Mayo Clinic Weaves Arts Into Clinical Care to Support Patients and Staff

Mayo Clinic’s Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine has placed artists, musicians, and improvisational theater into everyday clinical settings. The effort includes an improv workshop led by Minneapolis-based artist Tane Danger, an “Arts at the Bedside” program that lets patients such as heart-transplant recipient Meghan Sly create visual work, and regular live concerts featuring staff like nurse practitioner LaSonya Natividad. These activities are intended to complement traditional medical treatment, especially for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

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Since the 1980s, the Lavins Center’s mission has been to integrate the arts and humanities into patient care. Dr. Scott Breitinger, medical director of the center, notes that Mayo’s reputation for cutting-edge clinical innovation is matched by a commitment to “rejuvenate the human spirit.” The center curates visual art from historic figures such as Dale Chihuly and Auguste Rodin, as well as works created by staff and patients, to create environments that foster joy, hope, and serenity.

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Angela Lunde of Mayo’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center explains that dementia disrupts conventional communication, making improv’s emphasis on listening and adaptability valuable for clinicians. Katie Van Buren, director for Humanities in Medicine, cites research linking arts exposure to stress relief, reduced pain perception, emotional support, and greater connection among patients and caregivers. Staff members, including registered nurse Molly Beecher and licensed practical nurse Jeremiah Simmons, describe music as “therapeutic” and a “good mental break” from work stress.

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Participants report that improvisational exercises—such as the “Loser Ball” game where players deliberately avoid catching an imaginary ball—help health professionals become comfortable with unpredictability, a core challenge in dementia care. Patients like Meghan Sly say creating art provides “joy” and a “bright spot” amid uncertainty. The presence of a carillon that chimes daily, along with public concerts, further embeds artistic experiences into the clinic’s rhythm, supporting both emotional well-being and professional resilience.

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Katie Van Buren indicates that most funding for these humanities initiatives comes from private donors, and the program continues to expand across Mayo’s three main campuses in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. Ongoing research aims to deepen the evidence base for how arts-based interventions can improve clinical outcomes and caregiver satisfaction.

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