About Dr. Neal C. Goldberg

I am the founder and executive director of Lev Leytzan— “Heart of a Clown” — a therapeutic medical clowning and advocacy program that brings emotional connection to individuals in hospitals, care facilities, and communities facing crisis, trauma, or isolation. Since 2004, Lev Leytzan has trained hundreds of youth and professional adult clowns in the art of healing presence — offering compassionate, improvisational care to children, elders, and vulnerable populations across the U.S., Europe, and Israel.

At the core of our mission is the belief that healing is not only physical — it is emotional, relational, and deeply human. Our clowns are not performers, but therapeutic companions. They enter with intention and sensitivity, using memory-evoking props, storytelling, music, and gentle humor to meet people where they are — particularly those navigating dementia, disability, trauma, or end-of-life transitions.

One of Lev Leytzan’s signature initiatives, ElderHearts, brings this work to geriatric populations, especially those living with Alzheimer’s, spending their final moments in hospice,  and challenged with other forms of cognitive decline. Through reminiscence-based engagement, ElderHearts fosters connection, recognition, and joy in even the most memory-fractured spaces — offering not just comfort, but restoration of dignity and personhood.

This calling — to be present in the invisible corners of suffering — also guides my work with young adults living with chronic and invisible illnesses, including ME/CFS, long COVID, and other post-viral syndromes. These individuals often carry profound physical and emotional burdens, while remaining unseen or misunderstood by traditional systems of care. I am committed to creating spaces where they can be witnessed, supported, and empowered to tell their stories.

I served for four years as a member of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Center for Solutions for ME/CFS at Columbia University, contributing to integrative research, clinical education, and public engagement. This work culminated in a co-authored publication in the Journal of Fatigue, titled “A New Clinical Challenge: Supporting Patients Coping with the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19”.   It reflects a growing recognition of how post-viral illness challenges not only our medical systems — but our collective capacity for compassion and inclusion.

In partnership with the Open Medicine Foundation, I helped launch Hope & Heart — a global expressive arts initiative to raise awareness for ME/CFS. The campaign brought together poetry and visual art from 17 countries, culminating in the release of “Keeping the Hope”, an original anthem that continues to resonate with individuals living with chronic illness around the world.