Michael Silverman

Dr. Michael Silverman is Professor and Director of Music Therapy at the University of Minnesota, holding affiliate roles in neuroscience and psychiatry. A Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor and McKnight University Professor, he earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University.

His research advances evidence-based music therapy for mental illness, addiction, and neurodegenerative conditions. Key innovations include recovery-oriented protocols for acute psychiatric units, stigma-reduction techniques, and music-based craving management. Current NIH-funded projects explore therapeutic mechanisms in substance use disorders.

Honors include teaching excellence awards and federal research grants. He maintains clinical practice at University Hospital, integrating research with patient care for adults with mental health and addiction diagnoses.