Nabeel Zuhdi’s presentation reveals how the culture of tertiary music institutions shapes professional identity through legacies, informal norms, and historical practices. He explains that many occupational behaviors, such as practice routines or injury prevention, are often inherited from past master, apprentice traditions, rarely updated through critical reflection or formal evidence, based training. As a result, injury prevention and health literacy remain inconsistently taught, often viewed as personal rather than professional responsibilities. Zuhdi calls out this “loop” of unexamined tradition and argues that professional identity must evolve beyond informal codes to explicitly include occupational health and ethical obligations. Only then can music institutions break the cycle, clarify roles, and create a more adaptive, healthier future for students and faculty alike. This approach uses both clear storytelling and concrete calls to action to help music institutions, faculty, and students recognize that change is both needed and achievable, ensuring future generations benefit from a culture where health is inseparable from professional identity.