shares the 'practice of medicine is the practice of compassion' during campus visit
The internationally-known Patch Adams visited campus in September. Adams, a medical doctor, clown, and social activist, made four presentations during his visit鈥攖hree for students during the day that drew more than 600 in total, and an evening performance that was open to the public and drew an audience of more than 475.
聽Adams is the founder and director of the Virginia-based Gesundheit Institute, a holistic medical community that has provided free medical care to its patients since 1971, and he is widely known for a movie made about his life that was titled 鈥淧atch Adams鈥� starring Robin Williams. Adams鈥檚 recent visit to campus was arranged by Alan Pasternak, psychologist and coordinator for Counseling & Psychological Services at 海角社区CI.
鈥淚 was trying to take an opportunity to bring someone to campus who could interact with as many students as possible, and to invite members of the community to share this experience,鈥� Pasternak said. Adams鈥檚 visit coincided with a kick-off event for 海角社区CI鈥檚 Nursing Program, and he also spoke briefly at that event.
At each of his presentations Adams spoke about his life experiences that led him to become a doctor and ultimately a social activist. He also showed the audience members at his presentations his comic side. With his pants hiked-up well above his waist, he explained that the trick is 鈥渕aking funny鈥� and humor is a force to get people to do anything.
鈥淚f you only have a week to live, I鈥檓 your man. I鈥檓 fun to die with,鈥� he said to audience members at the evening event as the crowd exploded with laughter.聽聽
Adams鈥檚 presentations were charged with emotions and during his evening presentation he showed portions of a movie that was filmed while he and others were on a 鈥榗lowning trip鈥� to a children鈥檚 hospital in Afghanistan where there was no food or medication available.
鈥淢y job is to go in there and bring love to that situation鈥� he told the audience. 鈥淭he practice of medicine is the practice of compassion.鈥�
Adams is the author of 鈥淕esundheit!鈥� and 鈥淗ouse Calls.鈥