A BRIEF HISTORY:   Approximately thirty years ago, there emerged a new specialty area in traditional medicine called Performing Arts Medicine.  Prior to this time, not much was understood about the stresses, and strains experienced daily by those working in the arts. In 1992, the International Foundation for Performing Arts Medicine (IFPAM) was created to be a resource center for those engaged in the performing arts:  from ballet dancers or actors to sound engineers, from costume designers to jazz musicians and from student to the professional.  IFPAM provides workshops in injury prevention education as well as give those seeking help the necessary medical information they need to begin a path to recovery.  People from all over the world contact IFPAM asking for guidance and/or for help in finding a health care professional after having experienced symptoms of repetitive strain or overuse such as: vocal strain, tendinitis, fractures or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, psychological problems such as performance anxiety or hearing loss to name a few.  These injuries may or may not be performance related.

Most of the information the Foundation can provide is provided through the web site, email and telephone calls.  We look forward to online live chats with artistic advisors in the future.  We hope you'll join us. 

Included in the Foundation's advisory boards is the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine and Germany’s Society for Music Physiology and Performing Arts Medicine.

              "The art of medicine helps keep us alive. The arts remind us why we are alive.  Let us bring them together."  Janice Palmer, Duke University Medical Center 

            IFPAM is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.