Day in the Life With the Red Nose Docs: Bringing Joy to Recovery

Their playful gestures and gentle humor open a doorway to relief, reminding patients that healing is not only physical but emotional. Through shared laughter and small moments of joy, these hospital clowns—known as Red Nose Docs—help transform clinical spaces into places of connection, easing recovery by lifting spirits when it’s needed most.

In our latest Day in the Life photo essay, we visit NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem to see how Red Nose Docs have been playing an important role in patient recovery for almost 30 years.

All photos taken by Roland Pugh, MA, Multimedia Producer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Central Office. Produced and written by Mario D. Smith, MPH, Director, Communications & Marketing, NYC Health + Hospitals/Central Office.

Just Julie & Sandro

Getting into character

“Red Nose Docs do not wear full clown attire; they are typically partially recognizable. This reduces some of the anxiety that full make-up clowns can cause. Our Red Nose Docs are dressed in a way which makes them relatable to our patients and staff and their energy and personality can brighten moods in an instant.” -Ivana Man, MA, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem

“I usually do yoga and a little meditation before my rounds as a way to ground myself, so that when I arrive, I can let the energy explode in my character as a Red Nose Doc.” -Julie Pasqual (Dr. Ima Confused)

Spreading holiday cheer

During the holiday season, Red Nose Docs are an integral part of festivities and bring cheer to the Harlem Hospital community.

A True Medical Home

 “Coming in and experiencing the screams, shouts and sounds of a hospital can be scary for kids. Seeing and interacting with the clowns allows the parents and staff to relax which in turn allows the kids to relax, and it makes a world of difference in getting them to receive care. These moments when the clowns are acting silly and blowing bubbles provides an important escape for our young patients.” -Dr. Ben R. Aubey, Attending Physician, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem

“I can save a lung, but I can’t save the spirit—that’s what the clowns do. If we can bring grace and kindness and smiles to the care experience, it makes up for all the shortcomings of the four walls; the hospital becomes a true medical home.” -Dr. Ben R. Aubey, Attending Physician, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem

Red Nose Docs are part of Healthy Humor, a national, nonprofit arts organization whose professional performers create moments of joy, wonder, laughter, and comfort for hospitalized children and all others who are most in need. Red Nose Docs serve more than 600,000 kids and families at 15 partner hospitals across the country.  They were originally part of the Big Apple Circus’ Clown Care Unit which became the Red Nose Docs.

“The Red Nose Docs are part of our family. They have deep connections within our community. People who were patients themselves at Harlem Hospital come back with their own children and ask for the clowns. Patients’ admissions may be short with limited interactions with the clowns, but they remember the experience so profoundly that as adults they ask for the clowns to bring joy to their own children, so you can just see the deep impact they have.” Ivana Man, MA, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.

As part of the health care team, Red Nose Docs are required to follow hand hygiene and infection prevention protocols and other safety measures just like a doctor or nurse.

“The clowns bring joy for sure and it puts us both in a better mood. They have good energy and spirit and brighten our day!” -Jennifer Marshall, mother of pediatric patient.

“We really didn’t want to be bothered, but the moment they showed up our attitudes just got better and we felt relaxed.” -Jennifer Marshall, mother.

“Kids do have the nowness…can be in the moment…can play along and it speaks to their amazing resiliency and shows how adaptable they are…and if you can tap into that, it truly promotes healing.” -Julie Pasqual (Dr. Ima Confused)

“Our clowns are really great at reading the room. They know how to modify their interactions to suit the patient in the moment to promote the healing process.” -Ivana Man, MA, CCLS, Child Life Specialist.

“This work renews our understanding of human resiliency; our ability to endure. It allows us to see the patient and not the diagnosis.” -Sandro Isaack (Dr. Kapluft)

“This work as Dr. Kapluft was something I thought I was missing, but it has now become something I cannot live without.” -Sandro Isaack (Dr. Kapluft)

“Sometimes you have to “take the nose down”. This is not a literal meaning, but speaks to getting out of character to simply be present and available for the patient. Sensitivities are important. Also, having the cultural intelligence to provide support is also very important because it is integral to how we are received by patients and their families—especially when you consider religious beliefs and social norms around gender, attire and communication.” -Julie Pasqual (Dr. Ima Confused)

Red Nose Docs are at Harlem Hospital every Tuesday and Thursday for five hours. Approximately 18 Red Nose Docs rotate between hospitals in the region and form different partner combinations, but there is always one Supervising Doc at Harlem Hospital for example—in this case, Dr. Ima Confused (Julie Pasqual). Docs are required to periodically pass tests and take training to receive ID and clearance to access clinical areas. To learn more about Red Nose Docs, visit https://www.healthyhumorinc.org/.