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Akron Children's A Opens Expressive Therapy Center KRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL has opened its new Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center, the region's only dedicated expressive therapy facil- ity designed for patients, families, staff and the community to receive holistic healing through the arts. Located on the hospital 's main campus, the $1.8 million center is housed in a 3,000-square-foot sky-lit space and allows children to use vari- ous forms of art to deal with illness, cope with emotions and find comfort, while bringing families together. There are dedicated areas for draw- ing, painting and sculpting; a music recording studio; a mirrored dance area; specially designed computers for disabled children; accommodations for patient beds; and an area for books, magazines and reference materials. Board-certified art and music thera- pists, trained in the psychosocial and physiological needs of children and families, staff the center. "For children with serious or life- threatening conditions, the ability to be creative through the arts enhances strength, energy and coping," says Sarah Friebert, MD, Director of the Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center and president of the Medical Staff. "Expressive therapy empowers patients by helping them accept their diagnosis, exert control in an uncontrollable situation, and cope with feelings of fear, depression, isolation and withdrawal. Children, who sometimes may be too young or overwhelmed to express their feelings in words, receive the necessary tools to communicate in a variety of other ways." Named for Emily Cooper Welty, in honor of her $1.2 million donation, the Center receives support through various community donations, including significant monetary contributions from Panera Bread, Northern Ohio Golf Charities, Akron Children's Hospital Women's Board, the Paul and Carol David Foundation, the Helen Brach Foundation, the Howard Atwood family, Eileen Burg, and Dr. Ron and Maureen Russ. n The Brain Injury Program & Concussion Clinic at NNA Fast track evaluation of sports-related and other concussions Sometimes concussive symptoms don't resolve within a few days. If your patient has been diagnosed with a concussion or traumatic brain injury and is still having problems several weeks after the injury, our team of experts can help. • Neurologists • Neuropsychologists • Cognitive assessment • ImPact testing • MRI/EEG New patients and referrals welcome www.nnadoc.com BELDEN VILLAGE • GREEN • HUDSON • MEDINA • RAVENNA • WADSWORTH • WEST AKRON MAIN OFFICE 701 White Pond Drive, Suite 300 • Akron, OH 44320 330.572.1011 • FAX 330.572.1018 • Post injury evaluation & management • Return to work, play, school • Headache management MDNEWS.COM SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 MD NEWS Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 19