From the Nominator

The Stanford Medicine Stuck@Home Concert series began as a replacement for an in-person symphony featuring Stanford physicians. COVID forced us to rethink the event, and we created a virtual Stuck@Home Concert, with physicians playing from home. The event was a huge success, and a catalyst for unique healing and community building, as the entire Stanford Medicine and university communities were reeling from COVID-19. While the primary audience was the Stanford community, the event was open to the public, and we had nearly 2,000 attendees.

The event was so popular we continued the series, and expanded the performance list to medical students, undergraduates, and faculty families playing together, and even School of Medicine Dean Lloyd Minor, playing “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” on the cello as a message of hope. We began calling the series "PPE" for the heart and soul, as we heard from frontline healthcare workers and others across the university that the concerts made them feel more connected to their colleagues while in isolation, hopeful that we would get through the crisis together, and joyful to hear their talented colleagues and friends. 

The series was featured on the local ABC news and KCBS radio stations, Doximity, Synapsis Medical Humanities journal, the Stanford Daily, Internal Medicine Grand Rounds and COVID communications. Gaby Li, a student performer, was so inspired by the series that she created Virtual Companions, a virtual concert and pen pal program linking students with seniors isolated in nursing homes. The series also inspired a Stanford COVID-19 memorial project.

From the Judges

Creative and engaging concept of developing community and communication during a challenging time. Engaging content and overall great idea.