Big Apple Circus Clown Care Launches at Hasbro Children’s Hospital
(posted September 12, 2006)
- Clown doctors prescribe laughter as the best medicine for young patients.
Dozens of hospitalized children will meet a new team of “doctors” on Wednesday, September 13, as Hasbro’s Children’s Hospital opens its doors to the Big Apple Clown Care program. The new program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital was made possible by a 3-year grant of $140,000 from Hasbro Children’s Fund, the philanthropic giving arm of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS).
Clown Care clown doctors are professional performers trained by experienced Clown Care staff members. They undergo specialized training for their work in the sensitive hospital environment and work in close partnership with medical staff. During Clown Rounds, the “doctors” take intimidating medical jargon to humorous extremes, simplifying complicated medical procedures and easing fear and anxiety in the process. They practice their own highly technical clown medicine, including red-nose transplants and kitty cat-scans. With the addition of Providence, R.I., there are currently Clown Care programs at 18 leading hospitals nationwide.
On Wednesday, Joseph Amaral, MD, president and chief executive officer of Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital, will join Al Verrecchia, Hasbro, Inc.’s chief executive officer, and Andrea Kopel, Big Apple Circus vice president of community programs, to introduce the new team of “clown doctors” to the young patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Afterward, the team will go to the inpatient floors to meet with patients at the bedside.