Dr. Patch Adam's Inspirational Message

[Lorenzo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgKvGNsDZv4#ws

[Lorenzo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SARHCS8DRJE#ws

[islander]

[Patch] Adams urges medical students to develop compassionate connections with their patients.  His prescription for this kind of care relies on humor and play, which he sees as essential to physical and emotional health.  Ultimately, Adams wants the Gesundheit! Institute to open a 40-bed hospital in rural West Virginia that offers free, holistic care to anyone who wants it.

Adams was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award on January 29, 1997. (wikipedia)

[islander]

Patch Adams the movie:



The 1998 film Patch Adams was based on Adams' life and views on medicine.  Adams has criticized the film, saying it eschewed an accurate representation of his beliefs in favor of commercial viability.  He said that out of all aspects of his life and activism, the film portrayed him merely as a funny doctor.  Patch Adams also said of Robin Williams in an interview, "He made $21 million for four months of pretending to be me, in a very simplistic version, and did not give $10 to my free hospital.  Patch Adams, the person, would have, if I had Robin's money, given all $21 million to a free hospital in a country where 80 million cannot get care."

However, in another interview, Adams did clarify that he did not hate Williams, and Williams has actively supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for several years.

As a speaker, Dr. Adams travels around the globe lecturing about his medicine methods. (wikipedia)