On September 4th, An-Najah University organized a lecture titled “Laughter Therapy” which was delivered by the internationally recognized inventor of this method, Dr. Patch Adams from the United States. Attendees included students and interested people.

Adams is an American physician, social activist, citizen diplomat and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971. Each year he organizes a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns in an effort to bring humor to orphans, patients and other people.

Adams first spoke about his childhood which he described as difficult. His father, an officer in the United States Army, had fought in Korea, and died while stationed in Germany when Adams was still a teenager. After his father's death, Adams returned to the United States with his mother and brother. Upon his return, Adams has stated that he encountered institutional injustice which made him a target for bullies at school.

Moreover, he started explaining his approach to deal with patients especially children and how to employ humor and love when interacting with them. He said that in order for him to achieve his goals he had to accomplish two things. The first one was to start serving the world’s nations and people in poor countries, war and conflict regions and to try to provide them with adequate medical attention. In addition to medical treatment, Adams works on entertaining the patients with humor and laughter since this would help raise their morale and enable them to overcome their suffering. The other thing is to live positively no matter what life throws at you.

A collection of videos have been played during the lecture which showed a sample of what Adams and his team of volunteers do around to world to bring happiness and love to people and to try to take their hands towards a better and more enjoyable life.

Dr. Adams along with his team has traveled to more than 70 countries where they tried to make people smile and teach them how to be positive and hopeful about life.

In October 2007, Adams and the Gesundheit Board unveiled its campaign to raise $1 million towards building a Teaching Center and Clinic on its land in West Virginia. The Center and Clinic will enable Gesundheit to see patients and teach health care design.

Adams urges medical students to develop compassionate connections with their patients. His prescription for this kind of care relies on humor and play, which he sees as essential to physical and emotional health. Ultimately, Adams wants the Gesundheit! Institute to open a 40-bed hospital in rural West Virginia that offers free, holistic care to anyone who wants it.

At the end of the meeting, Adams mentioned he hopes that through his efforts and those of his friends and family to bring peace to the world and draw a beautiful smile on the face of children and people around the globe.