“We are all humans. We need to take care of each other.” That was the message that Patch Adams, M.D., famous physician and clown, presented when he shared his story with more than 400 Health Science Center faculty, staff and students last week. Dr. Adams’ visit was sponsored by the Medical School’s Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics.
Although he is well-known for his joyfulness and clowning, Dr. Adams shared his strong feelings about loving life and people.
“In high school, I became appalled that that there was so much violence in the world and that people hated each other because of color,” he expressed. “I was beat up on numerous occasions for being actively involved in civil rights issues. But, I didn’t stop believing what I thought was right. It was one day that I vowed never to have another bad day. I decided to love life. And, that’s all it took.”
Dr. Adams began medical school in 1967, with hopes of using medicine as an act of reaching out and loving people.
“How can anyone turn away a needy patient because the patient does not have the money to pay for care?” he questioned.
Dr. Adams founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1972, shortly after he graduated from medical school, as a creative response to the health care crisis in America. Begun as a home-based free clinic, Gesundheit! originated in a small house where Dr. Adams and colleagues introduced overnight stays and eventually integrated the lives of those giving and of those receiving care. The group welcomed anywhere from 5 to 50 patients a night.
“We dealt with everything, from birth to death,” he said. “It was our goal to let people know that other’s care for them. The patients need attention and love, and they want a good listener.”
Dr. Adams became well acquainted with each of his patients. “The loudest cry of patients was for compassion and attention, which was a call for time. So, I always ask sensitive questions because if it is a sensitive subject, then it is important to that person,” he said. “I am shameless because I love my patients.”
Dr. Adams said the Gesundheit! Institute is known as the first “silly” hospital in history, where foolishness is embraced even in the most profound of situations. In 1979, Dr. Adam’s became the full-time Gesundheit! fundraiser; and, in 1980, Gesundheit! bought 317 acres of wooded mountain in West Virginia. A small farmhouse, a large barn and several outbuildings came with the property. Dr. Adams now publicly promotes the idea of building a Gesundheit! hospital based on sustaining joyful service.
“Though it is our dear intention to build our envisioned hospital, we have yet to begin any hospital construction,” he said. “We will not see patients or offer health care on the land in West Virginia until we have finished Phases I and II of our building.”
Dr. Adams is proud that joyfulness is now a regular presence in hospitals on every continent. He has taken clowns to all around the world, and his message of joy and fun is now part of the medical dialog around the world.
“Care for one another,” he said. “It is heavenly to care for people.”
For more information, visit:
www.patchadams.org.
