Talks that broke through

Earlier this year, TEDxUF 2015 showcased eight speakers and three performances from local and national public figures, including two from UF Health. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share an experience similar to that of the global TED conference, which usually includes live presenters giving short, thought-provoking lectures. The UF Health speakers included Jill Sonke, director of the Center for Arts in Medicine and assistant director of the UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine program. Throughout her career, she has sought to explore the relationships between creativity, meaning and health through programs that bring the arts to hospitals, in order to help people coping with serious medical illness.

Chris Hass, Ph.D., a faculty member with the Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, also spoke at the event about the limitations of using drugs and surgery alone in the treatment of Parkinson’s and introduced new, simpler treatments with minimal side effects and promising results.  — Marilee Griffin