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"The Laugh Doctor"The Laugh Doctor's Background
The Laugh Doctor, Clifford C. Kuhn, M.D., is a psychiatrist, medical school professor, comedian, professional speaker, counselor, and a personal consultant who helps individuals and groups enhance performance, productivity and health by creating more fun. Dr. Kuhn’s clinical focus is in the field of mind/body medicine. Decades of work with chronically ill patients and their families taught him to appreciate the healing power of humor. Determined to learn first hand what makes people laugh and how those mechanisms could be transferred to a clinical setting, he took leave from his university position in 1991 and performed in comedy clubs across the United States. You May Have Seen Him... In 1995, Dr. Kuhn teamed up with famed comedian Jerry Lewis to create “The Jerry Lewis Laughter and Healing Seminar with Dr. Clifford Kuhn,” which the two have presented at dozens of medical schools and universities across the nation. As a physician/comedian, Dr. Kuhn has attracted national media attention. This has led to appearances on Entertainment Tonight, WGN-Chicago, CBS Overnight, The Learning Channel, The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and CNN, and press articles in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, Lear's Connection, The New Yorker and The AARP Bulletin.
He has been recognized and lauded by his peers in publications like Psychiatric News, Psychiatric Times, Hippocrates, Clinical Psychiatric News, The Journal of Nursing Jocularity, Humor and Health Journal and The Journal of Cancer Education.
Dr. Kuhn is a professional member of the National Speakers Association, whose Kentucky Chapter selected him Member of the Year for 1999.
Dr. Kuhn's Medical Background
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Clifford Kuhn graduated from Ursinus College and Jefferson Medical College, before receiving his psychiatric training at the University of Michigan. He has held his current medical school faculty position since 1974 and has through the years served as Chief of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Director of Residency Training and Associate Chairman of the Psychiatry Department. He is the recipient of many awards and accolades for his accomplishments as an academician and teacher.
How The Laugh Doctor Was Born Dr. Kuhn realized that his patients were doing fine compared to him. They were able to have fun even in the midst of pain, uncertainty, and fear that accompanied their diagnoses. It didn't make sense to him. There was nothing funny about cancer or the other chronic illnesses Dr. Kuhn treated. Yet, his patients were the ones urging Dr. Kuhn to lighten up. He asked them to teach him how - and teach him they did.
Primarily they helped Dr. Kuhn appreciate the difference between having fun and being funny. He used to think they were the same thing. And they helped Dr. Kuhn discover the biggest danger facing, not just his patients, but all of us - seriousness. Through his attempts to rid himself of his seriousness, Dr. Kuhn created his prescription - The Fun Factor. His subsequent work with his patients, his stint as a standup comedian, and his professional speaking and corporate training led him to realize that America is suffering from an epidemic of seriousness. An epidemic requiring drastic steps to cure. Thus as the Laugh Doctor, Dr. Kuhn teaches The Fun Factor, his amazing prescription for fun and success, to individuals, organizations, and corporations across the globe. The Laugh Doctor Is Joined By His Son In the late 1990s, the Laugh Doctor was joined by his son, Gregory. Greg, dubbed Laugh Doctor Junior, is also an ardent proponent of The Fun Factor and has been using the Laugh Doctor's prescription as an effective leader within the Jefferson County (KY) Public School System since 1993.
Once a victim of seriousness himself, Greg has used The Fun Factor to secure a wonderful life of his dreams. Greg has three wonderful sons and is an assistant principal at Louisville's nationally recognized duPont Manual High School. Greg assists the Laugh Doctor by compiling, editing, and producing the Laugh Doctor's newsletter, The Fun Times, and this website. The Dynamic Duo Fight Seriousness 24-7! The Laugh Doctor, Clifford Kuhn, M.D., and his son, Greg, are two lucky men. Not only do they get to spend time collaborating, but they are also best friends to boot! They relish the time spent together having fun while they work to spread Dr. Kuhn's prescription, The Fun Factor, to as wide an audience as possible. The mutual love and admiration they have for each other is evident to even the most casual observer; you might say they are each other's biggest fans! Taking themselves less seriously, Cliff and Greg Kuhn are now free to be happier and more effective than ever. They are no longer imprisoned by their perfectionism, fear, and seriousness. Having been given such a gift, Dr. Kuhn and his son have no choice but to pass it along to others.
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