Dr. Spencer is faculty for Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s Hospital’s “Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room” conference. He presents research and conducts workshops on magic as an anxiolytic distraction technique and a compliment to sedation.
Kevin encourages medical professionals to incorporate simple magic tricks into their practice as a passive approach. Performing a magic trick for a patient can be a valuable distraction that can:
Aid in the reduction of anxiety
Build rapport and trust
Increase environmental mastery
Provide opportunities for choice and autonomy, and
Improve affect and self-concept for children and adolescents.
“I must congratulate you on your presentation in the Anesthesia Update Conference... it was highly entertaining and inspiring. I wish to apply these principles in my practice. I would greatly appreciate your support in learning to do magic tricks.”
“I’m an anesthesiologist at Penn State Health and I really enjoyed your presentation. I would love it if I could use some of these with my pediatric patients! Please send me the link to your materials.”
“Thank you for the outstanding presentation in Boston! My name is Greg Aprilliano. I’m a nurse anesthesiologist and own/operate a mobile anesthesia business here in New Hampshire. I work with pediatric patients in a dental office setting. I currently have a smooth system that typically puts these kiddos at ease quickly. That being said, I would love to incorporate some magic! This would certainly help me with those tougher, more anxious kids. How do I get my hands on your materials?”
“Dr Spencer, Thank you for your great lecture at Harvard Anesthesia update 2024 conference today. I can say it had a magical effect on the audience. I am interested in learning simple magic tricks to gain rapport and decrease preoperative stress for my patients during the short contact with them before the surgery. Could you please send me your information so I can add magic to my practice?”
“Thank you for doing what you do! As a student Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, I had a mentor who used magic in his pre-op routine and he definitely made a difference. I always wanted to do the same. I would like your help in doing this.”