Flourishing Minds
Flourishing Minds is a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary gathering, organized by Healing Arts Switzerland in partnership with the Women’s Brain Foundation.
Bringing together scientists, clinicians, artists, researchers, and the wider community, the conference explores new perspectives on women’s brain health through science, art, music, movement, and lived experience.
On June 25 in Geneva, neuroscience, medicine, artistic practice, and human experience come into dialogue — opening conversations around prevention, wellbeing, and human flourishing.
PROGRAM
13:30 Registration
Women’s Brain Health, Prevention & Flourishing
Part I — Scientific Foundations (95 min)
Khaled Shams
Live Oud performance | Composer-songwriter, “Sunrise in Alexandria”
14:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks
Exploring women’s brain health through neuroscience, prevention, hormonal health, and the gut–brain connection.
Speakers
- Dr. Mariapaola Barbato, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Scientific Director at Women’s Brain Foundation “When One Size Doesn’t Fit All: The Case for Women’s Brain Health”
- Dr. Marialuigia Spinelli, FMH Specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology | PhD Neuroscience “Women in Motion: Rhythm, Brain and Biology Across Life Stages”
- Dr. Jelena Vulevic, Gut Microbiologist, Co-Founder veMico, Founder Gut Perspective, University of Reading
“The Gut as a Missing Piece in Women’s Brain Health” - Prof. Dr. Enzo Grossi, Physician, researcher, gastroenterologist; Scientific Director of the Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry “Villa Santa Maria” (Como) | Scientific Advisor to the Bracco Foundation, Milan
“Art and Cultural Participation for Health and Well being in Women”
Followed by an interdisciplinary panel discussion.
Coffee Break & Networking (20 min)
Part II — Arts & Lived Experience (90 min)
Artistic and cultural practices as pathways to wellbeing, featuring performance, music, and embodied experience in dialogue with health.
- Christopher Bailey, Founder of the WHO Arts & Health Program | Video contribution: “Motherhood & Music”
- Accademia Teatro Dimitri – Demis Quadri, Professor of Research and Teaching in Physical Theatre, Mathieu Horeau, philosopher & lecturer-researcher at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri, Angela Calia, dance-theatre artist, researcher “The Shared Space”, an immersive participatory theatre workshop
- Dr. Miriam Lee Burger, MD, MSc, Founder of SOMNEA GmbH | Sound medicine, meditation & neuroscience
“Music Therapy for Brain Health – From Neuroscience to Lived Healing Arts” - Melissa Cascarino, Transversal artist, performer & choreographer
“DEEP…live speech and performance… “ - Dr. Pina Marziliano, Executive Director of the CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, a collaboration between EPFL, UNIGE, UNIL, CHUV, and HUG
“The art of re-connecting heart and brain: a neuroscientific perspective on The impact of healthcare clowning.” - Manon Weber, Cultural Mediator, Musée Ariana
“Art & Health projects at the Ariana Museum” - Joëlle Mauris, Live cello performance | Composer-songwriter
“In manus tuas” (2009) by Caroline Shaw (1982) - Tamara Attali, Communication Officer, Theodora Foundation
- Lara Kaynak Kuhn, Artist & facilitator of Ephemeral Gardens workshops for individuals affected by brain injury
- Joana de Chambrier, Art Therapist Otium Cancer Support Centre, Geneva
“Intermedial Art Therapy: The Healing Power of Creativity” - Claudia Menzago Longchamp, Direction Projet Ferdinand
“The Ferdinand project at the MAH” - David Rodriguez, Cultural manager, director of Dansons la vie! and co-director of the Dance & Creative Wellness Foundation
Dansons la vie! From Patients to Performers: Reimagining Cancer Recovery Through Dance: Lessons in artistic participation, community building and embodied transformation
Part III — Dialogue & Society (35 min)
Representatives from science, healthcare, culture, music, and the arts.
Closing Experience (10 min)
Dr. Miriam Lee Burger, MD
Guided meditation with crystal bowls
18:45 – 20:00 Apéro & Networking
PARTNERS
