Who We Are
Wellington Nogueira
2014 IFTF Fellow
Founder, Doctors of Joy
Wellington Nogueira's interests lie in uncovering and sharing knowledge about the relationships between life, joy, clowns, doctors, health care, fools, work, fun, networks and life purpose. It’s about time we add joy to all these complex, intricate life processes. He is a 1986 graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York, where He also studied Clown Theater with John Towsen. Besides working in Theater and Film, he discovered a new form of artistic intervention when he joined The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit and started working as a clown doctor, bringing joy to hospitalized children, their parents and healthcare workers. That experience brought him a new take on every aspect of performance and in 1991 he returned to his native Brazil to start a sister program.
21 years later, Doctors of Joy is considered one of the top Brazilian social organizations, reaching 100% of the Brazilian territory through their variety of programs. Ashoka fellow (Social Entrepreneurs for Social Change) and Avina leader, he also wrote The Book of Second Aid, for children, and The Invisible Side of Life, about his experience as a clown in hospitals. Also writes articles and speaks at events and corporations on topics ranging from the role of joy in life to social entrepreneurship.