Patch Adams

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4 out of 5

Physician & Clown; Founder of Gesundheit Institute; Inspiration for the Robin Williams Movie "Patch Adams"

Travels From Travels From:
Champaign, IL, USA
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Patch Adams Biography

After graduating from the Medical College of Virginia in 1971, Patch Adams embarked on what would become his life-long endeavor: founding The Gesundheit Institute. The initiative started as a pilot project running from 1971 through 1983, where over 15,000 patients were served in a large 6-bedroom communal home he shared with friends, fellow doctors, and patients. In this environment, friends undertook outside work to sustain the communal model of care, rooted in compassion and mutual assistance. As the pilot phase ended, Adams recognized the necessity to transform his vision of an ideal hospital into a tangible reality.

Adams' commitment to healthcare reform is undiminished after decades of advocacy. He envisions a free hospital that could reduce healthcare costs by 90%, focusing on patient care over profit. His model promotes an anxiety-free environment where doctors and patients connect deeply, treating each other as friends and embracing complementary medical practices rather than rejecting them. Currently, Adams is planning an expansion of the Gesundheit Institute on 310 acres in Pocahontas County, WV, which aims to include a 40-bed hospital and various therapeutic facilities.

Beyond his medical practice, Adams travels extensively, lecturing and performing over 200 days a year worldwide, spreading a message of peace and love. He actively challenges his audiences to foster love and care within themselves, their communities, and globally. Annually, Adams leads various missions with clowns to serve in impoverished communities, war zones, refugee camps, and areas affected by disasters. His unique approach to integrating clowning with medical practice explores the synergy between humor and health, demonstrating that joy, creativity, and laughter are vital to healing. This philosophy has inspired the creation of independent clown groups in 120 countries, each committed to enacting change through compassion and humor.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/23/2024.

Patch Adams Speaking Topics

  • Living a Life of Joy

    Exploring the audacious idea of never having another bad day! Patch discusses how to discover the incredible thrill of choosing to live everyday with joy. The focus of this lecture is life as a choice.

  • The Joy of Caring

    A lecture on the thrill of helping others. This inspirational talk includes a dialogue to explore burnout prevention for caregivers. The focus of this lecture is the magic and the power of care, not only in the patient’s life, but also in the caregiver’s life.

  • What is Your Love Strategy?

    A lecture on the importance of having a strategy for loving yourself, the planet, and others. Patch provides insights into the need for such a strategy and also takes a close look at the conception of love and the theory of strategy. Patch offers his approach and helps the audience design, explore and implement their own love strategy.

  • Medicine for Fun, not Funds

    A lecture on the history, philosophy, and the future of the Gesundheit Institute that includes a deep dialogue with the audience and participants. Patch introduces Gesundheit as an example of medicine for fun, not funds, and helps the audience design, explore, and implement their own dreams.

Patch Adams Videos

  • Patch Adams on "Patch Adams" (1999)
    When people ask me about my thoughts on the film, I was disappointed. Time was compressed, events were jumbled around, and people I've known and...
  • Patch Adams London Human Playing Conference 2018
    Patch Adams London Human Playing Conference 2018. Corinne Cosseron International School of Laughter.
  • Gesundheit Institute: Patch Adams at TEDxUtrechtUniversity
    Patch is both a medical doctor and a clown, but he is also a social activist who has devoted 30 years to changing America's healthcare system, a...

Patch Adams Books

  • House Calls: How We Can All Heal The World One Visit At A Time
    House Calls: How We Can All Heal The World One Visit At A Time
  • Letters to Patch
    Letters to Patch
  • Gesundheit!: Bringing Good Health to You, the Medical System, and Society through Physician Service, Complementary Therapies, Humor, and Joy
    Gesundheit!: Bringing Good Health to You, the Medical System, and Society through Physician Service, Complementary Therapies, Humor, and Joy

FAQs on booking Patch Adams

  • How do I book Patch Adams to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Patch Adams for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Patch Adams, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Patch Adams or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Patch Adams

    Speaking fees for Patch Adams, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Patch Adams are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Patch Adams, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Patch Adams speak about?

    Patch Adams is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Aging, Celebrity, College, Comedy, Entertainers, Government, Health, Healthcare, Inspirational, Medicine, Mental Health, Stress Management, Television & Film, Work-Life Balance.
  • Where does Patch Adams travel from?

    Patch Adams generally travels from Champaign, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Patch Adams’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Patch Adams for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Patch Adams for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Patch Adams or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Patch Adams is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Living a Life of Joy , The Joy of Caring , What is Your Love Strategy? and Medicine for Fun, not Funds. The estimated speaking fee range to book Patch Adams for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Patch Adams generally travels from Champaign, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dr. Mehmet Oz, Loretta LaRoche, Calvin Trillin, Mayim Bialik and Bob Harper. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Patch Adams for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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