Susan Magsamen

Susan Magsamen is a prominent figure in the intersection of arts and neuroscience, serving as the Executive Director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Pedersen Brain Science Institute. She is also an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins.

Professional Background

• Founder and Executive Director: Magsamen established IAM Lab, which focuses on how arts and aesthetic experiences can positively influence brain function, health, and behavior. Her work aims to translate these insights into practical applications in healthcare and education.123
• Co-Director of NeuroArts Blueprint: This initiative, in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, seeks to integrate arts into mainstream medical and public health practices.24
• Creator of Impact Thinking: Magsamen developed this interdisciplinary research model to enhance human potential through arts-based approaches, addressing various life stages from early childhood to aging.15

Publications and Contributions

Magsamen is a co-author of the New York Times Bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, which explores the transformative effects of engaging with art on mental and physical health.23 She has also published numerous articles on the role of arts in health and well-being.

Previous Experience

Before founding IAM Lab, Magsamen worked in both public and private sectors, creating educational products such as Curiosityville, an online learning platform acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She has a history of developing social impact programs that span various age groups and needs.25

Affiliations

In addition to her roles at Johns Hopkins, Magsamen is involved with multiple organizations focusing on the application of arts in public health, including serving as a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.16

Magsamen's work continues to push boundaries in understanding how aesthetic experiences can enhance human health and learning.