REMEDIES IN RHYTHM FOUNDATION
Mission: We are committed to offering high-quality music therapy and adaptive lesson services to individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Our mission is to make the transformative power of music accessible to everyone who needs it, with a special emphasis on supporting underserved communities.
Meet the Board
Sarah Hunter Weinert, MME, MT-BC
Chair of the Board
Sarah is a board certified music therapist from Rock Island, Illinois. She completed her Bachelor's degree at the University of Kansas in 2021 and completed her music therapy internship in Kansas City, Missouri with Cornerstones of Care working with youth in the foster care system. She then returned to KU to complete her Master's degree, where she focused on researching early childhood language development and completed advanced clinical work in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Currently, Sarah works as a mobile crisis clinician for the Robert Young Center in Rock Island, IL, assessing individuals in crisis and connecting them to resources to better their mental health. Sarah is passionate about using music to help and heal and is thrilled to be a part of the Remedies and Rhythm Foundation! When not working, Sarah spends her time with friends and family, playing with her dog, and making stained glass art.
Hannah Hoffman, MT-BC
President/Executive Director/Founder
Hannah Hoffman is a board-certified music therapist and the owner of Remedies in Rhythm LLC, based in northern Michigan. Driven by a passion for integrating music therapy into her community, she has built a thriving practice that serves individuals throughout the region. Recently, she expanded her reach by opening a clinic space in Alanson, MI, where she provides therapeutic services to a diverse client base. In addition to her clinical work, Hannah founded the Remedies in Rhythm Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to making music therapy and adaptive lessons more accessible within her community. As the President and Executive Director, she is committed to promoting wellness through music, offering resources, and creating opportunities for those in need. Beyond her private practice, Hannah also works as a part-time choir director and is a member of the Northern Michigan Chorale 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Joan March
Secretary
Joan brings a business expertise to the nonprofit. She was a successful small business owner in the medical field for over twenty years. She has advocated for physical and mental health for over fifty years in a professional capacity. Joan is a University of Michigan trained Dentist. She has been practicing for over thirty years. She brings client care and HIPPA knowledge to the nonprofit. Joan is passionate about helping others. She has been a leader in her community, supporting schools through participation in the PTA, swim team, and FIRST Robotics. She also cared for her Mother with Alzheimer’s Disease for years. When not working on Remedies in Rhythm, Joan is busy building connections with others through physical or creative activities including hiking, painting, and singing. She loves to take on new challenges, including this year, joining a ski race team for the first time. Joan is always open to discuss music therapy and the need to connect with persons at risk.
Dr. Mariam Brown, MD
Co-Treasurer
​​Miriam is a pediatrician and child psychiatrist in the Traverse City area. She works as a primary care pediatrician in Grayling and is part of the Munson system looking to increase crises services for children throughout the area. She is committed to serving the mental and physical health needs of children throughout Northern Michigan. She did her schooling at Michigan State University and is a big Spartan! She appreciates the importance of a strong community full of programs like the Remedies of Rhythm Foundation and all music therapy can offer. When she is not working she enjoys anything outdoors, hiking, biking, camping and running all with her husband and her 2 dogs! She loves exploring all Michigan has to offer.
Beth Cooper
Co-Treasurer
Beth has been volunteering and working for several different nonprofit organizations in the community for over 30 years. She has a heart for service and a deep commitment to working with underprivileged children in Northern Michigan. Beth was employed by Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, where she worked with children in foster care. That experience, combined with raising and assisting her own children, showed her how therapy can help individuals grow and live more productive, happier lives. She strongly believes that all children and adults should have access to therapy, regardless of their financial needs. This is why Beth is so passionate about the Remedies in Rhythm Foundation, which is starting here in Northern Michigan.
Thea L. Baird
Board-Member
Thea is a retired numbers geek that joined this board to help bring the vital benefits of Music Therapy to the Northern Michigan area because she believes every person struggling with mental health deserves access to the tools needed for healing. Thea’s 40-year career in Finance and Tax included 25 years in leadership with Meijer, long recognized as one of America’s top 400 privately held companies. There she worked both with the private and public sector to facilitate collaboration and seek consensus. She was privileged to have the freedom to bring out-of-the-box thinking to the table, to connect business and government programs and get to a win-win. The result: benefits to underserved groups and communities that were otherwise unavailable to them. She understands the challenge of connecting resources to fit needs. Thea’s passion for Music Therapy is twofold: First, her personal experiences with aging adults struggling with mental decline and the resulting reduced quality of life in those bittersweet last years of life. Second, her strong awareness of the developmental issues that ensue when childhood trauma goes unaddressed. She is committed to ensuring Remedies in Rhythm grows and reaches people in need of all ages. When she’s not advocating for Music Therapy you can find Thea cozy at home with her amazing husband and their loving dog Hank or gathering with close friends or out in nature.
Wendy Fershee, LCSW
Board-Member
With over 50 years of experience in social work, Wendy has worked across a wide range of settings, including special education schools, inpatient mental health, and hospital environments. Her deep understanding of the therapeutic power of music informs her leadership role in guiding the mission of the Remedies in Rhythm Foundation to provide personalized and impactful music therapy services. Wendy firmly believes in the ability of music to help individuals thrive—enhancing emotional well-being, fostering social connections, and supporting rehabilitation. Outside of her professional life, Wendy enjoys skiing, walking on the beach, and is passionate about dance, choral music, musical theater, reading, and art. She finds immense joy in the artistic expression and sense of community these activities bring. Wendy is deeply committed to the work of the Remedies in Rhythm Foundation and is confident that it will bring about positive, transformative change in people’s lives.