Medical student uses musical therapy to help patients find peace in their final days

When Melonie Ambler prepares to treat a patient, her medical toolkit includes something unexpected: A cello.

"I ask, 'Transport me to your favorite place on Earth,' or 'What are you famous for within your friends or your family?'" Ambler said. "When I get that response, I can accentuate the drama, emotions, personalities and energy of the patient."

Ambler, a Stanford University medical student, has pioneered an innovative approach to palliative care by transforming patients' life stories into spontaneous musical compositions. She has paused her medical education for a year to formally research the intersection of music and end-of-life care.