Any parent that has experienced the misfortune of caring for a seriously ill child knows that it’s a heart-wrenching trial, especially if hospitalization is involved. Luckily, this country is much better off than others when it comes to pediatric medical services, but that doesn’t mean that every medical professional knows how to put kids at ease.

Yep, bedside manner can vary a lot, but in the case of the very special MD that we’re highlighting today, he’s a complete natural.

Meet Dr. Tony Adkins, a pediatric neurosurgery physician assistant, otherwise known by his nickname of the “Dancing Doctor.” The 42-year-old Orange County, California-based doctor has officially gone “viral” after clips of him dancing with his patients made their rounds across social media.

In the now-famous videos, Dr. Adkins can be seen taking his patients by the hands and offering them a dance, no matter how serious their conditions might be. Lucky viewers get the chance to witness the dancing doc get his boogie on with patients all ages, from adorable babies to teens, all of which are recovering from some very serious health crises.

In an interview with LADBible, the pediatric neurosurgeon and military vet (yep, this guy is pretty impressive!) explains why he began integrating dance into his everyday rounds at his workplace, the famous Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

“Dancing with patients is important because it adds levity and joy to the hospital experiences,” Dr. Adkins explains. “What I’m doing is right in with CHOC’s commitment to preserving the magic of childhood and ensuring patients don’t have to put their childhoods on pause.”

It’s good to hear that the dancing doc is getting support from his administration–we’re happy that the hospital is just as down with him sharing his moves as his patients are!

The doctor goes on to explain that he doesn’t just dance with his patients for fun– he does it as part of their treatment plans. “Studies show that when people laugh, smile and become more interactive, the effect on the brain is more powerful than some pain medications, Dr. Adkins says. “It has a clinical value as it allows me to assess a patient’s physical abilities, mobility and recovery process.”

Makes sense! The dancing doc continues to dance with the kiddos, not only to bond with them and put them at ease but to also get them moving. “I recently had a patient who reluctant to get out of bed after surgery, but when I came in one morning to see him, an invitation to dance got him out of bed and moving, ” he remembers. “After we finished dancing, he kept going and starting doing laps around the hospital floor–it was awesome to see.”

We’re elated to hear that there are medical professionals like Dr. Adkins, using simple–and fun!– tools like dance to help their patients feel better and happier.

To see the wonderful Dr. Adkins dance with his patients at CHOC, be sure to watch the video below. We just love seeing the smiles on these kids’ faces!

What are your thoughts on Dr. Adkin’s unorthodox bedside manner? Have you ever been treated by an exemplary doctor before? If so, what made them so special?