Patch Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patch Adams
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Adams in 2009
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| Born |
Hunter Doherty Adams
May 28, 1945 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | Virginia Commonwealth University (MD) |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Linda Edquist
(m. 1975; div. 1998)Susan Parenti
(m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams (born May 28, 1945) is an American doctor, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. He is famous for his unique approach to medicine, focusing on humor and compassion. In 1989, he started the Gesundheit! Institute, a non-profit organization. Each year, he organizes volunteers from around the world. These volunteers dress as clowns to bring joy and laughter to children and patients in different countries.
Patch Adams lives in Urbana, Illinois. Through his institute, he promotes a different way of thinking about healthcare. He believes that care should be free and not depend on health insurance.
Early Life and Education
Patch Adams was born on May 28, 1945, in Washington, D.C.. His father was an officer in the United States Army. When Patch was 16, his father passed away while serving in West Germany. After this, Patch moved back to the United States with his mother and brother.
Adams has shared that when he returned, he faced unfair treatment and bullying. This made him very unhappy. After a difficult period, he decided to dedicate his life to making a positive change in the world.
He finished high school in 1963. He then studied at George Washington University before going to medical school. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971. During his studies, a close friend was sadly killed by a patient. This event made Patch believe strongly that a person's health is connected to their family, community, and the world around them.
The Gesundheit! Institute
| Founded | 1989 |
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| Founder | Hunter "Patch" Adams |
| Type | Not-for-profit health care |
| Location |
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| Services | Integrative medicine |
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Key people
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Chair, Cari Brackett, Pharm.D John T. Glick, MD Susan R. Parenti, DMA |
After graduating from medical school, Patch, his wife Linda, and their friends began to develop ideas for the Gesundheit! Institute. From 1971 to 1984, they ran a communal "home" where they explored these ideas. In 1989, the Gesundheit! Institute officially became a non-profit organization.
The institute is located on Adams' rural property in West Virginia. Its main goal is to raise money to build a 44-bed community hospital. This hospital will offer free, holistic care to anyone who needs it. It will also have a teaching facility for 120 staff members, all living together in a community.
The money earned from the 1998 movie about Patch Adams helped build three buildings. These buildings are a farmhouse, a workshop, and a dacha. They are used for workshops and courses offered by the institute. The institute also teaches about how to care for others and offers clowning workshops.
In 1997, Patch Adams received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award. This award recognized his brave efforts to help others.
Since the 1990s, Adams has supported the Ithaca Health Alliance (IHA) in Ithaca, New York. This group started the Ithaca Free Clinic in 2006. The clinic brings to life many of Patch Adams' ideas about free healthcare.
As of 2025, Adams continues to travel and give talks around the world. He has lectured for over 30 years in many countries. He shares his message of love, community, and changing society for the better.
Personal Life
Patch Adams met Linda Edquist while he was in medical school. They married in 1975 and had two sons. They later divorced in 1998. In 2010, Adams married Susan Parenti.
In March 2021, Patch Adams had surgery to remove part of his left foot. This was due to a serious infection that caused ongoing problems.
See also
In Spanish: Patch Adams para niños
- Clown Care
- Humor research
