Debra Burns specializes in music-based intervention research using mixed methodologies across the cancer treatment continuum from disease-directed treatment, survivorship and end of life. She has collaborated and consulted on several studies funded by the National Institutes of Health specializing in research methodology, determining the essential components of music interventions, designing appropriate control conditions and monitoring treatment fidelity.

Burns holds a Ph.D. in music education and music therapy from the University of Kansas, a master’s in music therapy from Illinois State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Glenville State College in West Virginia. She completed five years of postdoctoral training funded by the Walther Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Her publication record includes over 25 papers published in journals such as Journal of Music Therapy, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, and Supportive Care in Cancer. She has been an active member of the American Music Therapy Association since 1989. Her areas of expertise are music-based intervention effectiveness research in cancer and hospice/end of life. Her research methodologies include randomized controlled trials, qualitative and mixed methods.

• Liu, X., Burns D.S., Hilliard RE., Stump T. (2016) Music Therapy Clinical Practice in Hospice: Differences between Home and Nursing Home Delivery. In Journal of Music Therapy.
• Robb, S.L., Burns, D.S., Stegenga, K.A., Haut, P.R., Monahan, P.O., Meza, J., Stump, T.E., Cherven, B.O., Docherty, S.L., Hendricks-Ferguson, V.L., Kintner, E.K., Haight, A.E., Wall, D.A., Haase, J.E. (2014). Randomized clinical trial of therapeutic music video intervention for resilience outcomes in adolescents/young adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. In Cancer (pp. 909-917).
• Bradt, J., Burns, D.S., Creswell, J.W. (2013). Mixed methods research in music therapy research. In Journal of Music Therapy (pp. 123-148).
• Burns, D.S. (2012). Theoretical rationale for music selection in oncology intervention research: An integrative review. In Journal of Music Therapy (pp. 7-22).
• Burns, D.S., Perkins, S.M., Tong, Y., Hilliard, R.E., Cripe, L.D. (2015). Music therapy is associated with family perception of more spiritual support and decreased breathing problems in cancer patients receiving hospice care. In Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (pp. 225-231).
• Meadows, A.N., Burns, D.S., Perkins, S.M. (2015). Measuring Supportive Music and Imagery Interventions:  The Development of the Music Therapy Self-Rating Scale. In Journal of Music Therapy.
• Burns, D.S. Meadows, A.N. (2015). "Music Therapy Research." In B Wheeler (Ed.), Music Therapy Handbook (pp. 91-102). NY: Guilford Press, Inc.