- Patch Adams
Infobox Person
name = Hunter "Patch" Adams
caption = Adams inAnaheim, California , May 15, 2008
birth_date = birth date and age|1945|05|28
birth_place =Washington, D.C. , U.S.A.Dr. Hunter Campbell "Patch" Adams, M.D. (born
May 28 ,1945 inWashington, D.C. ) is an American medicalphysician , social activist, citizendiplomat , professionalclown , performer, andauthor . He founded theGesundheit! Institute in 1972. Each year he organizes a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns, to bring hope and joy toorphan s, patients, and the people. In 1998 he also visited Bosnia, one of the Balkan Peninsula countries torn apart by the war that started after the break-up of Yugoslavia.His life was the template for the plot of the
film "Patch Adams", starringRobin Williams . Adams is currently based inArlington, Virginia , where he promotes a different health care model (i.e. one not funded by insurance policies) in collaboration with the institute.Early career
After attending Wakefield High School in 1963, Patch Adams completed pre-med coursework at the
George Washington University . He began medical school without an undergraduate degree, and earned hisDoctor of Medicine degree at theMedical College of Virginia , Health Sciences Division ofVirginia Commonwealth University in 1973. In the late 60s, one of his closest friends (not his girlfriend as seen in the movie) was murdered. Convinced of the powerful connection between environment andwellness , he believes thehealth of an individual cannot be separated from the health of the family, community, and the world. While working in an adolescent clinic at MCV, in his final year of med school, he met Linda Edquist, a volunteer in the clinic and student at VCU. Soon after graduation, Patch, Linda, and friends founded theGesundheit! Institute (originally known to many as the Zanies), which ran as a free community hospital for 12 years. He and Linda later had two children and separated in 1997. The elder, Atomic Zagnut Adams, was given a name indicative of Patch and his close friend Leo's personal laugh with life. His younger son's name is Lars Zig Edquist Adams.Gesundheit! Institute
A revamped
Gesundheit! Institute , envisioned as a free, full-scalehospital andhealth care eco-community , is planned on convert|316|acre|km2 inPocahontas County, West Virginia . Its goal is to integrate a traditional hospital withalternative medicine --acupuncture ,homeopathy , etc. Care will combineintegrative medicine withperforming arts , crafts, nature,agriculture , andrecreation . The West Virginia location accepts seasonal volunteers through the website. The new hospital has not been built as Patch continues to seek funding. The current caretaker staff at the West Virginia land is actively developing educational programs in sustainable systems design targeted to medical students, university alternative break groups, and the general public. Several videos and books have also been produced including Patch Adams.Since the 1990s Adams has supported [http://www.patchadams.org/links/] the
Ithaca Health Alliance (IHA), founded as theIthaca Health Fund (IHF) byPaul Glover . In January 2006 IHA launched theIthaca Free Clinic , bringing to life key aspects of Adams' vision. Patch Adams has also given strong praise to " [http://www.healthdemocracy.org/book.html Health Democracy] ", Glover's book written and published the same year.In October 2007, Patch Adams and the Gesundheit Board unveiled its campaign to raise $1 million towards building a Teaching Center and Clinic on its land in West Virginia. The Center and Clinic will enable Gesundheit to see patients and teach health care design.
Patch Adams was recently interviewed by Greater Good magazine,
Greater Good Science Center . In this interview, Adams urges medical students to develop compassionate connections with their patients. His prescription for this kind of care relies on humor and play, which he sees as essential to physical and emotional health. Ultimately, Adams wants theGesundheit! Institute to open a 40-bed hospital in rural West Virginia that offers free, holistic care to anyone who wants it.He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award on January 29. 1997. [ [http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List ] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.patchadams.org/home.htm Patch Adams official website]
* [http://www.holisticworld.org Holistic World.org] - Holistic World Expo
* [http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=5134 Adams brings his take on state of medicine to students] - Article on the speech that included the controversial statements
* [http://www.mathijsschaap.nl/Jezusfan/patchadams_eng.htm Joy to the world! (Interview with Patch Adams)]
* [http://www.copatch.com/ COPATCH- Brazilian Group that Organizes Patch's trips to Brazil]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4517809180274753735 Google video "Roda Viva" Brazilian t.v. interview. (Patch speaks after several minutes.)(1:hr 18:min.)]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1927089392713615246 Google video "Conferenza con Patch Adams a Reggio Emilia" (1:00:12)]
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