Israeli Entertainer: Hospitals Should Have Clowns
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- An Israeli medical professional is in Chicago, teaching hospitals here about what he does to help heal patients.
But as WBBM's Regine Schlesinger reports, David Barashi didn't attend medical school, but, rather clown college.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Regine Schlesinger reports
Podcast
Like many doctors, Barashi, known professionally as Dudu the Clown, carries a bag. But instead of a stethoscope and medical instruments, Barashi's contains a bright red nose and weird musical instruments.
Israeli hospitals, Barashi says, employ full-time clowns on their medical staffs.
Their job, he said, is "to create together a fantasy bubble for the children, for the family, and even for the medical staffers."
Barashi says research shows clowning around helps speed a patient's recovery. He says he sees the benefits firsthand.
"It's immediate," Barashi said. "The effect comes immediately."
Barashi is touring Chicago hospitals, telling them about the healing effect of having clowns on staff.
