Medical Students Bring Creativity and Connection to Behavioral Health Care
On Challenging Weekends in Psychiatric Units, Student Volunteers Offer Patients Something Just as Vital as Medicine
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On weekends, New York Medical College (NYMC) third- and fourth-year medical student-volunteers visit the children and adolescent units at the Westchester Medical Center’s (WMC) Behavioral Health Center (BHC) in a new pilot program. Students organize and lead music, art, writing, mindfulness, yoga, dance, and other educational activities to reinforce coping skills patients need to succeed both during inpatient care and at home.
Weekends prove to be more challenging on psychiatric units, due to fewer clinical staff and more limited programing. These efforts aim to improve quality of care and life for patients with various mental health complexities—while also offering patients at least an hour of joy, distraction, and connection during their day.
“You could see that is a different state of mind among the patients,” said Lidia Klepacz, M.D., left, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “The programs bring them happiness and pleasure and a sense of normalcy and they forget that they are in acute psychiatric care.”
In collaboration with Dr. Klepacz, the NYMC Psychiatry Interest Group (PIG), and BHC staff, the students designed a structured, weekend-based enrichment program for an hour in each unit that prioritize patient engagement, safety, and emotional well-being. Dr. Klepacz created a similar program in Poland, where she grew up, and witnessed that in addition to individual group therapy and medication management, she noticed that when the patients had a structured day and are occupied, there was a decrease in violence or aggression. “There was also a different level of communicating, sharing the feelings, and focusing on more of the prevention of the adverse incidences than anything else,” she said.
Working in a psychiatric hospital as a mental health worker before medical school, Andrew Romano, SOM Class of 2027 and co-president of PIG, says that early exposure can shape career interests, while building confidence and empathy in future physicians. “Many medical students come into medical school thinking, ‘I'm interested in psychiatry,’ without ever having been on a psychiatric floor,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be great if we could find more ways to get medical students to interact with psychiatric patients early?’ If there’s interest in the specialty, we can really help awaken it—and give people the opportunity to dive deeper.”
Romano is also involved in the student club Medical Musicians that performs annually at the BHC, which PIG helps support, as well as the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at WMC. In previous years, the student club organized gardening events to promote therapeutic engagement, responsibility, and connection to nature. Together, these efforts integrate creative expression with compassionate care.
Derick Goff, SOM Class of 2026, who is pursuing psychiatry, values the experience in preparing him once he graduates. He strums familiar favorites on his guitar as Kenna Martin, SOM Class of 2027, lends her voice—inviting sing-alongs. They take song requests and turn the room into a shared chorus before the set comes to a close.
“Working with patients, you do need to incorporate some aspect of their lives into how you're working with them and try to relate to what their interests are,” he said. “For me, music has been a long-term interest. If any patient wants to talk about it or bring it up, I'm always happy to speak to them about it. As I move towards and shape my identity as a physician and a future leader in health care, I want to inspire others to bring music to patients who can benefit from it.”
As Martin sings and sees the patients engaged, she says she learned that medicine isn’t just medications. “It’s important to get more creative with the way that we look out for our patients—incorporating more off the beaten path solutions, whether it's psych related not,” she said.
Students interested in other specialties recognize the importance of engaging with diverse populations. “I’ve enjoyed this experience and the students are very interactive,” said Alexa Colinco, right, SOM Class of 2027, who is interested in going into surgery. It’s very uplifting to see another side of psychiatry. You see people connecting with each other while on their own individual journeys.”
The program is open to additional students interested in signing up to provide creative, educational, and wellness-based activities that support patient healing beyond traditional clinical care. By bridging medicine, creativity, and human connection, the initiative is an important learning experience for students and a welcome respite for patients. For more information, contact Dr. Lidia Klepacz, Andrew Romano, or the NYMC Psychiatry Interest Group at nymcpsychiatryinterest@student.nymc.edu.
