PSIHOLOGIJA USPJEHA Deniza Drusany

Guest Deniza DrusaniHosted by Tanja PuretaMay 3, 2026

Deniza Drusani

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

The idea of a 'clown doctor' might sound counter-intuitive, a playful distraction from the gravity of illness. But for Deniza Drusani, Executive Director of Crveni nosovi klaunovidoktori, the work is a highly skilled, psychologically informed intervention. Her organization brings professional artists into hospitals, elderly care homes, and crisis zones, not merely to entertain, but to meet patients and their families in their most vulnerable moments. It's an approach that validates the full spectrum of human emotion, including sadness and fear, using humor and art as pathways to resilience. Drusani’s perspective reveals how deeply considered emotional support can become an integral, measurable part of care, transforming the experience of illness for thousands.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

The very first clown doctor, Michael Christiansen, began his work after his dying brother gave him a small medical case, suggesting it might suit his clown character. Sometimes, the most impactful ideas arise not from grand plans, but from deeply personal, unexpected moments that reveal a new purpose for existing skills.

Many assume the goal is always laughter, but Deniza Drusani insists "laughter isn't always the cure; sometimes tears are what we need." The most effective emotional support acknowledges and facilitates the full spectrum of human feeling, rather than pushing for a singular, positive emotion.

The "clown doctors" are not medical professionals, but highly trained artists who complete an extensive curriculum covering everything from performance skills and clown philosophy to psychology, communication, and hospital protocols. Their unique impact stems from this specialized blend of artistic mastery and contextual understanding, rather than medical credentials.

While the focus is on children, Deniza Drusani notes that parents are "great beneficiaries" because a child cannot be well if their parent is struggling. Supporting the emotional resilience of a child's primary caregiver is often as essential as direct patient interaction, creating a calmer environment for everyone.

Studies on their "Intense Smile" program, which supports children before painful procedures or surgery, show that the presence of clown doctors reduces anxiety and stress. The ability to send a child "with a smile on their journey" to the operating room demonstrates that emotional support can be a measurable, non-pharmacological intervention.

In countries like the UK and Scandinavia, "art on prescription" is already a recognized practice, where activities like singing might be prescribed for conditions such as postpartum depression. This shows how integrating arts and culture can become a formal, therapeutic component of a holistic healthcare system.

When a clown duo enters a room, they must "in that one second assess what they're going to do," adapting their mini-performance to the children, parents, and overall mood present. The most effective interventions in sensitive environments demand fluid, real-time improvisation and a deep read of the individual situation, rather than a fixed script.

Crveni nosovi now serves 18 institutions, covering 124 children's wards, 12 elderly homes, crisis areas, and developing programs for children with autism. The power of a specialized, human-centered approach grows by diversifying its application across a broad spectrum of vulnerable populations, extending its reach far beyond its initial scope.

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