Harnessing the Impact of the Arts for Well-being Since 2021
LEARN MOREour story
Performance Hypothesis began when three healthcare leaders in evaluation, systems administration, and statistics wanted to bring research-informed tools to arts initiatives.
What started with a simple survey to capture the impacts of a dance for Parkinson’s class grew into an international consulting initiative at the forefront of providing relevant and robust tools to better understand health outcomes of arts and cultural programs.
our approach
We roll up our sleeves and work with you to deliver impactful creative wellness initiatives. As a leading arts and health expert service firm, our experience is unmatched, but our approach is always collaborative and straightforward.
Whether you are approaching creativity and wellness in your healthcare facility, arts organization, university campus, or philanthropic strategy, our team works alongside you to ensure your programs are built on solid foundations, tailored to your unique context, and ready to make a measurable difference.
We’re here to help you truly harness the power of the arts for well-being.
MEET
our team
MARCEL FOSTER, MPH
Co-Founder & Director
Marcel is an arts & health expert and serves as faculty with the Center for Arts in Medicine at University Florida and as a Research Associate with NYU Steinhardt’s Jameel Arts & Health Lab.
Marcel founded Performance Hypothesis in 2021 because of their love for performance and their lifelong curiosity about the intersections of arts and wellbeing.
BRIANNA SMITH, MPH
Program Manager
Brianna holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Nutrition from Emory University. She brings expertise in strategic planning, implementation, and program evaluation. Her passion for the field of arts and health stems from her background: Brianna was a competitive dancer for more than a decade and played the trumpet for several years.
DARREL GRANT, MA
Convening Specialist
Darrell is an actor, playwright, and producer with years of experience developing original productions. He has partnered with professional theatre programs across the U.S. as a performer, project manager, and operational development specialist.
KAREN BYRNES, PhD, MPP
Director of Research & Evaluation
Karen is an applied researcher with extensive experience in performance measurement and strategic program design. Her work spans private, nonprofit, and public sectors across the Americas, Europe, India, and sub-Saharan Africa. She brings a global perspective to advancing measurable change.
SUE BEASLEY, MPH
Co-Founder
Sue is a technology consultant who’s work focuses on aligning business needs in healthcare organizations with technological solutions to drive real, measurable outcomes. Curious by nature and strategic by default she uses analytics and visualization to tell stories, inform decisions, and inspire action using data as a compass.
RAPHIEL MURDEN, PhD
Co-Founder
Raphiel is a biostatistics consultant who specializes in research design and analysis related to social/environmental influencers of health. He is a Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory and performs as a concert violinist.
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Contact Us
info@performhy.com