About
David’s Lifetime of Experience Gives Your Audience the Experience of a Lifetime
David Glickman began his career working in the Healthcare Industry. He jokes that he can credit his years working in Healthcare for driving him into comedy.
He then had a successful career as a stand-up comic and as the owner of several comedy clubs. But he found his way back to Healthcare–and has become one of America’s most popular Keynote Speakers and Entertainers specializing in Healthcare Humor.
Of course, that’s the short version. To learn more about David’s journey, GLICK below.
First, David worked in Healthcare….
David Glickman began his career as the Public Relations Director of the American Heart Association of Greater Miami. (At the time, the 4th largest Heart Association in the U.S.)
In his five years in that role, he was responsible for disseminating public health information to the residents of this large and diverse metropolitan area. Much of that information was presented in live appearances and on television.
Although he was not a clinician, David found he was able to quickly master the Heart Association’s key messages. He also discovered if he presented this life-saving information in an entertaining fashion, it was much more likely to “stick” with an audience.
He also was able to use his humor-writing skills to write funny Public Service Announcements for the Heart Association. These were filmed by national comedians, like the Smothers Brothers and others. The Smothers Brothers were impressed at how David could write a very funny script “completely in their voice” and encouraged him to explore his humor-writing talent.
At the same time, David began producing shows for the Heart Association—both for fund-raising and creative programming—and used humor as the main delivery tool for whatever message needed to be shared.
Other local healthcare organizations began to notice David’s humorous presentations and invited him to present programs on their behalf. He found himself increasingly being applauded for his ability to get laughs, albeit for the purposes of specific healthcare agendas. But laughs, nonetheless. It caused a ‘light bulb’ to go off in David’s head. Or perhaps, more accurately, a ‘stage light.’
David’s current on-stage introduction ends with a joke that says, “He can credit his years working in healthcare for driving him into comedy.” Of course, the joke is intimating that the stress of working in healthcare is what pushed him into comedy. And it always gets a laugh. But the truth is actually a little bit different: In his case, it was actually the “laughs” of working in healthcare that drove him into comedy!
He had reached the point where he began to think that he could possibly make a career out of getting laughs from audiences. Laughs that had nothing to do with healthcare.
So David made the difficult decision to walk away from his high-paying and rewarding job at the Heart Association—and see if he had what it takes to become a comedian.
Then he worked in Show Business....
David says that “Show Business” is two distinct words: “Show” and “Business.” He believes to be successful in that world, you must master both.
David had been studying comedians for years and knew what it took to create a unique comedy persona. As he began participating in Open Mic Nights at comedy clubs, he quickly developed an act that allowed him to “stand out” in his “stand up.”
He began to get paid work as a comedian fairly quickly. But it wasn’t enough to make a living. And he knew his continued growth as a comedian relied on regular stage time. David came up with the idea of opening his own comedy club in Miami. Then he could have as much stage time as he wanted every night. And he could potentially make more money as a club owner than strictly as a performer.
David struck a deal with a Howard Johnson hotel near his home to operate a comedy club in their lounge. Using the Public Relations skills he had honed at the Heart Association, he began a grass-roots campaign that began to build a following. The audiences grew from 10 people to 20 people to 50 people…..and within nine months he was selling out most weekend shows of the club’s capacity of 100.
The business grew quickly and he opened several more locations. But as the clubs grew in popularity, David found himself moving far away from the “Show” and more into the “Business.” And it stopped being fun.
He missed being on stage. He always believed his biggest gift was the ability to make an audience laugh. And as he got older, he also missed the idea of the laughs being connected to something larger. Like they had been in the very beginning, when he worked at the Heart Association.
Although this time it was probably an LED bulb—a “Life Empowering Decision.”
As comedy specials became more common on television, attendance at many comedy clubs began to wane. And David’s clubs were no exception. The 21 st century seemed like the perfect time for a big change.
--So he decided to close the clubs.
--He decided to go back to his performing roots.
--And he decided to go back even further, to his ‘first job’ roots in healthcare.
These turned out to be three great decisions...both for David and for his new healthcare audiences around the country.
Then he combined both worlds…. And became a Healthcare Humor Keynote Speaker & Entertainer
What do you get when you cross a very funny comedian with an expert on healthcare?
David Glickman.
Since making the decision to leave the comedy club world behind, David has merged his comedic entertainment skills with his knowledge of healthcare to create a program that provides great value to some of America’s most prestigious healthcare organizations.
Creating a keynote speech that would resonate with audiences took some trial and error. It couldn’t simply be a comedy routine that had some ‘pearls of wisdom’ dropped in. And it couldn’t be a PowerPoint-driven data-filled speech, sprinkled with some really funny lines. It had to be a seamless combination of both comedy and content—one that would leave audiences entertained, engaged, excited, and educated.
While David makes it very clear that he is not a clinician, he also makes it abundantly clear that he has been a keen observer of the healthcare industry for the last twenty years.
Much of that observation has come from the extensive research he conducts for each and every one of his bookings. While he has certainly created content that is relevant to all healthcare professionals, he also creates content for every booking that is specifically relevant to the audience to whom he’ll be speaking.
While some healthcare organizations book David for entertainment only—providing “comic relief” for a heavy agenda—most of his bookings are as a Keynote Speaker. And he has earned the highest recognitions that are awarded in the speaking industry.
In 2011, David received the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. This is the highest earned designation awarded by the National Speakers Association, achieved by less than 10% of professional speakers.
In 2016, David was awarded the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) and inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame. This is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism.
David is also the author of Speaking of Funny: 77 Ways to Add Humor to Any Presentation, published in 2018.
And the journey continues. Whether speaking to an audience of 7 or 7,500 (he’s done both), David is passionate about helping healthcare professionals overcome the stress that is pervasive in today’s healthcare workplace environment. But don’t take our word for it. Watch some of the Videos of David in action and see for yourself how he can transform your audience at your next event.
David Glickman has presented over 2,000 Speeches and Shows.
Join the many Healthcare organizations that have benefited from David’s Healthcare Humor
Book Speaker David Glickman for Your Healthcare Event!
David Glickman also presents Hilarious Customized Keynotes for Other Industries. GLICK Here To Learn More About David’s Programs Outside of Healthcare.
Clients RAVE about David…
“……loved your performance again…….evaluations…rated you 5 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being Outstanding.”
—Bob Goldberg
Executive Director
“A week after David’s visit and our team is still abuzz about his unique and hilarious performance…..If laughter is the best medicine, David’s humor is the perfect panacea.”
—Ken McHattie
Director, Patient Experience
“Everyone LOVED your presentation…..many saying you were the best keynote that we have ever had—wow!”
—Erica Klein
Senior Coordinator, Education & Learning Services
Contact Info
David@DavidGlickman.com
(813) 784-0463
Healthcare Humor
17710 Currie Ford Drive
Lutz, FL 33558
