Amy Clements-Cortes

Dr. Amy Clements-Cortés PhD, RP, MTA, MT-BC is an Associate Professor, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto; Credentialed Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist and a Fellow in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, and Neurologic Music Therapy.

Amy has extensive clinical experience working with clients across the life span, with a specialty in mental health, dementia and palliative care. Her research contributions have had a significant impact in the understanding of understudied phenomenon, resulting in excelled treatments provided by professionals in music and medicine. This includes: relationship completion for individuals at end-of-life, vibroacoustic therapy and singing protocols for persons diagnosed with dementia, as well as experiences in music therapy internships. The impact has been recognized by publication in high impact factor journals and media attention from CBC News, CTV News, City TV News, Rogers TV and the Globe and Mail newspaper, all covering stories about the vibroacoustic pilot study for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the Glee Club studies and her overall contributions to the field. She has authored 50+ peer reviewed journal articles, multiple book chapters, co-edited 2 books, including “Relationship Completion in Palliative Care Music Therapy”, and provided 250 conference and/or invited academic presentations. Her work has been cited by over 800 scholars. As a researcher, she has secured over $5 million dollars in research funds as a co-investigator and collaborator, as well as $375,000 as the Primary Investigator for clinical and education grants.

In 2020, she received the World Federation of Music Therapy Clinical Impact Award honoring a music therapist who has had a long-term impact on advancing the knowledge and practice of music therapy within a specific clinical area or population through the publication or presentation of his or her work. She has also won outstanding health discipline teaching awards, Educator of character and outstanding service awards.

With an International Reputation Amy is part of multiple Special Interest groups to advance understanding in music for pain, dementia, community music, caregivers, palliative care and most recently is leading a group of International scholars to work on advancing Telehealth music therapy.

Amy is the Managing Editor of the Music and Medicine Journal and Research and Ethics Chair of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT). She is a former President of the World Federation of Music Therapy and the Canadian Association for Music Therapists, and serves on the editorial review boards for 9 International journals including the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease.

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