Dr.
Patch
Adams

Founder of the
Gesundheit Institute
About Patch
Adams
Patch
Adams, M.D., is a nationally known, speaker on wellness,
laughter, humor and life as well as on the subjects of health
care and health care systems. He approaches the issues of
personal, community, and global health with 'zestful exuberance'
(Time Magazine). Dr. Adams believes that 'the most
revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be happy.'
Dr.
Adams is founder and director of the Gesundheit Institute, a
free health facility in operation for fifteen years. Over 15,000
people have been provided with free medical care at the
Institute. Through the success of this program at the Arlington,
Virginia location, a model health care facility is being planned
on 310 acres purchased in Pocahontas County, WV. The Institute
will include a 40-bed hospital, a theater, arts and crafts
shops, horticulture and vocational therapy. Over five years ago,
Dr. Adams and staff temporarily stopped seeing patients so that
they could coordinate plans for raising $5 million needed for
the Institute's permanent and expanded home, a 'model health
care community.' Currently planned is an immediate phase of this
dream, a $400,000 WV facility so that their medical service to
patients can resume within the next two years. The
Institute addresses, by action, four major issues in health care
delivery: the rising cost of care, dehumanization of medicine,
malpractice suits, and abuses of third-party insurance system.
"The Gesundheit Institute is a pie in the
face of greed – by taking the most expensive thing in America,
health care, and giving it away for free."
It is “an experiment in holism with a
medical focus based on the belief that one cannot separate the
health of the individual from the health of the family, the
community, and the world. Gesundheit is a sociopolitical act
that grows out of a deep concern for the quality of people’s
lives in a world dominated by the values inherent in greed and
power.” Between 1971 and 1983, 15,000 patients received free
medical care, and Adams has a tall stack of letters from them
attesting that his clinic’s humour and compassion helped when
others could not.
Dr. Adams, also known as Patch, adds to his training as a
physician, his experience as a street clown. In working with
health and mental health professionals, he explores the
relationship between humor and therapy using his unique blend
of knowledge, showmanship and' hands on' teaching techniques.
Says Dr. Adams, 'I interpret my experience in life as being
happy. I want, as a doctor, to say it does matter to your
health to be happy. It may be the most important health factor
in your life.' He joyfully believes that 'the most
revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be happy.
Almost ten years ago Adams stopped seeing
patients so he could concentrate on co-ordinating plans and
raising $2.5 million needed for the Institute’s permanent
home, a health community on 310 acres in Pocahontas County, West
Virginia.
Dr. Patch Adams was born May 28, 1945, in
Washington, DC, and was raised in Northern Virginia. After a
brief stint at Sewanee University, Adams attended George
Washington University, receiving his undergraduate degree in
1967. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of
Virginia in 1971, and after serving a one-year pediatric
residency at Georgetown University, he founded the Gesundheit
Institute.
Adams also is a professional clown and a
performer who has written, produced and/or acted in numerous
plays. He is a moviemaker and a citizen diplomat, making many
trips to the Commonwealth of Independent states to explore the
possibilities of peace among nations and to learn more about the
world’s diverse cultures.
Adams is the author of Gesundheit! published
in 1993; sold to Universal Studios for a feature length film and
Housecalls, with Jerry Van Amerongen published in 1998. He is
also a columnist for the Journal of American Holistic Medical
Association, Executive HealthReport; Arts in Medicine; Healing
Journal; Journal of American Holistic Nursing Association;
Mothering Magazine and In Context.
He has received awards from the American
Association for Therapeutic Humour in 1999; Heroes in Healthcare
in 1998; Courage of Conscience Award, the Peace Abbey, 1997;
Institute of Noetic Science Award for Creative Altruism, 1994
and the Boise Peace Quilt Award, 1998.
Dr. Adams has made presentations to such
diverse clients as the Catholic Health Association, Harvard
University, Mercy Health Systems, Yale University, International
Design Conference, Findhorn Community, and the International
Clown Congress, and many more.
