Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Kris Chesky presented his work on Occupational Health in Music at the 2026 National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) Annual Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas.
His presentation highlighted the need to move beyond traditional hearing conservation approaches toward predictive, systems-based models that recognize music as a distinct occupational environment with unique exposure patterns. Drawing on insights from the First Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music and the Total Musician Health™ framework, Chesky emphasized the importance of integrating exposure measurement, education, policy, and institutional responsibility to better protect musicians across the lifespan.
The NHCA conference brought together researchers, clinicians, engineers, and policymakers dedicated to preventing noise-induced hearing loss. Chesky’s participation positioned Peabody and Johns Hopkins at the forefront of emerging conversations about advancing occupational health standards within music education and performance environments.
His presentation was part of a broader effort to establish Occupational Health in Music as a unified, prevention-focused field that bridges public health, medicine, engineering, and the performing arts.