Patch Adams

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.