Music Therapy Program – UofL News Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:45:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 UofL, UofL Health receive funding from WHAS Crusade for Children to transform lives /post/uofltoday/uofl-uofl-health-receive-funding-to-transform-lives-from-whas-crusade-for-children/ Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:32:00 +0000 /?p=62778 The University of Louisville, UofL Health and the WHAS Crusade for Children are celebrating a powerful and enduring partnership that has transformed the lives of children and families across Kentucky for more than three decades.

Since its inception, the WHAS Crusade for Children has provided nearly $20 million in grant support to UofL and , fueling groundbreaking research, innovative education and expanded access to high-quality care for children with special needs.

This year, that legacy of generosity continues with more than $325,000 in new awards supporting programs and equipment that directly improve the lives of children and their families:

  • $200,000 for new equipment in聽 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • $50,000 for equipment at
  • $22,500 for equipment in the聽
  • $30,000 to support the UofL聽
  • $22,000 for special education scholarships in UofL鈥檚

This support has touched nearly every corner of the university 鈥 from classrooms to clinics, and from local outreach programs to statewide initiatives 鈥 making a lasting impact on Kentucky鈥檚 most vulnerable children and their families.

鈥淥n behalf of the University of Louisville, I extend heartfelt thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children for their extraordinary generosity and decades of unwavering support,鈥 said聽Jeffrey Bumpous, UofL executive vice president of health affairs and medical school dean. 鈥淭ogether, we are transforming lives, strengthening families and building a brighter future for children throughout the commonwealth.鈥

The latest investment from the Crusade will further elevate UofL and UofL Health’s ability to educate the next generation of health professionals and expand innovative care to more children and families in need.

鈥淭he partnership between the WHAS Crusade for Children and the University of Louisville is proof that this community鈥檚 generosity truly changes lives,鈥 said Dawn Lee, president and CEO of WHAS Crusade for Children. 鈥淯ofL continues to transform grants into care, research and education that make life better for children with identified needs. This legacy has opened doors for generations of children, and the best is yet to come.鈥

For more than 30 years, the partnership has not only brought critical resources to special needs children, but has also helped advance UofL鈥檚 and UofL Health鈥檚 missions of improving the quality of life for the communities they serve.

“This enduring partnership demonstrates the power of philanthropy and collaboration,鈥 said UofL Health Interim CEO Jason Smith. 鈥淔rom education and research to compassionate, hands-on care, the WHAS Crusade for Children鈥檚 generosity has improved lives across the Commonwealth.鈥

]]> UofL’s Music Therapy Clinic hits the road /section/arts-and-humanities/uofls-music-therapy-clinic-hits-the-road/ Mon, 02 Nov 2020 19:22:51 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=51776 When a 9-year-old boy with autism first began attending UofL’s Music Therapy Clinic, he was nonverbal, easily agitated and occasionally aggressive, despite trying various therapies since he was a toddler.

Staff at that School of Music program leveraged his natural love of music to help him learn to communicate. Now, as a 13-year-old, he can better process feelings and speak in sentences.

The clinic hopes to replicate such success stories by widening its reach and hitting the road. The WHAS Crusade for Children awarded the clinic a $30,000 grant last fall to purchase a van that will be retrofitted into a traveling clinic.

鈥淭ransportation can be a barrier to children coming to the clinic to receive individualized services. One way to address this is to bring the clinic to the children,鈥 said Jess Rushing, assistant professor and clinic supervisor.

The clinic is an extension of the Music Therapy Program, which began in 2000 and is the only approved undergraduate music therapy program in Kentucky. Board-certified music therapists regularly see 20 clients in the clinic and two clients in their homes as well as offer services at seven community facilities. Clients range from newborns to seniors needing therapy for problems spanning developmental disabilities to Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. UofL music therapy students observe and participate in these sessions to help fulfill clinical training requirements.

Rushing said the van allows staff to transport equipment and provide on-site consultations, assessments and other activities anywhere in the community.

鈥淚t opens a lot of doors for how we can offer services,鈥 Rushing said.

The Crusade has funded the clinic two other times as well, helping to renovate the clinic space and augment service expenses, as the clinic charges on a sliding scale based on a family鈥檚 ability to pay.

鈥淭he grants have been instrumental in increasing access to music therapy for children in our community,鈥 Rushing said.

Chris Millett, coordinator of the Music Therapy Clinic, that the van has been especially beneficial during the pandemic, as it provides the opportunity to continue providing in-person services in a safe way.

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