Blogs

What does it mean to be a doctor? What is asked of me to be human?

I have always been a free doctor. I hunger to care for others. In these 28 years since our hospital closed (in order to focus on building a fully modern hospital, at 10% of the cost), I've been on the road 7,000 days telling all audiences to write me if I can be of help. I need to care in order to be human. I chose to close our primitive facility in order to address the worst disease of the modern era, malignant greed, by taking the most expensive thing in our country and giving it away for free.

There are few pleasures in my life like helping a friend fulfill a dream. On this year's 28th annual Russia clown tour I had the pleasure of experiencing one of the sweetest examples of this that I can remember.

Thinking about a vacation? Thinking about democracy? Go to Wall Street!! In New York and in your town. This is the exercise, diet, and meditation for the wellness of the people, the "We". Talk about it, study why it is the symbolic act calling for ending the vulgar act of greed of the "I" (me, me, mine) for the uniting of all humans and all living things in the nest of the "We". Together, united as Team Humanity, we can solve our problems for universal well-being. No enemies, no "They". I love this image of the 99%, it is so inclusive.

Here are three new ideas for clown trips with a purpose. If you're interested, contact kate@patchadams.org.

Gesundheit! Continues Volunteer Community Development Belen Project 2011 in the Peruvian Amazon John Glick, MD, Director, Gesundheit Global Outreach Aug 26, 2011 120 clowns, ages 15-72, from 14 countries gathered in Iquitos, Peru (the world’s largest city unreachable by road, near the headwaters of the Amazon river)for the 6th Annual Belen Project August 9-22, 2011.

Three clown trips in one month! This month I worked for love. Travel! It started in Champaign, Illinois, when my flight to the job in Evansville, Indiana was delayed. I’d have to rush a five hour cab ride. Bruce from Evansville offered to fly up in his Cessna two-seater to fly me to Evansville. Really fun. Thanks, Bruce! Saved the day.

Moving and building. Moved…still building…. Right after moving, I was on the road for one month that including a stop at Camp Winnarainbow for my 18th year of session B. It is so rejuvenating to be in a village of 7- to 14-year-olds for 2 weeks. It gives me life. Thanks, friends!

Then met up with Zag (oldest son) and Jessica and the Hammerschlags, presenting at the Oregon Country Fair for 3 days in Eugene. I love being around that many people collectively caring for each other (thousands).

It all began in lust and optimism. I've been courting Susan Parenti for many years long distance. She is such a humdinger that any time with her beats all other options. Each of us have been creating idealistic radical social change projects (our hospital and her School for Designing a Society) for almost 40 years, I in Arlington, VA when I'm not traveling, and she in Urbana, Illinois. So we would get together only for a little part of the year. That's the lust. Here comes the optimism: In our 41st year, we said, "we will put our first building under roof", even if we have to borrow.

I just finished a job in Brindisi, Italy for clowns and health professionals titled: “Corporate Social responsibility: The hospital clown as an example of excellence.” I used it as a chance to address some concerns I have about where hospital clowning has gone since we introduced it 40 years ago. I don’t think clowning in hospitals is a therapy (clown therapy, laughter, or smile therapy.) I think it is attempting to create a healthy humanist environment (happy, funny, loving, cooperative, creative, and thoughtful) in a hospital, which is now unhealthy for patient and care-giver alike.

Friends:

Yesterday, I heard that our bank was going to give enough of a line of credit for us to put our first big building under roof. What a thrilling feeling! Building! Once the first two buildings are built I can move to West Virginia and work there.