Soccer Dad

The best medicine

According to Israel 21c, the University of Haifa has initiated a medical clowning degree program.

Laughter is the best medicine - an old saying, but one that the University of Haifa is taking seriously by introducing Israel's first degree program - and perhaps the only degree in the world - in medical clowning.

"It's a kind of start-up actually," said Herzel Ziyoni about the pilot program being offered by the university's Department. of Theater.

Ziyoni is one of the 19 students in the special, one-year BA degree program, all of whom already practice medical clowning. They belong to a group of 36 medical clowns who call themselves "Dream Doctors." The group, set up four years ago by the Keren Magi Foundation, is now a fixture in 16 Israeli hospitals from Nahariya to Beersheva. The foundation is also paying these students' tuition.

Meir - or Michael - Tulkoff has been doing this for awhile and apparently clowning around for patients isn't just a matter of improving a sick person't frame of mind, but also therapeutic in a very real way.

Prior to doing "his rounds" on a particular children's ward - he divides most of his time between the general, oncology and surgical wards - Tulkoff asks the nurses for a briefing about the patients. That way, he says, he can encourage children who need to strengthen their lungs to blow bubbles or play wind instruments, and he can give those children who need to practice their walking a balloon dog on a balloon leash.

It appears that there's also an organization in Israel, Kedma that maintains a medical clown internship program but it doesn't appear that they award degrees.

KEDMA trains a select group of overseas students to become para medical clown Interns. Inspired by Dr. Patch Adams (who is considered to be the father of clown doctors) this project aims to create a new type of experience for volunteers and patients at hospitals.

Medical clowns use their skills such as magic, balloon sculpting, storytelling and other clowning skills to treat children with doses of fun to help them deal with the range of emotions they may experience while in hospital – fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom. The emphasis is on interaction with the patients and their families, rather than entertainment. Laughter is a “wonder drug” that combat stress, reduces pain by releasing endorphins the body’s natural painkiller, relaxes muscles and boosts the immune system by increasing the level of T cells & lowering serum cortisol levels.

Blogdigger tags: Medical Clowns, Meir Tulkoff, University of Haifa, Kedma.