Clowns from all over the world are heading to Israel for a unique clown convention. Clowns and the therapy they provide has been known for years, but an Israeli program called Dream Doctors has blazed the trail for "professionalizing" clown therapy. Doctors now know that clown therapy is a research-backed healthcare discipline. These scientifically proven theories will be shared at an international congress of medical clowning associations.
Dr. Arthur Eidelman from the pediatric department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has a vision that the same way hospitals hire any therapist, they'll hire medical clowns. Research has found that putting trained clowns on the medical team leads to measurable benefits in pain relief, stress reduction and boosting immunity. Pre-surgical and post-surgical patients treated by medical clowns need less anesthesia before and less pain after the operation.
Dream Doctors work in 18 Israeli hospitals, making a unique contribution to treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. The Magi Foundation foots the bill initially, but as the years go by the hospital's share of the funding increases (until the hospital is paying the clown's entire salary), and the clown therapist isn't an outsider, but a regular staff member. Most of the clowns have a degree from Haifa University, and many have a master's as well. The most important requirement is to have a great heart. Sometimes the best medicine for a sick adult or child, is a good laugh.
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