Honoring Black Artists, Music, and Sound: Finding Health in Every Beat!

June 3, 2026

Dr. Monica Soni, Covered California's Chief Medical Officer, shares her personal connection to music and its health benefits in celebration of Black Music Month. She describes how music has been integral to her life since childhood, providing physical activity through dance, mental health support, and emotional healing for herself and her family. Dr. Soni emphasizes that research supports music as supplementary therapy for conditions including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain.

Who is affected

Dr. Monica Soni and her family
Black communities (historically and presently)
Californians broadly
People experiencing depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain
Communities impacted by the Civil Rights Movement and ongoing fights for equality

What action is being taken

Dr. Soni and her family listen to music regularly at home while making dinner, doing homework, and during "Family Dance Party"
Dr. Soni uses music to decompress and relax
Dr. Soni is listening to serene background music while writing
Dr. Soni leads efforts in health equity, quality transformation, and clinical innovation at Covered California

Why it matters

Music, particularly Black music, serves as more than entertainment—it functions as a therapeutic tool for physical and mental health while carrying profound cultural and historical significance. Research supports its use as supplementary therapy for multiple health conditions, and it has historically served as a form of resistance, communication, and community building for Black Americans from slavery through the Civil Rights Movement to present day. Recognizing music's holistic healing properties can help shape more inclusive, personalized approaches to healthcare that honor individual needs rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint