HealingWithLaughter

Why "Healing with Laughter"?

Did you know that laughter...

strengthens the immune system
increases the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain
decreases the "distance" between people
increases retention of information
aids in creativity and problem-solving
benefits the bottom line

Humorous, moving and educational, "Healing with Laughter" is the perfect keynote address or breakout session topic for medical professionals, and has been designed for the medical industry. It's also a very effective guest lecture program for medical, nursing and healthcare students.

Some comments on "Healing with Laughter"

“Tom Hofbauer really "hit the mark" as he looked at the need for humor in healthcare! His personal stories made it real. His style and his genuine concern for people surely came through. If you are looking for a entertaining and educational program, give Tom a look. You won't be disappointed."

Diana Waugh - Waugh Consulting, LLC

"I love to laugh with patients / co-workers. Good to be reminded it’s important."

Audience member from a presentation to The Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

"Real life experiences help bring the heartfelt passion to life in your message. I could have listened to more stories and jokes a lot longer."

Attendee from NOGA annual meeting.

Testimonials

Ohio Association of Physician Assistants

Great attitude from someone who knows how to enjoy life. Very fun! Too short!
Very funny and motivating. Awesome.
Absolutely fabulous! Could listen to you for hours!
Great job! It was nice to have a speaker that wasn’t ALL educational.
Fantastic change to the monotony!
Practical information. Down to earth.
His ability to make people laugh.
Great presentation. Good useful information!
Need you to speak at my work. I work with so many grumpy people.
Good reminders of patient care and doing it well. Humorous.
I liked the personalization of the lecture.
Excellent content

Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

16 perfect scores from 35 completed evaluation forms.

Audience evaluation scores are based on a grading scale of 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent).

Speaker's knowledge of material - 3.57
Ability to hold attention - 3.70
Practical nature of content - 3.67
Did you enjoy the presentation -3.61
Overall effectiveness of presentation - 3.61
Would you recommend this presentation - 4.0

Average of all scores - 3.69

Comments

Made me laugh.
I love to laugh with patients / co-workers. Good to be reminded it’s important.
Tips for incorporating humor daily.
Made me laugh.
Laughter.
Stories and pictures.
The information about doctors’ hands on handle and less likely sue the “nice doc”. His use of visuals.
Humor.
Good reminders of patient care and doing it well. Humorous.
Humorous. Engaging.
Vocal. Ability to hold my attention.
I liked the personalization of the lecture.
The comics.
It made me laugh.
I got the message. Personal perspective of experience with doctors & nurses helpful.
Excellent content.
Upbeat. Passionate.
Enjoyable.
Practical information. Down to earth.
Reminder that when your nursing care is good, the patient may tell some people. When your nursing care is bad, the patient will tell lots of people.
His ability to make people laugh.
It was great. Would have less stress at work if everyone found humor.
Used self in humor.
Like it all. Thank you.
Like statement “Smile goes a long way”.
Very enjoyable.
I laughed 'til I cried.
Very well done.
Great presentation. Good useful information!
Need you to speak at my work. I work with so many grumpy people.

Northwest Ohio Gerontological Association

33 perfect scores from 40 completed evaluation forms.

Audience evaluation scores are based on a grading scale of 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent).

Speaker's knowledge of material - 4.10
Ability to hold attention - 4.10
Practical nature of content - 3.98
Did you enjoy the presentation - 4.10
Overall effectiveness of presentation - 4.10
Would you recommend this presentation - 3.90

Average of all scores - 4.03 (That's right... the scores were so high, the average was higher than the scale on the evaluation forms.)

