The Texas Center for Music and Medicine was conceptualized during the 1996 Music & Medicine conference at the UNT College of Music. The center received approval as an official University of North Texas Center in 1999 by the UNT Deans Counsel and Office and Academic Affairs. Over the three year period from 1996 to 1999, Drs. Kris Chesky and Bernard Rubin strived to develop various projects to help solidify the interdisciplinary collaboration needed for the evolution of the Center. With the help of key investigators including Dr. George Kondraske from the University of Texas in Arlington, Dr. John Hipple from the UNT College of Education, and Miriam Henoch from UNT College of Arts & Science, several projects were conceived, planned, and executed.

Fortunately, over this three-year period, Dr. Ben Cohen, then Executive Dean for the UNT Health Science Center, along with Dr. David Shrader, then Dean of the UNT College of Music, supported and encouraged the development of the Texas Center for Music & Medicine. Under their leadership, the core team was provided unique opportunities to advance the Center’s mission to many Dallas/Fort Worth community arts leaders and University of North Texas administrative officials at both the UNTHSC Fort Worth and UNT Denton campuses.