MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Dispensing rapid-fire jokes and pushing his humor cart full of fun props and goodies, Bill Schulte is a popular humor therapist at Banner Baywood Medical Center and Heart Hospital in east Mesa.

"Dr. I.C.U. Giggle," Schulte's alter ego, hands out candy to hospital staff in a bed pan, while stopping in patients' rooms to goof around and hand out "generic prescriptions" that can be refilled "as much as possible." The prescriptions advise patients to take "one smile before breakfast, two hugs after lunch and one kiss at bedtime."

Making people laugh is what Schulte enjoys the most.

"It's not just for them. It's for you, too," said Schulte, a 64-year-old Mesa resident from Michigan. "I get visitors relaxed, get patients' mind off why they're here and make the staff happy."

He holds out a container with spongy red noses and asks patients to "pick their nose."

"I can't pick it for you. And remember, if you drop it on the ground, it's a runny nose," said Schulte, laughing.

Brion Maggard happily put on the red nose and smiled for a photo with Schulte as he lay in his hospital a couple weeks ago. The Mesa 32-year-old was spending the last of his 40 days in the hospital after doctors removed part of his colon and appendix.

"He was funny," Maggard said. "Anything to break up the day is nice. Laughter is always a good thing."

In another room, Catherine Crandell and her husband, Kevin Sharp, bonked red noses before posing for a photo with Schulte. Crandell was in the hospital trying to survive cancer for the fourth time, she said.

"I love him. He's very cute," said Crandell, 50, of Mesa about Schulte. "He brought a laugh, cheered me up and made me forget why I'm here."

Schulte is one of 11 humor therapists, or caring clowns, at Banner Baywood who volunteer to brighten people's day. Schulte estimates he averages at least 10 hours a week at Banner Baywood, Banner Desert Medical Center, Sirrine Adult Day Care Center and Red Mountain Senior Home, all in Mesa.

The clown gig came about through happenstance. About to lose his job and with two kids in college, Schulte learned how to make balloon characters from a friend and a book about 21 years ago. He was hired to perform at a school fair, and then was so well liked he was booked for the next nine years at the Michigan school.

After a while, people started asking him why he wasn't a clown, so he went to clown school and since then has attended about 25 clown schools around the country. Now, he trains clowns and goes back for a refresher course every year to learn new tricks.

"It's shocking the joy you get out of it," said Schulte, who also spent three years in magic school.

His full-time job is working as a professional magician, clown and balloon artist at corporate events, parties and volunteer gigs around metro Phoenix. He also performs magic and makes Elvis and Pocahontas balloons at a local restaurant every Wednesday night.

"Patty O. Patches," whose real name is Patty Meagher, of Scottsdale, is Schulte's "clown wife" and has been helping him for seven years.

"He's really wonderful," said Meagher, dressed up in her clown costume. "He has a great outlook and we play off each other so well."

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