaP) and co-led for 10 years a two-semester undergraduate course sequence called Arts & Health: Theory and Arts & Health: Practice. The program focused on the impact of art on people with neurological disorders, specifically Parkinson’s disease and those on the autism spectrum.
Ms. Balaban is a Teaching Associate at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University where she works with medical students focusing on the importance of movement and dance for health and leads movement workshops for 3rd and 4th year medical residents. At the Warren Alpert Medical School, her DAPpers classes serve as a site placement for the clinical elective Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine as well as a site for first-year medical students service learning; her focus is to underscore the importance of combining an intergenerational framework with art to empower older adults, caregivers, and young students as they build meaningful connections with each other.
Lunch will be provided.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 12-1 pm
Join us in person in LH160
Join us for "Therapeutic Music for All Ages: Songs of Solace, Joy and Comfort" with Aubrey Atwater. With over 40 years of experience and a psychology degree, Aubrey brings her expertise from Hasbro Children's Hospital's Healing Arts team. She'll share stories, songs, and activities that promote comfort and well-being in medical settings. Learn about the powerful role of music in facing human challenges, with opportunities for group discussion and musical experimentation. Aubrey will also present recent studies on the positive effects of arts in healthcare. Don't miss this enriching event!
Lunch will be provided.