Talk

As part of its Community Lecture Series, MPS Art Therapy presents Melissa Walker, ATR, who will discuss the evolution of the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, as well as our subsequent partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Research outcomes and expansion efforts will be shared.

Melissa Walker, ATR, moved to the Washington, D.C. area to work for the Department of Defense after earning a Masters in Art Therapy from NYU. Melissa served as art therapist on Walter Reed’s inpatient psychiatric unit before transferring to the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). There, she developed and implemented the NICoE Healing Arts Program to explore the integration and research of the creative arts therapies for service members with traumatic brain injury and psychological health concerns. Melissa also acts as lead art therapist for Creative Forces: the NEA/Military Healing Arts Network – a collaboration that aims to expand arts access for the military population. Since its inception, the NICoE's art therapy program has gained international recognition, including a National Geographic cover story and Walker's TEDMED talk featured as TED's "Talk of the Day."