>MEDICAL STUDENTS DELIVER HEALTHY DOSE OF MUSIC
> A group of students at the U.Va. School of Medicine has found a
>whole new way to heal.  Twice a month, the all-male group visits
>hospital floors to sing to patients who need a lift.
> "We talk to the nurses ahead of time to find out which patients
>would enjoy our visit," said Toby Campbell, first-year medical student
>and member of the Spinal Chords.  "Then we all gather around and sing
to
>them.  It's incredibly rewarding. They really perk up and get so
>excited.  It's the best thing we do."
> The Spinal Chords also performs at various events throughout the
>U.Va. Health Sciences Center and the Charlottesville area.  They
>rehearse twice a week and use a wide variety of tunes, from classic
hits
>to beach music to more modern songs by U2 and Billy Joel.  "We're all
in
>the group because we have fun singing together," Campbell said.  "But
>our main focus is on school, and we never lose sight of that."
> Campbell said the Spinal Chords was formed in 1980, when a group
>of medical students discovered over lunch one afternoon that they all
>enjoyed singing.  As members of the original group graduated, the
>remaining members held auditions for new first-year students, and the
>tradition continued through the years.
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>
>UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - PAGE 2
>"We hold auditions at the beginning of the school year," Campbell said.
>"We're not that selective.  We look not so much at musical talent but
at
>energy and showmanship.  We like to have fun."
>The Spinal Chords recently produced a CD, which members are selling
>throughout the community.  The cost is $10, and all proceeds benefit
the
>U.Va. Children's Medical Center.  To order a copy, call Toby Campbell
at
>(804) 823-1134.
>                                                               ###
>May 11, 1998
>