Resume
CHERYL KRIPKE COHEN, RN, MSN, HCMHT
FromMyHarp@comcast.net 215-233-1281 www.FromMyHarp.com
CAREER SUMMARY
Harp Therapist with a mastery level proficiency in musical improvisation, an extensive musical repertoire, and the ability to play songs by ear, provides harp music individualized to patients in a variety of health care settings. Promotes healing of patients’ emotional, mental, physical, and/or spiritual functioning by creating a cradle of sound. Passionate about helping people cope with health issues and sharing the healing power of music with others.
Nursing professional with over 20 years experience in health care, specializing in pediatric primary health care. Conscientious, caring, and organized nurse with excellent observational, assessment, and patient education skills. Strong communication skills facilitate trust, emotional support, and empathy with patients and their families, as well as effective collaboration with health care team members.
EDUCATION
Hospital Certified Harp Therapist and Hospital Certified Master of Harp Therapy
BEDSIDE HARP, Bensalem, PA and ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL,
New Brunswick, NJ - August 2005
Master of Science in Nursing, Pediatric Primary Health Care
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA - August 1986
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Cum Laude
BOSTON UNIVERSITY, Boston, MA - May 1981
HARP THERAPY AND HARPIST WORK EXPERIENCE
COMPASSIONATE CARE HOSPICE, Bensalem, PA — Sept. 2009 to present
Harp Therapist — Provide in-home harp therapy for hospice patients, their families, and residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties.
PAOLI HOSPITAL, Paoli, PA — Nov. 2009 to present
Harp Therapist — Provide harp therapy throughout this 281-bed evidence-base designed community hospital. Areas include: atrium/surgical waiting area, medical, surgical, telemetry, cardiac, orthopedic, oncology, progressive care and intensive care units, ambulatory surgical unit, pre-op and recovery room, emergency department, cancer center, lobbies and hallways.
ABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Abington, PA – Dec. 2006 to April 2009
Harp Therapist — Provided harp therapy throughout this 570-bed regional teaching hospital. Areas included: medical, surgical, oncology, hospice, pediatric, telemetry, neurology, and orthopedic units, the heart center, pre-op and recovery rooms, emergency room, inpatient psychiatric, dialysis, waiting areas, progressive care, rehabilitation, and heart failure units, ante partum, postpartum, labor and delivery units, and all intensive care units; neonatal, medical, cardiac care, cardiac surgery and surgical trauma. Played for special hospital events including employee wellness fairs, community health education programs, holiday parties, nursing research award breakfast, neonatal intensive care unit reunion, nursing job fair, Dixon School of Nursing celebration party, employee memorial services, and a patient’s wedding on the inpatient cancer unit.
CARING HOSPICE SERVICES, Fort Washington, PA – Jan. 2007 to April 2009
Harp Therapist – Provided harp therapy to home hospice patients, their families, and residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Philadelphia and its four surrounding counties.
BEDSIDE HARP, Bensalem, PA – March 2007 to Feb. 2009
Harp Therapist - Facilitated a partnership between Bedside Harp and Abington Memorial Hospital. Provided harp therapy to patients throughout Abington Memorial Hospital. Supervised and mentored harp therapy interns at Abington Memorial Hospital.
NESHAMINY MANOR NURSING HOME, Warrington, PA – Oct. 2007 to present
Provide therapeutic harp music to groups of residents and staff in dementia unit and other units, as well as room-bound residents for private harp therapy session.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR – Harp Therapist and Harpist
Harp Therapist at funerals, viewings, memorial services, private homes, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s inpatient and outpatient oncology units, and their pediatric oncology memorial services, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s inpatient oncology unit’s family lounge and during special meals for oncology patients and their families.
Harpist at weddings, luncheons, dinners, birthday and holiday parties, business events and art auctions.
VOLUNTEER WORK/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Play harp music at healing, Sabbath, High Holiday, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and funeral services at Or Hadash, Fort Washington, PA – 2003 to present
- Sing with choir (soprano section) at Or Hadash – 2000 to present
- Produced Healing Harmonies, a 19 track healing CD of Jewish music, at Or Hadash – 2004
- Recorded 7 tracks on Healing Harmonies: 1 on harp, 3 on piano, 3 with choir – 2004
- Belonged to Bedside Harp’s harp circle and performed at social and religious events- 2003-2004
NURSING AND PARENTING EDUCATOR EMPLOYMENT
FORT WASHINGTON PEDIATRICS, Fort Washington, PA – 1991 to March 2006
Pediatric Office Nurse – Provided telephone triage, patient management/education, well and sick care
PARENTS’ NETWORK, Fort Washington, PA – 1992-1997
Parenting Educator – Facilitated parenting discussion groups, counseled mothers with postpartum depression, taught parenting workshops and the Foundations of Healthy Parenting training course
PEDIATRICS, Willingboro, NJ – 1986-1987
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Provided well baby care, breastfeeding advice, allergy and sick care
ANDORRA PEDIATRICS, Philadelphia, PA – 1983-1985
Pediatric Office Nurse – Provided telephone triage/patient management, well and sick care
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA – Adolescent Unit, Philadelphia, PA – 1982-1983
Pediatric Staff Nurse – Provided care to teenagers with acute or chronic medical and surgical problems
EMERSON HOSPITAL – Pediatric Unit, Concord, MA – 1981-1982
Pediatric Staff Nurse – Provided care to children and adults with medical and surgical problems
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
Licensed Registered Nurse since 1981, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1982
Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, Childbirth Education Association of Greater Philadelphia, 1987
Certified Parenting Educator, Parents’ Network, Fort Washington, PA, 1992