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Juanita Hernandez
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Campus News
At 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, the Fant-Ewing Coliseum was already getting full.
The show did not start until 6:30 p.m., but everyone was eager to be there and listen to a great doctor who has changed many lives by giving care and laughter.
Yes, I am talking about Patch Adams, the famous "clown doctor" and subject of the movie "Patch Adams" starring Robin Williams.
"It was an amazing experience to have such a famous and inspirational person and doctor talk to us about his views and experiences," said pharmacy major Regina Jaquess. "We need to start caring more about our community."
Adams has devoted 30 years of his life to changing America's healthcare system. He thinks that giving, caring and happiness can make the world healthier.
He started a free clinic in Virginia that remained open for 12 years and provided medical care to anyone who needed it.
Members of the clinic cared for 15,000 patients. The workers tended to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
After this experience, Adams founded the Gesundheit Institute. "Gesundheit" is German for good health.
Adams plans to expand upon his dream by building a holistic hospital based on his vision of what healthcare should be like.
The doctors and practitioners will work for $300 a month without the protection of malpractice insurance.
"We love our patients and our patients love us," Adams said. "You don't sue someone you love."
The principle is based on a trust between patients and caregivers.
Adams has traveled the world bestowing care and happiness. Some of his travels include visits to Italy, China, Cambodia, Russia, Peru, Argentina and Tibet.
He repeatedly explained to the ULM audience that he has an immense passion for people. He played a video of himself as a clown in Peru entertaining a young girl.
At the beginning of the video she seems very unhappy, but by the end the girl is smiling and saying "hi" to the camera.
"It was really an emotional experience to see the change in the girl's attitude, just from laughing," said Natallia Berdnikava, a management senior.
The show did not start until 6:30 p.m., but everyone was eager to be there and listen to a great doctor who has changed many lives by giving care and laughter.
Yes, I am talking about Patch Adams, the famous "clown doctor" and subject of the movie "Patch Adams" starring Robin Williams.
"It was an amazing experience to have such a famous and inspirational person and doctor talk to us about his views and experiences," said pharmacy major Regina Jaquess. "We need to start caring more about our community."
Adams has devoted 30 years of his life to changing America's healthcare system. He thinks that giving, caring and happiness can make the world healthier.
He started a free clinic in Virginia that remained open for 12 years and provided medical care to anyone who needed it.
Members of the clinic cared for 15,000 patients. The workers tended to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
After this experience, Adams founded the Gesundheit Institute. "Gesundheit" is German for good health.
Adams plans to expand upon his dream by building a holistic hospital based on his vision of what healthcare should be like.
The doctors and practitioners will work for $300 a month without the protection of malpractice insurance.
"We love our patients and our patients love us," Adams said. "You don't sue someone you love."
The principle is based on a trust between patients and caregivers.
Adams has traveled the world bestowing care and happiness. Some of his travels include visits to Italy, China, Cambodia, Russia, Peru, Argentina and Tibet.
He repeatedly explained to the ULM audience that he has an immense passion for people. He played a video of himself as a clown in Peru entertaining a young girl.
At the beginning of the video she seems very unhappy, but by the end the girl is smiling and saying "hi" to the camera.
"It was really an emotional experience to see the change in the girl's attitude, just from laughing," said Natallia Berdnikava, a management senior.
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