Wow! I'm presently between patients and was just surfing thru the Café when I noticed this thread. What a delight to see and hear all of your stories!

I've been a "Ma-z-ician" (Magician/Physician)for over thirty years and have been doing a ton of magic in my office (Internal Medicine/Geriatrics)for my patients over that time. If I'm not too far behind, and the situation is appropriate, at the end of their visit, I'll usually ask whether they'd like to see something fun, (after I'm sure that all their medical issues have been fully addressed). Most often they do! (Some, now, even preemp me and say "Doc, I'm fine; could we get to the cool stuff already.") I really believe that it really enhances our relationship. It seems to level the playing field creating a more relaxed and human atmosphere, making each of them feel special in the process. I think that the most important point is that no one ever feels medically shortchanged and the magic is perceived as the "whipped cream and cherry topping" to the visit. Interestingly enough, I don't beleive that the choice of repertoire matters that much, 'cause the real Magic is not so much in the tricks but in the relationship it creates!

By the way, if any of you are interested, there is a Magic for Medical Professionals conference at Jeff McBrides's Magic and Mystery School every November; and he has developed a specific web site blog for all of us Magic/Medical enthusiasts.

I look forward to discussing our dual passions with all of you and would love to hear how you feel magic may have enhanced your medical approach and vice versa.

Jay Ungar (MD) / Ragnu (the OK)

Nice to hear from you Jay. I heard about your book, but have not seen a copy of it to look through.

To quote Jimmy Buffett, "If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane..." 'Nuff said?

Have any of you have adapted a presentation for any of your tricks to a medical theme?

I've done it with a couple of my pieces which were recently published in MUM - A way to help motivate your smoking patients quit their habit - "My Pledge Pack" in the March 2008 issue; and, in May 2008, "I.C.U.", a medical themed piece using the wonderful "WOW" card changing gimmick by Katsuya Masuda.

If any of you are interested in checking them out and don't have access to MUM I'd be happy to E-mail them to you.

My E-mail is magicju@aol.com.

All my best,

Jay

Cool thread! I'm a transfusion medicine doc at a large blood center. Started doing magic when I was a kid under an old timer in Arkansas named Colonel Seymour. Was away from it for most of my life and have gotten back into in during recent years, cards only, and primarily gambling sleights. I've found this hobby to be very beneficial in both the doctor/patient relationship as well as with the nurses and other healthcare workers I come in contact with on a regular basis. Really does a lot to break the ice and show others how down to earth some of us really are and that we're not just "out-of-touch medical robot-type thingies" (a phrase I once actually heard a patient make in reference to one of her other, presumably less approachable docs) lol.

Yes, Harry Andersons Needle Through arm to demonstrate sterile technique for a presentation I had to do while in nursing school. I got a "B" with a written comment from the instructor stating she felt she wasn't sure the material was appropriate. I took being able to gross out a very experienced RN as a compliment.

Yes, I use magic as part of my patient education talks on a daily basis. Some of the effects include:

- I'll use the "stiff rope" during my discussions on hypertension and for (obviously) erectile dysfunction, the latter also utilizes a Levitra unfolding pen as my magic wand.

- I use sponge balls to discuss lipids (different types of cholesterol) and then demonstrate how treating them makes them disappear.

- I use my color changing knives set to explain how pills dissolve in the stomach (note: my set is actually comprised of pharmacy knives with spatula blade, etc).

- To ease fear of needles, I'll occasionally do needle through balloon.

- To test vision, I'll vary effects: Danny Archer's Vision Test, sponge balls, or coin production/vanishes

I also do lots of magic just for the fun of it - I've performed signed card to prostate as well as a similar piece that I call "at your cervix" (use your imagination here). My rooms are filled with magic and props with which I use to improvise as the mood strikes me. [You've seen what my exam room looks like in a previous post.] I also perform a lot of card/bar magic effects including a variation of "The Pulse" that uses a center peek followed by me "diagnosing" their card by checking their pulse. I'll type up my patter for this at sometime in the near future - it's fun and mystifies everyone!

What an impressive list of material! I'd be willing to bet that your patients love you!

Now, a tough question, has the magic ever backfired on any of you or created an uncomfortable situation in the office?

It's happened a few times to me over the years; either someone felt it was inappropriate in a "medical setting", they were delayed for an appointment or for religious reasons "magic" was taboo. I apologized and moved on, but it really made me realize that I have to be especially careful about who to do this stuff for. Now, when I'm unsure, either I'll pass on performing or ask whether they have the time and would like to see something fun.

Jay

I have had co-workers that thought it was unprofessional or in appropriate.
They were, however, in my opinion to put it mildly, "quirky' people. People I would not want treating any of my family.

