Welcome to the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) newsletter. In this issue, we recap our 10th annual Poetry Café, introduce our new artist-in-residence Anne Apynys, and provide a moment for movement with artist-in-residence Katie Harris Banks.

A Recap of the 10th Annual Poetry Café

Organizers of the 2025 Poetry Cafe

Emcee Reverend Tarra Taylor

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program and the Department of Mission and Pastoral Care celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the Poetry Café on April 23, 2025. The goal of the Poetry Café is to create a space for the literary arts and connection, as they are essential for health and wellbeing.

At the first hybrid Poetry Café, local community members gathered in person at MGUH and virtual participants joined online via Zoom to create a space that honored the Café and fostered hope through community.

Poets had the opportunity to read their handcrafted works whether in person or online to an audience of written word enthusiasts. These poems will also be included in the upcoming edition of Lombardi Voices.

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program provides opportunities for writers with free expressive writing and journaling virtual classes available on Eventbrite and the seasonal poetry publication of Lombardi Voices.

Through the contributions of those near and far, the Poetry Café created a space of support and hope, while uplifting the talents of the AHP community members.

Thank you to our Poetry Café participants and attendees for making this year an excellent Café for all!

Artists-in-residence Anthony Hyatt and Carrie Monger danced to a poem

written by Hyatt

Welcoming Artist-in-Residence

Anne Apynys

Anne is excited to join the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program’s artist-in-residence team. After working as a psychiatric nurse in hospitals for over forty years, she began the next chapter of her life by focusing on playing therapeutic music on the harp. Anne became a Certified Music Practitioner through the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP).

Before she retired she played the harp with a coworker who played the flute for psychiatric patients. When she came to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, she immediately sought out the Behavioral Health Unit to play for patients and she felt right at home. Anne now plays the harp throughout MGUH in a variety of units.

Artist-in-residence Anne Apynys

with her harp

As she worked in the psychiatric world, Anne became increasingly more fascinated with the brain and the mind-body connection. As a young nurse, she found lots of skepticism about how the mind could affect the body and vice versa. As she progressed through her nursing career, researchers began to seriously explore that connection.

Now, thousands of studies exist which provide evidence supporting the mind-body connection. One of the areas that has received extensive research attention is the effect of music on the mind and body. Anne anticipates witnessing the effect of music on the mind-body connection as she plays therapeutic music throughout the hospital.

Welcome Anne!

Easy Stretch Break Video

Artist-in-residence Katie Harris Banks leading a stretch break

Join AHP Movement Artist-in-Residence Katie Harris Banks in this simple stretch break designed to help you gain strength, sharpen your focus, and feel more grounded. It's a great wake up if you've been sitting all day and need an energy boost!

This is for everyone - beginners are welcome!

Visit our Youtube channel for even more movement videos.

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) promotes a holistic approach to healthcare for patients, caregivers, physicians, nurses, staff members, and students through the use of music, dance, expressive writing, and visual arts. These therapeutic modalities are normally provided throughout the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and online through Eventbrite courses. The AHP is a program of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Please consider making a gift of any size to support the AHP so we may continue to grow and provide arts and humanities programming for our wonderful communities.