Our mission is to help alleviate the stress and isolation of hospitalized children and their families through the healing art of humor, and to promote laughter and play as vital components of health and well-being. Room Circus employs professional physical comedians skilled in improvisation, music, circus and variety arts, who make rounds twice a week to inpatient and outpatient areas of Seattle Children's Hospital.The effects of laughter on mental and physical health are well documented. Studies show that medical clowning has many benefits, among them reducing anxiety in pre-operative pediatric patients."You helped me be much less anxious before my surgery. Thank you!" --14-year-old girl patient"Not only did you help her be less anxious before surgery, you're her favorite thing in the entire hospital!" -- her mother