A new space for students, faculty, staff and community to explore the human side of healthcare.
At Concordia University Ann Arbor, the future of healthcare isn’t just about the latest technology, medical advancements or artificial intelligence — it’s also about compassion, cultural understanding and spiritual reflection. That’s the heart behind CUAA’s new Healthcare & Humanities Lab (HHL) — a space where science meets story and where you are invited to explore what it truly means to care for the whole person.
A vision for holistic care
The HHL envisions a future where the best healthcare is shaped not only by technical expertise but also by insights from literature, history, philosophy, theology, ethics and the arts. By bridging these disciplines, the Lab prepares students to see patients not simply as clinical cases but as people — shaped by culture, faith and community.
“We are trying to enrich the healthcare programs that we already have here on campus with the transformative insights of the humanities,” says Dr. John Boonenberg, DMA, Kreft endowed chair in music and director of the Healthcare & Humanities Lab. Healthcare today is evolving rapidly. But as medicine advances, the need for human connection grows stronger.
Having been part of the Ann Arbor community for nearly nine years, Boonenberg is excited to see the Lab come to life — not only as a resource for specific programs but also as a space for renewal. “Students in healthcare programs have very demanding classes, so if they need a break — or a place to release some energy on percussion instruments — the Lab can provide that.”
Rooted in Concordia’s mission to develop students in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world, the Lab nurtures caregivers who lead with empathy, communicate with clarity and honor the dignity of every patient.
A place for compassionate caregivers
The Lab allows students to grow into Christ-centered caregivers who can meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those they serve. Visitors are welcome to:
- Think deeply and reflectively
- Communicate with empathy and compassion
- Recognize the spiritual and cultural dimensions of healing
- Care for their own well-being even as they care for others
A closer look at the lab in action
The HHL is an active, hands-on space with opportunities for creativity, reflection and collaboration. Here’s a glimpse of what Concordians can expect:
- Lab sessions: Four themed sessions each year (two per semester) with guest speakers, hands-on activities and interdisciplinary learning
- Creative hours: Weekly open studio times where students can explore art, music and writing as outlets for reflection and resilience
- The HeartBEAT Journal: An annual publication featuring student, faculty and guest contributions — poetry, short prose, visual art, music and reflections
- Research and reflection: Opportunities to publish, present and engage in reflective journaling that deepens self-understanding and professional growth
- Student leadership: Positions for student workers to serve as editors shaping the Lab’s projects and publications
A movement in the making
Boonenberg hopes students will feel drawn to this space — that it will ground them and enrich their overall Concordia experience. On a broader level, he anticipates the community rallying around it, interacting with students and collaborating together.
“Ann Arbor is full of artists, philosophers, freethinkers and poets — it will be a really great space for the community,” Boonenberg notes.
The HHL is more than a program — it’s a movement. It’s preparing future leaders who understand that true healing happens at the intersection of science and story, body and spirit, knowledge and compassion.
Lab hours are 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Want in?
CUAA will continue to offer degrees in 2025-26 and beyond. Pursue a degree in healthcare at our North Building with its newly remodeled features and state-of-the-art simulation equipment, or earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education through one of our well-established online programs. The CUAA campus continues to offer a route to a Lutheran Teacher Diploma to help equip Lutheran K-12 schools nationwide with qualified workers. In the near future, Concordia will look to reintroduce additional church work training opportunities in Ann Arbor by building a new vision and model for the undergraduate degree programs here.
Click here to view a full list of the programs Concordia will retain in Ann Arbor. Click below to schedule a visit with an Admissions team member.