Henry Ford Center for the Performing Artist

Maintain performance

The Henry Ford Medical Center for the Performing Artist is a one-of-a-kind program in Michigan and one of the longest running in the United States. The Center has worked with professional performers from the Michigan Opera Theatre, Fisher Theatre, Masonic Temple, Meadowbrook, Interlochen, the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Fox Theatre, DTE Music Theater, the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, and numerous other performing venues for both professional and amateur performers.

In a completely confidential environment, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary health care program is designed to meet the particular needs of performers – from the developing amateur to the professional superstar. Backed by the vast expertise of the Henry Ford Health, professionals from Otolaryngology, Orthopedics, Speech Pathology, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Primary Care pool their talents to evaluate, treat and manage problems unique to performers. The Center is administered through the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Overture

For the performing artist, the stage is life. The most minor medical complaint — a singer’s sore throat, a dancer’s pulled muscle, a cellist’s sore neck — can keep the performing artist off the stage. A persistent problem, unless properly treated, can cut a promising career short.

At the Henry Ford Medical Center for the Performing Artist, our goal is to treat a performer’s condition as quickly as possible, return him or her to the stage and establish habits that will ensure a long life on the stage.

In a completely confidential environment, we provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary health care program designed to meet the particular needs of performers — from the developing amateur to the professional superstar.

Our physicians and allied health professionals understand the needs and desires of performing artists and the importance of returning them to the stage. Some of our physicians are performing artists themselves, which gives them first-hand knowledge and experience. Backed by the vast expertise of the Henry Ford Health, professionals from Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Speech Pathology, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Primary Care pool their talents to accurately evaluate, effectively treat and appropriately manage problems unique to performers.

Our approach is to identify the performing artist’s problem and evaluate how it affects performance; treat the problem in a manner compatible with the artist’s rehearsal and performance requirements; and sustain the quality of performance through prevention of recurrence.

The Center is organized into several specialties, each focuses on problems of a particular discipline of the performing arts: vocal, dance, and instrumental. In addition, the Center provides care and referrals to treat the whole person, from nutritional needs to feelings of stage fright.

We are conveniently located:

• Henry Ford Hospital
• Henry Ford New Center One (Detroit)
• Henry Ford Medical Center-Lakeside, Sterling Heights
• Henry Ford Hospital - West Bloomfield

Treatment for the performing artist is available 24 hours a day. For emergency care or an appointment with one of our specialists, call (800) 436-7936.