Kathleen Passanisi

With substance, style and clean hilarity, Kathy has enhanced the way slightly fewer than a bazillion people laugh, live and work. She’s been told she’s the “best friend people never knew they had,” “a meeting planner’s dream,” and “a real lifesaver–literally.”

Kathy is an internationally-recognized speaker, therapeutic humorist, licensed medical professional, entrepreneur, and author. Her expertise, coupled with her uniquely comic platform skills, has made her one of the most sought-after presenters on the platform today. A dedicated veteran of the healthcare industry, Kathy is an experienced clinician and has served on the adjunct faculty of the Washington University School of Medicine and is past-president of the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor (AATH). She is the author of It’s Your Life–Choose Well, and a contributing author of Humor Me, America’s Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter.

New Perspectives is the company Kathy founded in 1987 to address issues in wellness, stress management, life balance, and the link that exists between humor and health. Her clients include The Fortune 100, major healthcare systems, leading universities, seriously ill people, overly serious people, all kinds of associations and tons of women’s groups.

As a memeber of the National Speakers Association and the International Federation of Professional Speakers, Kathleen qualified as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP-1995), which is the highest, earned designation a professional speaker can receive. In 2003, the AATH recognized Kathy with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of therapeutic humor. In 2004, she was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE).

Kathy is Pete’s wife, Annie’s mom and self-proclaimed poster woman for the sandwich generation. She knows first-hand the importance of humor in surviving life’s challenges. Plus, Kathy is a world-traveler, good friend, comedy fanatic, beach lover, great Italian cook, iPod enthusiast, and “Jill of all trades.” And, if those credentials don’t impress you, she had perfect attendance in the 4th grade. Kathleen Passanisi, PT, CSP, CPAE is the funniest woman in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri—and quite possibly, the Western Hemisphere.