Welcome to the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) newsletter. In this week's issue, we spotlight two individuals who have recently joined the AHP community. Mary Anne Salmon is Project Knitwell's interim director. And Jody Marshall is a musician who plays the hammered dulcimer for patients and caregivers throughout the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH). Each shares a lifelong passion for their art and a commitment to community service.

Project Knitwell's Interim Director, Mary Anne Salmon, Reflects on the Benefits of Knitting

Project Knitwell’s interim director, Mary Anne Salmon, has been knitting since she was a child but discovered its stress relieving qualities in adulthood. After retiring from her career as a scientist -- Mary Anne was part of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab that was among the first to identify a class of proteins, similar to muscle proteins, present in every cell type -- she began volunteering with Project Knitwell to pass along what she’d learned about her craft. As she explains in a recent interview, her favorite part of her current role with the organization is that it has allowed her to widen her circle of connection.  

How did you first start knitting?

When I was eight, I visited a friend's house at the New Jersey shore. To keep us occupied, her mother bought us knitting needles and yarn and taught us how to knit. The joy of learning something new was thrilling even though all we knitted were squares. We would finish a ball of yarn, rip it out, roll it back up and start again. Repeating this process was very pleasing. Years later in Los Angeles, while dealing with the stress of raising two preschoolers, I rediscovered my love for knitting. It provided relaxation while spending time with my children. I also made a lot of baby sweaters. 

When did you join Project Knitwell? Could you tell us what volunteering with them has been like?

I joined Project Knitwell in 2016, after retiring from the NIH. I became a representative of theirs at Children's Hospital along with longtime volunteer, Susan Snell. I worked mostly in the cardiac intensive care unit where parents of infants often felt helpless. Many passed the time working on computers or reading. Some tried knitting for the experience before deciding whether it was right for them or not. Several of them became enthusiastic about it. I remember visiting an infant's father in a hospital room. I asked if he'd like to learn to knit. He said, “yes.” He quickly picked up the skill and passed it on to his wife and elder daughter. For several months, they knitted together and proudly showed me their pieces. I’ve also experienced the sense of community that knitting can help to create. At Children's Hospital, I noticed that those learning the craft started assisting one another with their knitting and wound up forming a kind of spontaneous self-help group.

What has it been like to work on the administrative side of the organization? 

The best part about this job has been reaching out to more people in diverse locations. Several groups have shown interest in having Project Knitwell join their events. For instance, we recently worked with The Ryan Bartel Foundation in Ashburn, Virginia whose mission is preventing teen suicide. They run a day camp for teenagers. A team of four from our group hosted sessions to teach knitting as a stress reliever. It all ties into Project Knitwell's mission, which focuses on wellness, comfort, and community. Knitting can promote relaxation, self-care and resilience. It’s a simple activity but it can provide a much-needed distraction, helping you take a step back from stress. 

For Jody Marshall, Playing Music for Patients and Caregivers is a Way of Giving Back

Jody Marshall, an accomplished hammered dulcimer player and DMV local, recently began playing therapeutic music at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and MGUH as part of her practicum for the Music for Healing & Transition Program (MHTP). She first discovered the instrument at the National Folk Festival and eventually found her first teacher, AHP musician-in-residence Karen Ashbrook. Now a teacher herself, Jody is also using music to serve those dealing with illness, which she discusses in this interview.

How did you start playing the hammered dulcimer? 

I grew up in a musical family. My father made a living as a jazz musician. He played everything with strings, except the hammered dulcimer. That may have been part of the appeal for me, but it was really love at first sight: I saw it. I heard it. I had to have one. I love how the hammered dulcimer sounds and the way it looks while being played. Its unique ring and sustain fills a space in a very satisfying way. It can be angelic or hard-driving, rhythmic or gentle. That versatility appeals to me. It’s visually dynamic. You can dance along as you play. It also has calming qualities, especially when playing therapeutic music. 

How did you start playing therapeutic music?

Karen Ashbrook was my initial teacher. She also put me on the path of becoming a therapeutic musician. In addition to being musical colleagues, we're friends. So I watched her go through the MHTP then start to work in the field. Her passion for the work really rubbed off on me. She suggested that I pursue the program, saying that she thought I would be good at it. She was very persuasive. I finished the coursework for the MHTP in 2020, but before I could start my practicum at the Lombardi Cancer Center, COVID got in the way. 

What has it been like to practice your craft in the hospital? 

I've had some memorable moments seeing the many ways music can heal. I’ve played music for agitated, confused patients who eventually relax and fall asleep. Recently, I played for an actively dying patient with family members present. The music is important for loved ones and caregivers too. These profound experiences have allowed me to connect with people during intimate times in their lives. It’s extraordinary and humbling to be invited in to be a part of their healing journeys. And it inspires me to give and to help any way I can.

What’s next for you? 

I would like to continue sharing music as a way of being of service. Many people want to give back in some way. It brings us joy if we can find ways to do that. 

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.