On June 17, Jewish General Hospital Music Therapist Bryan Highbloom retired from his position after more than 35 years of service. His last day of work coincided with the last day of the 2016 JGH Jazz Festival, which he founded 17 years ago. Bryan is well-known at the hospital and in the community for his use of music as a calming therapeutic tool for patients, taking requests for songs across all musical genres, and for his cheerful disposition. As a testament to Bryan’s dedication, Chantal Bellerose, Coordinator of Quality, Risk Management, Accreditation and Patient Experience, shared with us what his contributions to the Jewish General Hospital have meant to patients and staff.
“There are people that we work with every day that make the difference in our teams and who improve the work climate and patient experience. Bryan is such a person. During the years that he worked at the Jewish General Hospital he highlighted the human aspect of the services we provide. Bryan’s famous saying ‘What can I play for you and with you today?’ allowed us to experience important moments in the lives of our patients, their families and our colleagues in a holistic context. His music united and calmed people, and brought out smiles and emotional memories.
