Music Therapist in Palliative Care Job at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis

Hennepin Healthcare’s Inspire Arts program is searching for a contracted music therapist to provide 20 hours per week of music therapy to hospitalized patients and their families. This role offers a unique opportunity to deliver compassionate, creative care as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team at a Level 1 Trauma Safety Net Hospital. The music therapist will round regularly with the palliative care team to collaborate and coordinate patient care. The music therapist will provide individualized patient and family music therapy sessions at bedside in response to referrals from the palliative care team and the electronic medical record. This includes working with adult patients and their loved ones in the Intensive Care Units, the Burn Unit and all of the adult medical units in the hospital.

The music therapist will also work to develop and advocate for the music therapy program with the arts program coordinator and Hennepin Healthcare Foundation staff. Duties may include creating materials used to raise funds for the music therapy program; supporting staff through music and advocacy at fundraisers; and looking into opportunities to strategically expand the program to increase patient access to music therapy throughout the hospital and clinics, as funding allows.

Experience / Qualities

• Applicant must be a Board Certified Music Therapist, holding the MT‑BC credential.
• 1+ years of experience working in a hospital or medical environment.
• Maturity to handle with sensitivity difficult biopsychosocial situations.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed care.
• Ability to be sensitive and responsive to interdisciplinary staff members.
• Proficient musician, especially with respect to guitar and vocal skills.
• Good self‑care skills outside of work.
• Effective writing skills to communicate with other care team members through notes in the medical record.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology and willingness to learn.
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, including physicians, clinical staff and the non‑clinical public.
• Comfortable working with a variety of people, with humility and sensitivity to cultural values, ethnic differences, and identities.
• Considerate and compassionate.
• Able to work independently with good time management and organizational skills.
• Bi‑lingual or a willingness to learn songs in another language is a plus.

Team Integration

• Collaborate with a second music therapist and two artists‑in‑residence who engage patients and families in visual art activities.
• Contribute to a vibrant, interdisciplinary arts‑in‑healthcare team committed to enhancing patient experience and emotional well‑being.

How to Apply

Please send resume and cover letter via email to wenda.ballinger@hcmed.org by Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Entry level
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Health Care Provider
• Industries: Hospitals and Health Care

Minneapolis, MN $50,000.00-$62,500.00