Comments

Made me laugh The ease and the take home message and, of course, the humor.
Great attitude and someone who knows how to enjoy life.
Related it to health care - humor/laughing is good for health. Pertinent to elderly.
Subject covered.
Supported my approach to life most of the time.
Everything. True life experiences.
Great!
Humor. Be positive and laugh. Flow.
Presentation and material.
I LOVE HUMOR!
Great Job!
Emotion.
The humor with Powerpoint! Great presentation.
Kept my interest. Made me laugh.
Honesty and openness about himself.
Real life experiences help bring the heartfelt passion to life in your message.
Humor with funeral home. Yes, it does happen. I work at a cemetery.
Able to hold attention - even through the cheeziness.
Love to laugh!
Fun! Very clear speaking voice.
Funny / personal.
How important humor is.
What I did not like about the presentation:
There was nothing I disliked.
I LOVE HUMOR!
Too short!
Very good!
I agree completely with him. I try to find joy and laughter in everything I do and with all my patients.
Very fun!
Thank you for sharing you family. We also are a family. We put the FUN in funerals.
Excellent.
Very funny and motivating.
Loved it. Thanks.
Awesome.
I love laughing. Thank you for making it happen.
Absolutely fabulous! Could listen to you for hours!
Great job!
Thanks for coming.
Great job! It was nice to have a speaker that wasn’t ALL educational.
Fantastic change to the monotony!
Could have listened to more stories and jokes for a lot longer.
Great presentation. Thank you.
Nice Job. Thank You!

Who is Tom?

Tom Hofbauer is a professional stand-up comedian, speaker and presentation coach who offers funny, insightful, entertaining and informative speeches, workshops and seminars that inform, energize and excite all types of audiences.

Tom's experience in show business helped him craft the presentation programs, seminars and workshops he offers to clients in a variety of fields. He's been working in the entertainment world for almost three decades. He started out as a comedian and spent portions of eight years traveling around the eastern half of the United States. He worked in over 350 clubs, colleges and private venues. (click on www.thomashofbauer.com for more information on Tom's comedy offerings)

Four years were spent in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career. His appearance as a wrestling referee on Saved by the Bell: The College Years in late 1993 seemed to be a promising start to a successful acting career. (It wasn't).

Later, he teamed up with fellow Toledo comedian Mark Zink and started a successful writing career. He and Mark completed several feature film screenplays, a pilot and several episodes for a sit-com. Their first screenplay was well received in Hollywood and although they came close and had two deals offered, a successful deal never concluded.

Tom returned to Toledo where he produced a sketch comedy TV pilot.

His next challenge was to assemble an improvisational comedy troupe, The Around the Bend Players. This troupe performed for 16 years in the northwest Ohio area with performances at private parties and corporate events. They still perform when asked. You can see clips of the troupe in action (and hire them for your next event) by clicking on www.aroundthebendplayers.com.

While pursuing these creative endeavors, Tom taught improvisation and filmmaking at the fledgling Toledo School for the Arts and an introductory course in visual communications at Bowling Green State University. He still speaks regularly to entrepreneurial studies and film students at BGSU.

In January of 2001, Tom decided that the time was right to produce a film from his original screenplay, In the Company of Strangers. He spent the remainder of that winter finishing his screenplay and searching for financing. In April he held auditions. In May he continued the funding search and on June 20, the camera rolled. Twenty-four shooting days later, he had his first feature in the can. In November of 2001, Tom screened In the Company of Strangers to a sold out black tie crowd at Toledo's Valentine Theater. Nine hundred people attended the screening which raised $20,000 for David's House, an AIDS outreach center in Toledo that was the location for much of the action in the movie.

This film, the story of a young man arrested for his participation in a hate crime and sentenced to 600 hours of community service at an AIDS treatment center, was honored with the top award at six film festivals.

The film won the award for "Best Dramatic Feature Film" at the Telluride IndieFest and the Key West IndieFest. It has also been honored with the "Festival Director's Choice - Gold Medal for Excellence" at the Park City Film Music Festival in Park City, Utah, a "Best Dramatic Feature Film" award at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival and the "Festival Director's Choice Award" at the well-respected Trail Dance Film Festival in Duncan, Oklahoma.

In 2003 Tom teamed up with Cleveland filmmaker Deb Halinski to make a documentary about a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who now runs Ironman Triathlons. This four time award-winning film is called ADDICT.

In 2004, Tom was contacted by LA filmmakers Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt to handle camera operator duties and location production on their 2005 Academy Award-nominated documentary, Twist of Faith.

Today finds Tom focusing on helping healthcare and medical professionals to learn more about the healing powers of laughter.

Tom also works extensively with business executives and associates to help them deliver more effective oral and PowerPoint presentations as a communications coach and trainer.

A presentation about the positive impact of laughter in healthcare.