School for Designing a Society

Health Care Systems Design

Our third conference was bigger than ever!

2007: 146 people in Urbana, IL
2006: 82 people in Harrisonburg, VA
2005: 45 people in Urbana, IL

Resource Page

Original Papers

Position Paper 2007 (.pdf): Re-Designing the Character of the 'Care Actor'
..... by Susan Parenti
Position Paper 2006 (.pdf)
..... by Susan Parenti

Susan Parenti is a composer and health care activist, co-founder of the School for Designing a Society, and core organizer of the Health Care Systems Design project with the Gesundheit Institute.

The Gesundheit! Hospital Project
..... by Patch Adams, M.D.

In this brief essay, Patch Adams describes the history of the experimental free silly hospital, based on care and community, as well as the course of events that led to the worldwide network of projects known today as the Gesundheit Institute.

An excerpt from US Health Care for Activists is available by contacting joelthomas@post.harvard.edu
..... by Joel Thomas

Joel Thomas is a medical student at UW-Madison. He has studied the Cuban health care system, as well as with the School for Designing a Society. Joel will be attending this year's health care system design intensive, and he has been kind to offer an excerpt from a book he's writing: US Health Care for Activists.

Five Recommended Books

1. Gesundheit!
.....by Patch Adams, M.D.

Essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the Gesundheit Institute. A structural proposal for changing the health care system and society based on care, compassion, justice and joy. Also read about the other projects of the Gesundheit Institute.

2. Why Normal Isn't Healthy
.....by Bowen White, M.D.

Bowen has a long history with the Gesundheit Institute and with diagnosing the system. He is one of the featured presenters at the Health Care System Design Intensives, as is his clown persona Dr. Jerko. Read more about Dr. White here.

3. Health Democracy
.....by Paul Glover

Health Democracy is the movement to promote universal health care, preventive/holistic care and public health by starting a national network of member-owned co-op health plans and free clinics. The book is available here.

4. Critical Condition: How Health Care in America Became Big Business and Bad Medicine
.....by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele

5. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World
.....by Tracy Kidder

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