Only once and that was when I was participating in a mass athletic physical screening for a local college. Most of the kids had been waiting in line for 1-2 hours before they made it to the doctors' stations. To "wake them up" for the physical, I'd check their eyes real quick with a 10 count sponge ball routine, using blue spongeballs. I would place one blue(sponge) ball in each of their hands and ask them to keep their eyes on my balls... - well, you get the idea. Only got one complaint out of over 100 physicals (from a 19 y.o. girl). Note, I do this type of routine several times a day for my patients of all ages (altering my language accordingly) and have never had a complaint. In fact, its one of my more popular routines as they tell their friends to come see me and ask if they can hold my balls!

Doc, you are soooo naughty. Bob really has had a (profound) affect on you...lol!

In all my twenty plus years working in (extreemly sensitive) hospital and psychiatric centers, I only have had ONE issue.

In a half-way house for adults, I once said..."I do this trick all over the world and it drives people crazy trying to figure it out."


I got a letter telling me that the word crazy was a no-no!

other than that - it's all been good.

You have no idea, Justin! [Steve Youell calls me the "Lenny Bruce of Magic"]

Today reminded me of another venue for medicinal magic - the house call. I made two of them today, each to seniors that have a difficult time getting about. The first call was pretty much a straight house call with some magic thrown in at the end. The second one, however, was for one of my hospice patients and his wife. The visit was 30 minutes of their own private fun close-up show. Better than all of the chemotx in the world, in my opinion...

Posted: Jan 8, 2009 7:28pm
Quote:


The second one, however, was for one of my hospice patients and his wife. The visit was 30 minutes of their own private fun close-up show. Better than all of the chemotx in the world, in my opinion...



As an FYI for all of you docs out there, Medicare only covers 10 minutes of close-up maximum...

[For the record, I did NOT charge for the visit.]

Hi all,
I'm a Neurologist in Portland and I really enjoyed reading all of your experiences with magic and medicine. I've only been a magician for the past three years, but I was lucky enough to attend McBrides course two years ago. It was a great opportunity and I enjoyed meeting other docs with same hobby. Interestingly there was only one pediatrician in the group. Ragnu was one of the instructors. (Hi Jay).

I love doing rubber band magic for my patients. I wear a wrist full of bands and it often provokes questions from both patients and nurses. "what are those for?". Let me show you. Do you like magic?

Welcome mddkf!

A fun effect for a neurologist to perform on patients is Bob Elliott's Sensory Control. Bob employs a large coin and demonstrates how touching certain parts of the body can effect loss of sensation so that the spectator is unable to feel the large coin touching their palm. Michael Ammar teaches this on vol 2 of his Easy Money Miracles DVD. I have a copy of Bob performing (and teaching) this during a lecture from the early 1990's. It's a large (420 MB file) so I'll have to find a way to upload it for viewing. It's a great/fun effect!

jeff in san diego

Posted: Jan 24, 2009 12:43am
Well, can't get this large file to load on my web site for some reason. If you'd like to see Bob Elliott teaching his great and funny sensory control, PM your address to me and I'll burn a copy to CD for you.

jeff in san diego

OK, I managed to get the Bob Elliott video uploaded. It's a large (approx 140 MB) file of Bob teaching his Big Coin Pulse Trick (what Michael Ammar calls Bob Elliott's Sensory Control). It was recorded in the early 1990's. It's a fun routine that you should all try!

Watch it here: http://www.medicine-in-motion.com/Files/......tine.mpg

I love the big coins. I use a jumbo penny a lot in my pedi close up, and kids go wild when they see it appear. It gets handled alot. Another great bit of business I've used is Bizzaro's "Foiled Again" it really adds a lot to the jumbo coin routine.

On the subject of smoking, a quick routine for your patients: http://www.medicine-in-motion.com/Files/Fun/cig%20vanish.mpg

[I suppose that one could work in cigarette through quarter in midst of routine, but my "fake" cigarette is too big for my coin. You can buy these fake cigarettes at Spencer Gifts - they emit smoke when you blow through them!]

Nice Vanish there Doc! Say have you ever done any work with Thimbles?..I am gonna jump in and try to learn them. I'm always on the lookout for good magic I can produce from my scrub pockets.

Thanks for the compliment. I picked up thimbles and Shoot Ogawa's DVD on the subject after attending one of his lectures. Did some work with it initially, but too many other distractions for a while. They're on my "to do" list.... (along with half a zillion other things!)

Shoot is a very good teacher - his DVD's on thimbles and on the Ninja Rings are excellent. Check them out if you've not seen them (or try to catch him perform or at a lecture). He'll be in Carlsbad, CA on Sat Feb 7th if any locals are interested.

I am just on fire for manipulation here lately..I have Mogars thimble DVD and Digital effects book, and am working the thimble drills. My card handlings are steadily improving finally, thanks to much help from good magic friends. My mitts have never been more active, as I am constantly working either coins, cards, thimbles or balls. I don't think I'm gonna get much golf in this year.

That's the way to do it - always keep something in your pockets to play with as the day goes along. Practice muscle passes, for example, when you have downtime or do your normal everyday tasks while palming a coin (David Roth and others' idea).