All joking aside, ever wonder what it takes to become a “real” clown?  What’s behind the decision to put yourself out there, trying to make people laugh, sometimes in the face of very real challenges? Our speaker spoke about her experiences, from the process of becoming a clown, to stories about her hospital work and a demonstration of the job of hospital clown. The program also discussed the research and anecdotal stories that demonstrate the impact of humor on health.

Marilyn Deutsch, Ph.D. has a doctorate in psychology. In addition to her clinical practice, she has developed and taught courses in Health Psychology and Psychology of Disabilities at Temple University. She is a hospital clown trained by The Bumper T Caring Clown Organization. She clowns weekly with adults at Thomas Jefferson Hospital and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and with kids at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.