Dr. Concetta Tomaino is the Executive Director and co-founder, with renowned author neurologist Oliver Sacks, of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function.

Dr. Tomaino is a board certified music therapist with years 47 years experience and  masters and doctoral degrees in Music Therapy from New York University with studies in neuroscience from Columbia Univeristy.  Her undergraduate degree was in science and music from Stony Brook University.She is internationally known for her research in the clinical applications of music and neurologic rehabilitation.  She lectures and gives workshops throughout the world on music therapy, music and the brain ,and, benefits of music in healthy aging.

Her work has been featured in national programs including 48 Hours and 60 Minutes; in international programs including the BBC; and in books on health and healing. Dr. Sacks book Musicophilia is dedicated to her. 

Her new book is “Music has Power ® in Senior Wellness and Healthcare: Best Practices from Music Therapy” Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2023.

Dr. Tomaino is Past-President of the American Association for Music Therapy and Past -Vice President and founding board member for the International Association for Music and Medicine.  

She received the Award of Accomplishment from Music Therapists for Peace at the United Nations. In 2014, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for Music Therapy. In 2011 she received in inaugural Burton Grebin Innovator of the Year Award from the NY Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC ).  She was honored with the 2010 Professional Practice Award from the American Association for Music Therapy and also as one of “Three Wise Women” by the National Organization of Italian American Women.  In 2004 she received the Music has Power Award from the IMNF and the Zella Bronfman Butler Award which is given by the UJA-Federation of New York in partnership with the J.E. and Z.B. Butler Foundation to professionals in the UJA-Federation agency network for their outstanding work on behalf of individuals with physical, developmental, or learning disabilities.  In 1999 she received a Touchstone Award from “Women in Music” for her visionary spirit. In 2025 she was named to the prestigious Fierce 50 list by Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare for her innovation at the intersection of music and neuroscience.

 Dr. Tomaino was appointed distinguished professor of Creative Arts by Concordia College, NY in 2018 and is an Adjunct Professor at Lehman College, CUNY