The research for each person is addressed below:

1. Dr. Brandman's study is termed a "qualitative descriptive study". The project has been going on for several years and no published (or unpublished) results are offered. But more importantly, we need to know how dance as a modality of healing stacks up against all others, alternative modalities or conventional medicine, and this (if I understand "qualitative descriptive study" correctly) wouldn't appear to do it. For instance, we need to know whether under some circumstances watching someone dance (or dancing yourself) is as good or better than taking a tranquilizer pill. Her UF faculty page, backup, contains no references to publications, or research findings otherwise, either.

2. The paragraph on Dr. Graham-Pole's research is far too vague to evaluate; saying only that he is involved in "several" research projects; giving no references to published (or unpublished) results (on either previous or present research). However a Pub Med Web site (search on "Graham-Pole") references 89 publications since 1971, some of which are on conventional medicine and some on arts/medicine; and many of which are from well respected publications. At the same time, Arts in Medicine is primarily operated by him, and it has been a primary factor in building his stature as a doctor.

3. This poses some obvious questions. For example, do they accept the same hype he employs at UF? I doubt it, at least in the case where he is co-author with I would presume respectable co-authors. Possibly he builds his reputation on hype at UF, where he knows he won't be challenged, but is more circumspect when writing for the journals. Or possibly he has been around long enough that the journals simply don't critically examine what he submits. Whatever the case, considering his proclivity for hype over substance at Shands, any research he has authored and presented in these journal articles or otherwise, might benefit from objective examination particularly in the arts/medicine field. Unfortunately past experience suggests any undertaking of this nature is most unlikely.

4. Jill Sonke-henderson is a professional dancer with about two years of college. At least in her case we have a reference to her research, a hospital survey where we are furnished the survey questions, backup, and a summary of the survey responses, backup. The stated purpose of the survey is to determine the demand for artists, or artist in residence positions in hospitals. An examination of the survey follows:
   1. First off, we aren't furnished any information about how many institutions were invited to respond to the survey or how many of those invited to respond declined to do so and for what reason. Sixty is a very small number out of the total number of hospitals in the southeast. Were some of these hospitals solicited based on some kind of indication of a positive attitude toward Shands Arts in Medicine? Were they solicited based on size? And what is the average size of the institutions actually surveyed? Without knowing the details of the selection process, of course we have no way of assessing the accuracy, utility or bias in the responses.

   2. However, ignoring the above issues and just examining the survey itself, it appears to be all but useless. Does the first survey question "We have an arts related program" mean hanging pictures on the wall? Does it mean a single volunteer going into a large hospital once a week and telling stories to children? Does it mean maintaining a collection of music CDs and CD players for use by patients? The question is so vague that it would be difficult to imagine any hospital that didn't have an "arts related program" of some nature; which of course is the answer they want, suggesting a demand for their students.

   3. The second question "We would like to have an arts related program" only shares the same fault. It is difficult to envision a hospital that wouldn't like to have an "arts related program"; the phrase being so broad and vague it encompasses just about anything.

   4. The third question "We have original works of art in our facility" shares the same problem as well. Again, it is difficult to envision a hospital that can't claim to have at least one "original work of art" of some nature. Paintings and other art are often donated, staff will bring their favorite paintings to their offices or reception areas, patients will make art of various kinds which gets displayed somewhere. Is this what the survey wants? -Who knows. A large institution that has a single original work of art would have to answer yes but clearly such a response would be very misleading in the context of the purpose of the survey.

   5. We have to say the same thing about the fourth question, "We have paid artists in our facility". A large hospital that has one paid artist of some nature would satisfy this question but again yield a very misleading result. It is common for hospitals to hire artists to paint murals or furnish other forms of art to hospitals. Does this qualify?

   6. Question seven, "We would like our patients to participate in creative activities", was obviously designed to guarantee a positive response; for again, it would be difficult to imagine a hospital that wouldn't like their patients to" participate in creative activities". Is rehab exercise a "creative activity"? Is speech therapy a "creative activity"? Is telling jokes a "creative activity"? Most surprisingly, 11 percent of the respondents did actually answer in the negative.

   7. Question nine is, "We recognize the value of art in a healing environment". Answering no to this would be equivalent to saying that your hospital saw no benefit in having nice pictures on the wall. Indeed, I don't ever recollect being in a hospital that didn't have at least some pictures, so one might anticipate that all respondents would answer in the affirmative; which they did. Again, of what benefit to anyone is such a question other than hype and public relations?

   8. If these problems aren't critical enough, the problems of the survey are further compounded by a total lack of any survey questions as to the education, degrees, or certifications the respondent hospitals require (or would require) of their artists. Simply knowing that a hospital wants artists without knowing what artists they are willing to hire, is of little value. Hospitals everywhere hire art, music and other types of art therapists, requiring them to have degrees and various other qualifications in their fields for which Shands arts in medicine trained students would not qualify. Indeed, as discussed below, the evidence suggests that Arts therapy trained artists in hospitals may outnumber Arts in Medicine trained artists in hospitals something like 100 to 1. Factoring in this information would further drastically alter the picture of the demand for Shands trained Arts in Medicine students. (A major distinction between the two is that arts therapy training includes psychology and Arts in Medicine doesn't; and most of the arts therapy professions have much more extensive educational requirements otherwise, as well.)

   9. Indeed, the survey suffers from a complete lack of sufficient specificity, discrimination or completeness from which to derive any meaningful information. It is simply a public relations ploy directed toward funding sources and others AIM wishes to convince there is substantial demand for Arts in Medicine trained people.

5. Cathy DeWitt has a UF bachelor's degree in journalism but no degrees in music; although she took music courses while studying journalism. To my knowledge she has no background in research and I would doubt that she is doing any credible research. Although here again due to a lack of information, it is impossible to evaluate any research she may be doing; no published results or references otherwise being offered.

6. Dr. Glen Turner has been involved in this project for many years. When I was with AIM, I requested to talk to him about his research and I was forbidden to do so. Again the discussion is too vague to evaluate anything and there are no publications or references otherwise offered. As mentioned above I was unable to locate a University Web site for him to see if there might be any further information.