Women In Wellness: Dr Mary Rorro On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
In keeping with my love of music, I recommend patients and others to practice music meditation. I play music in my office for my patients and in their group sessions and listen to music throughout the day which promotes relaxation and joy.
As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Mary Rorro.
Mary Rorro, D.O., was Chief Resident of the Year during her psychiatry residency at Harvard and completed a Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is Chair of the American Medical Women’s Association Music and Medicine Committee and Co-Chair of the Humanities Committee, a psychiatrist and founder of “ A Few Good Notes” music program at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in N.J., and a violist, songwriter and poet. She is a recipient of a Bronze Medal from the President of Italy for Charitable Works from the Royal House of Savoy and a Jefferson Award, the nation’s most prestigious program for volunteer public service and the official recognition program of the United States Senate.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
The impact that music had on one patient’s journey toward healing stands out. After I played Amazing Grace on viola in my office, a patient said he contemplated the meaning of the song and decided to play his guitar again, which he had given up after returning from Vietnam. He also began to read the Bible. This therapeutic music encounter showed the power of music in transforming the doctor-patient relationship and rekindling the patient’s interest in music and spirituality.
I recently met Pope Francis in Rome as part of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, and gave him “Reflections,” the same CD of my viola music that is given to patients, and this was a once-in-a lifetime moment I will never forget.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I consider my “A Few Good Notes” music program to be beneficial for veterans as described in the Amazing Grace story, in the spirit of patient-centered care. Veterans have commented that the music program has been an anchor and life-changing for them, and served as a means of connection during the pandemic.
Combining the arts into their healthcare journey makes an impact in the world, as it has ramifications not only for them, but for other Veterans and their extended families. The ripple effect is seen in our guitar instruction group, in which veterans teach other veterans the guitar and they experience the joy of music firsthand. I also have collaborated on writing songs with my former Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra conductor Maestro Matteo Giammario, who is a 97 year old World War II veteran. We have composed several patriotic songs for Veterans and Anthems for international organizations called “Filitalia” and “A Chance in Life,” as well as other spiritual and inspirational songs. It has been so special to have Maestro Matteo write the arrangement to my melody and lyrics.
Our “Meet the Moment Suite” was developed into a YouTube video to honor healthcare providers, featuring members of the American Medical Women’s Association and Medical Women’s International Association.
As Chair of the Music and Medicine and Co-Chair of the Humanities committee of the American Medical Women’s Association, I mentor physicians and pre-med and medical students and encourage them to form music programs in their own schools and practices that will enhance their wellness and expand into clinics and community.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
- In keeping with my love of music, I recommend patients and others to practice music meditation. I play music in my office for my patients and in their group sessions and listen to music throughout the day which promotes relaxation and joy.
- Sharing music with others is a way to connect with patients and others and is the gift that you give to others. Consider forming a group where volunteers can share their talents in places where it is needed most, such as in hospitals and nursing homes. My beautiful and cherished mother Dr. Gilda Rorro, always taught me to share my gifts with others and took me to healthcare facilities to instill this lesson.
- Volunteer in the community and give back to others to receive even more rewards. Playing viola and singing my original songs such as “Thank You, Veterans,” “The Banner Yet Waves” and “Meet the Moment” at Veterans events such as the Veterans Day service at Princeton University and at Drumthwacket, the New Jersey Governor’s mansion, as well as playing in the clinic gives me much satisfaction when I see the joy it delivers to Veterans.
- Gratitude Giving-tell others that you value and are grateful for them and their importance in your life and witness their reaction and impact on your relationship.
- Possess a sense of mission, and embrace the purpose of something bigger than yourself to ensure the betterment of the greater community and humankind.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
As Chair of the Music and Medicine and Co-Chair of the Humanities Committees, I spearheaded the “Humanities and Healing: An Arts in Medicine Journal,” project in collaboration with AMWA and the Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Women’s Health Institute along with Gloria Bachmann, M.D., M.M.S., Co-Director of Rutgers Women Health Institute, and my devoted student and physician committee members, including Latha Premlatha Amalraj, M.D., Caitlin Cavarocchi, M.M. and Lori Horhor and many other volunteers.*
Our journal showcases the breadth of talent across the humanities and medicine. We received compelling and diverse submissions in the world of music, dance, literary and visual arts. We hope to inspire others in their own journeys of healing and to propel a movement of greater incorporation of the arts in healthcare.
The practice of medicine, especially heightened during the pandemic, has been fraught with increased stress and demands on our time and services. Healthcare providers have experienced burnout and the arts can serve as an outlet to tap into expressing their emotions.
The arts can represent a way to find relaxation and joy, both in practice and apart from it. I would like to increase support from administrators to create humanities and arts programs for healthcare providers and also allow them to exhibit their talents, such as our “Humanities and Healing” Journal inaugural issue showcases.
I have been fortunate to combine my passions for the humanities and medicine and share these principles with patients, pre-med/medical students and physician committee members. The movement of the arts and humanities in medicine has limitless potential to enhance wellness.
* Additionally, we had the support of AMWA leaders including Drs. Eliza Chin and Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber and our new Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Dean Dr. Amy Murtha and Dr. Min Kwon from the Rutgers Mason Gross School of Music, in this joint venture. We also would like to thank Heather Van Ness, Katharine Ross, and Charlotte Tomic.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Link to the Journal: https://www.flipsnack.com/A789BB66AED/humanities-and-healing-an-arts-in-medicine-journal.html
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
Women In Wellness: Dr Mary Rorro On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.