Adams is married to Lynda Susan Edquist, and
they have two sons, Atomic Zagnet and Lars Zig.
Patch's
Program Topics:
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• Creativity
• Working Together
• Self-Esteem
• Happiness & Joy
• Magic Elixirs Of Life
• Humor And Health
• The Joy Of Caring
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Available
Lectures, Workshops & Presentations |
| The
Joy of Caring
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- A
1-3 hour presentation on the thrill of helping
others. Inspirational talk with much
dialog to explore burnout prevention for
caregivers.
|
| Humor
and Health |
- 1-3
hour look at the relationship between humor
and the health of the individual, community or
society. Funny and inspirational. Patch tells
of his over 30 years of clowning experience,
of building the first silly hospital, even
using humor in violence prevention. With
Susan, we add the element of teaching the
audience performance and a sweet stage clown
show (15 minutes) at the end.
|
| Magic
Elixirs of Life |
- A
75 minute provocative, informative, funny show
on wellness. Patch plays a 19th century
snake oil salesman promoting a line of elixirs
like wonder, love, humor, exercise, diet,
faith, passion and hope. Two separate
elixirs shows highlight a full compliment of
necessary "medicines" (1 1/4 hours
each). Patch has performed this show for
10 years all over the United States and
abroad.
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Happiness
/ Joy
The Joy Workshop
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- Living a life of joy. 1-hour lecture or 3-4 hour
workshop using an hour of exercises, an hour of ideas on
being happy and the remainder to explore the audacious
idea of living happy. Susan and Patch explore
discovering one's interests and performing ones desires.
It's life as a choice.
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| Holding
Your Dreams In Community |
- A
lecture or workshop of short to very long
duration exploring community with an emphasis
on making it happen and sustaining it.
Patch lived communally for 22 years.
Patch likes to do this workshop with Dr. Susan
Parenti, a composer, performer, and an 18-year
communitarian.
|
| Wellness |
- A
1-3 hour lecture, an overview of the breadth
of potential in being well. Lots of
dialogue
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| Poetry
and Medicine |
- Patch
has 3 hours of poetry memorized - theatrical,
inspirational incineful (sic). A look at
the power of words to communicate and aid
understanding.
|
| Dang
Fools |
- Hire
Patch, Dave and Bowen as clowns extraordinary
to make mischief at any event. Can
include workshops. These three people
can be continuously out of control!
Patch will clown individually in hospitals
(adult, child, mental or physical illness), or
in any public setting.
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| Self
Esteem |
- A
one hour lecture to all-day workshops; the
Internet is to open the door for each person
to feel in a palpable way their own
greatness. Patch likes to do this with
Dr. Susan Parenti.
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| Laughter
Meditation |
- Master
Laugher (Lena Adams?) and Patch team up as
"extra dry martini" to cause
trouble. They cannot contain themselves.
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| Fun
Death |
- Death
makes a guest appearance in a hilarious romp
through troubled waters. Patch teams up
with an experienced clown, Dr. Bowen White,
who is also a nationally recognized human
resources trainer, to explore death
midwifery. These two should be
hired for two very intensive days of personal
exploration into life as a celebration and
peak performance, both at work and in one's
personal life.
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| Working
Together |
- A
fun, stimulating 3-4 hour workshop on the
thrilling potential in working together.
Play, poetry, drama and dialogue will be
combined to explore our maximum potential in
team effort. This workshop is done with
Dr. Susan Parenti.
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Creativity
|
- A
3 hour to 2 day romp into both the arts and
life as creative acts. This is done with
Dr. Susan Parenti, a composer and performing
artist. There will be many
opportunities to explore one's creative self
and artful living.
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KEYNOTE FEE CATEGORY:
Please inquire *
* Honorarium can
vary depending on presentation length, distance to venue and many
other factors. All fees are plus travel expenses and subject to
change, so please call for an exact quote.
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