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Matthew Smith
Guitar and keyboard, Photo by Elina Sazonova: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-playing-guitar-with-musical-notes-3971985/
April 17, 2023

Virtual Bedside Concerts bring joy to UWMC patients

Matthew Smith, physician assistant (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is the faculty advisor for the student-led group organizing virtual musical performances to hospitalized patients.
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The Virtual Bedside Concerts program was created by UW School of Medicine students Jorie Wittig and Nevin Kalaf and Urology resident Dr. Maheetha Bharadwaj in August 2022, with Matthew Smith, PA-C, teaching associate (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) joining as faculty advisor in September 2022.

The student group brings together volunteer musicians to provide personally curated or group concerts for hospitalized patients over Zoom. 

“Through the leadership of Jorie, Nevin and Maheetha, Virtual Bedside Concerts has helped ease the heaviness of feeling isolated in the hospital,” Smith says. “It has brought joy and peace to patients, loved ones and healthcare team members.” 

The program is continuing to expand, with the hopes of expanding to more volunteers, increasing availability and offering more concerts by request. 

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