SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Faculty, staff and students from Upstate Medical University traded in their scrubs for instruments Wednesday night, taking the stage at Funk ‘n Waffles for a night of live music and storytelling.
White Coat Rock Music Event offered a glimpse into the lives of healthcare workers beyond the hospital, highlighting their creativity and passion for music.
The venue filled with energy as performers took the stage, many of them being doctors, nurses and medical students. For some, music isn’t just a pastime, but something deeply personal that they’ve carried with them for years.
“It’s something I knew I always wanted to continue throughout my life,” band member Alessandra Barlas said. “Music means so much to me that I’m still able to continue pursuing it as I go through med school.”
Others echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that their connection to music didn’t start in med school, but long before. The event gave them the chance to return to a passion that has always been part of who they are and share it with a live audience.
Balancing a career in healthcare with creative passions can be challenging, but performers say it’s worth it.
“If it wasn’t for this band, I probably would have just been playing guitar alone in my bedroom,” band member Humza Khan said, highlighting how the event builds a sense of community among performers.
That sense of balance is something many say is often misunderstood. Another performer pushed back on the idea that medicine leaves no room for creativity.
“That stereotype needs to be beaten,” said medical student Olivia Laniak. “If you really care about medicine and you really care about music or whatever passion is, you will make the time and it’s so worth it.”
Beyond the music, the night served as a reminder that healthcare workers are more than their professions. Behind every white coat is an individual with interests, talents and stories that extend far beyond the hospital walls.
From caring for patients during the day to performing on stage at night, the musicians of White Coat Rock demonstrated that science and art are not mutually exclusive. That passion, in all its forms, deserves a place to be seen and heard.