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:    

 

• Creativity 
• Working Together 
• Self-Esteem 
• Happiness & Joy 
• Magic Elixirs Of Life 
• Humor And Health 
• The Joy Of Caring 

 

Available Lectures, Workshops & Presentations
 The Joy of Caring

 

  • 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.
Happiness / Joy
The Joy Workshop
  • 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.
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
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.
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.
Laughter Meditation
  • Master Laugher (Lena Adams?) and Patch team up as "extra dry martini" to cause trouble.  They cannot contain themselves.
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.
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.

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.

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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