A vibrant and engaged community of stroke survivors, families, providers, and researchers came together this week at the MGH Neurorecovery Program’s Art of Recovery Day. Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery co-sponsored this unique event designed to accelerate recovery after neurological injury in innovative ways through a lens of art and creativity.

The all-day event at Mass General Brigham included two arts-based workshops, a facilitated group brainstorming session on improving community engagement, a panel that answered common questions after brain injury, and an exhibit hall that showcased relevant resources including Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery education materials. Several clients with stroke and their care partners who are part of the Impact Practice Center community attended.

Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence participated in the event as part of its commitment to improving the lives of stroke survivors through community education, research, and rehabilitation care. “We’re really happy to be part of this exciting program,” said Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence faculty member, Dr. Julie Keysor. “The day started by having people engage in some unique and innovative ways to think about recovery. One of those ways was through creative dance and the other was through visual arts with drawings and paintings.”

Keysor discussed the importance of approaching recovery and rehabilitation in more unique ways within the medical field, like this art-based event.

“What is recovery and how does recovery work for people who have had a stroke?” said Keysor. “You can think about recovery in the context of the healthcare system and in the rehab context, but really recovery happens in the community, in people’s homes and the lives that they continue to live.”