Dr. Deforia Lane serves as Resident Director of Music Therapy at University Hospitals of Cleveland Ireland Cancer Center. With early intentions of pursuing a singing career, she completed her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and began graduate studies at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music. She attended the Cleveland State University for her master’s degree and earned her Ph.D. in music education from Case Western Reserve University. She holds board certification as a music therapist and is certified by the American Music Therapy Association for Faculty Authorization.
Dr. Lane has designed and implemented music therapy programs for such diverse populations as the mentally handicapped, abused children, geriatric clients, behaviorally and psychiatrically disturbed adult and pediatric cancer patients, and the terminally ill. Among the institutions that she has served as a consultant are the National Endowment of the Arts, the Mayo Clinic, Ohio Hospice Organization, Sesame Street Workshop and the National Department on Aging.
Dr. Lane is a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society for which she composed and recorded the song “We Can Cope.” Public notice of her work extends from recognition to publication in Reader’s Digest and Coping Magazine to forums such as National Public Radio, cable news Network, CBC This Morning, and Wall Street Journal TV. Some of her many awards include the first grant from the American Cancer Society to investigate the therapeutic effects of music on oncology patients, the Oncology Nursing Society’s Mara Mogensen Flaherty Lectureship Award, and the Cleveland Negro Business and Professional Women Award. Dr. Lane received honorary membership into the Oncology Nursing Society – the highest honor they confer.
Her book, Music as Medicine, provides a window into Dr. Lane’s world of unexpected miracles. On a personal note, she is the mother of two, wife of one, and continues to learn to sing her life’s song.
