Humor and medicine make for healing mix

Tiny, aka senior Ken Remy and founder of UD's Clowns in Medicine, entertains a group of children at a local school in his hometown in New York State.When student members of Clowns in Medicine go on the town--at campus events, in nursing homes, hospitals or day care centers--there's a lot of funny business going on, but there's a serious side as well.

With the motto, "A clown is like aspirin, except a clown works twice as fast," the group lives up to its goal to provide the "best medicine--laughter" and a "holistic approach to well being."

Ken Remy, a senior in the Medical Scholars Program and the University Honors Program, started the group, combining a mission to help others with a sense of fun and clowning. "My parents taught me to give something back to the community, and I've always enjoyed acting and being on stage in high school and in college, and clowning combines all of these," he said.

He first got bitten by the clowning bug when he was 8 years old and won a clowning contest at the Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers Circus. His award was a clown training program--a behind-the-scenes look at clowns as they put on their make-up and costumes and developed their characters, and a chance to be with them as they performed in the circus.

When he came to UD, Remy joined the Num Nums, a church clowning group that has since disbanded. He then hit on the idea of starting Clowns in Medicine.

At first, clowns were drawn from the Medical Scholars Program, but now the group draws students from all over campus.

Clowning is time consuming, and expensive--make up (lots of it), costumes, props, transportation and giveaways--like flowers, stickers and balloons--are among the costs. But, it's worth it, Remy said. He recalled one time a young boy at A.I. du Pont Children's Hospital was refusing his chemotherapy but agreed to continue after a visit from Ken the clown.

Even when he's not in costume, Remy carries the tricks of the trade. "This summer when I was working in the emergency room, I packed a puppet in my bag. When children were admitted, I used the puppet to break the tension and cheer them up, and before long others were asking to borrow it," he recalled.

Eric Dorn, vice president of the group, pointed out that becoming a clown allows a complete change of character. When he fixes on his red nose, applies stubble to his cheeks and chin, dons baggy checkered pants, a rumpled shirt and a crooked, red tie and tops off his costume with a battered top hat--voilà, it's Eric the Hobo, with a personality to match.

Remy is off to medical school next year, but he said he is leaving a strong organization behind. He said that he'd like to bring on the clowns at more campus activities because the funny characters create good feelings and bring on the smiles&endash; and that's what it's all about.

--Sue Moncure

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