Some might initially wince at the thought of putting their health in the hands of a doctor who opts to wear a clown's nose instead of a surgical mask.
But, that's Dr. Patch Adams -- and he's coming to campus on Sept. 30 to discuss why he does it.
The real-life inspiration for Robin Williams' character in the movie Patch Adams has been invited by the University Honor Council to be the keynote speaker during this year's Integrity Week. The Social Planning and Events Committee's Connaissance branch and the Provost's Spotlight Series are co-hosting the event, which will take place at 7 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium.
Fifteen years ago, Adams developed the Gesundheit Institute -- a free health care facility.
According to a statement on Patch Adams' organization Web site, the Institute is dedicated to "replacing greed and competition with generosity, compassion and interdependence."
"With Patch's profession and what he has done to help out the community, we felt that he would be the best to talk about integrity," University Honor Council Co-Chairman Dan Landsburg said. The College senior added that the charitable Gesundheit Institute "embraces ethical behavior."
From being a bona fide clown to a renowned and respected physician, Adams certainly gives the impression that he is a bit different.
"He's a lunatic," Wharton freshman Mark Friedman said, praising Adams' free spirit. "He seemed to be effective in caring for his patients and not being bound down by rules."
The name "Patch" became well-known to the public after the 1998 flick.
"People who saw the movie will probably be interested" in attending the lecture, College sophomore Josh Leibner said. "Plus, there are a lot of pre-med students at Penn."
First-year graduate student in education Debbie Veetal agreed and said that she thinks interest will be sparked in those who witnessed Williams' impressive portrayal of the doctor.
"I thought the movie was amazing -- I thought what [Adams] did was amazing, and I think it would be really great to hear from the actual person."
Past Integrity Week keynote speakers have included Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward and legal aid Erin Brockovich, but Landsman said that he believes Adams will bring something different to the table.
"I think he'll be a lot of fun -- he has a very interesting personality," he said. "I think he'll talk about something that a lot of people can appreciate."
Among the week's other integrity-promoting events are a panel discussion on Penn's alcohol policy hosted by the Panhellenic and the InterFraternity councils and a debate on current issues in bioethics.
Tickets for the event will be available by lottery held between Sept. 16 and 21 on www.specevents.net.
