Who We Are
The Malaysian Society of Music in Medicine (MSMM) is an avenue to create awareness and promote the use of music as therapy and medicine in various clinical settings, via interdisciplinary research collaborations, education and other activities.
What We Aim To Do
a. To promote the use of music in mind-body healing in various states of health and maintaining well-being as an integral part of holistic medicine.
b. To promote professional development of music therapy and music medicine in the various clinical settings through education and research.
c. To create public awareness of the roles, benefits and effectiveness of music therapy and music medicine in various states of health.
d. To develop the society as the country’s leading non-profit organisation for music therapists as well as other healthcare professionals using music as an adjunct treatment modality.
Our Story
The MSMM began as a vision of a driven and ambitious young lady fresh out of medical school. Dr. Sharon Chong pursued her passion for music with her expertise in healthcare and brought together a team of likeminded professionals to advocate Music Medicine in Malaysia.
During a MSMM visit to a palliative care ward on Mother’s Day, a female patient remarked that for a moment, her procedural pain was gone when her private room was filled with familiar tunes. She was visibly moved and continuously expressed her gratitude for brightening up her day.
It cannot be denied that the live singing and soothing sounds of the musical accompaniment touch the heart and souls of not only the patients but family members and hospital staff. It is seen that the power of music could enhance harmony and healing with hope as a complementary therapeutic tool in medicine. In the near future, we hope to see Malaysian medical fraternity support the use of music for the benefit of all citizens.
How Can Music in Medicine Help Us
Music Medicine is an evidence-based and clinical use of music in healthcare settings. It is used to alleviate pain, elevate mood and counterpart depression as well as apprehension and fear. It promotes movement and wellness and is also a way to express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and calm for relax patients.
Among clinical areas where music can be applied includes:
– Women’s care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period
– Pre- and post-operative procedures
– Rehabilitation
– Parkinson and dementia care
– Psychology / Psychiatry
– Children with special care needs
– Pain management and palliative care
A video that we share about what we do