Musician Medics is a music therapy effort founded 3-years ago by the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Musicians appear at local hospitals, often going room to room, playing songs for patients. One of the hospitals that the program visits is Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo. Rich Sargent manages the program, and he says that these live performances are, at times, the most anticipated part of a patient's day.
"Some of these poor patients are really, really young, and their entire day is four little walls, and they wait to be taken care of. We're there to try and give them a few minutes of peace and relaxation and something to look forward to."
Musician Medics also visits the VA and High Point Hospital. Sargent says that about 25 local musicians are a part of the program and that they get as much out of it as the patients do.
A fundraiser to continue Musician Medics through 2017 will be held today at the Sportman's Tavern on Amherst street. Doors open at 1, and tickets are $20.
