Our Team

CEO and Founding Director

Dr. Žak Ozmo is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of Neuroaesthetics. He currently serves on the faculty of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), holding positions in the Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Radiation Oncology, and is a member of the UTHSC Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Ozmo’s career integrates neuroaesthetics with his expertise in music, visual arts, and architecture, reflecting a unified approach to exploring how these disciplines influence human well-being, creativity, and community development.  In addition to his work at UTHSC, he serves on the faculty at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England.

His scholarship has been translated into French, German, Spanish, and Korean, and published in leading academic journals. Dr. Ozmo regularly presents his research at international conferences across Europe and North America and frequently discusses related topics on platforms like BBC Radio 3 and NPR. In 2019, he delivered his first TEDx Talk, Why Refugees are Integral to the Future of Art. He is also the host and producer of Music & Medicine, a monthly talk show on WYXR, broadcasting from Crosstown Concourse in Memphis.

Board of Directors

Kevin McEniry, Founding Partner and CEO, StringBend Capital ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Kevin McEniry

Founding Partner and CEO, StringBend Capital

Jim Thompson, President, Chief Designer, EgglestonWorks ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Jim Thompson

President, Chief Designer, EgglestonWorks

dr zak ozmo ceo founder ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Zak Ozmo, D.M.A.

CEO and Founding Director, Ozmo Institute for Neuroaesthetics

Advisory Board

Peter Abell, Executive Director, Memphis Symphony Orchestra ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Peter Abell

Executive Director, Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Mairi Albertson, Mayor Young's Chief of Staff ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Mairi Albertson

Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor, City of Memphis

Ekundayo Bandele, Founder & CEO, Hattiloo Theatre ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Ekundayo Bandele

Founder & CEO, Hattiloo Theatre

Lee Bartel, Emeritus Professor of Music and Health, University of Toronto ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Lee Bartel, Ph.D.

Emeritus Professor of Music and Health, University of Toronto

Elizabeth Cawein, Executive Director, Music Export Memphis ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Elizabeth Cawein

Executive Director, Music Export Memphis

Ned Canty General Director, Opera Memphis ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Ned Canty

General Director, Opera Memphis

Saurin A. Chokshi, M.D., Section Chief of Medical Oncology, Regional One Health/UTHSC ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Saurin A. Chokshi, M.D.

Section Chief of Medical Oncology, Regional One Health/UT Health Science Center

Lynn Dobrunz, Chair of the UTHSC Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Lynn E. Dobrunz, Ph.D.

Chair of the UT Health Science Center Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

IMAKEMADBEATS Chief Executive Officer, Unapologetic ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
IMAKEMADBEATS

Chief Executive Officer, Unapologetic

Tracy Lauritzen Wright, Chief Operating Officer of Arts Memphis ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Tracy Lauritzen Wright

Chief Operating Officer of Arts Memphis

Ellis Neufeld, Clinical Director and Physician-in-Chief at St. Jude ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Ellis J. Neufeld, MD, Ph.D.

Clinical Director and Physician-in-Chief at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Tony Pellicciotti, Architect, LRK ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Tony Pellicciotti

Architect, LRK

Darel Snodgrass WKNO Director of Radio ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Darel Snodgrass

WKNO Director of Radio

Kevin Sharp, Director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Kevin Sharp

Director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Ajay Talati Chair and Division Chief of Neonatology at the UTHSC ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Ajay J. Talati, M.D.

Chair and Division Chief of Neonatology at the UT Health Science Center

Pat Mitchell Worley, CEO of Soulsville Foundation ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Pat Mitchell Worley

CEO of Soulsville Foundation

Stacy Wright Executive Director of Crosstown Arts ozmo institute Neuroaesthetics investigates how sensory experiences—such as music, sound, visual arts, and architecture—shape brain function, health, and behavior. As an interdisciplinary field, it integrates science—particularly neuroscience—with the arts and technology
Stacy Wright

Executive Director of Crosstown Arts

Banner photo by P. Lloyd Paul.