A Roaring Time

When the animals receive their cues, a stampede of sorts begins, and a chorus of voices erupts. Lions lead the charge, followed by prancing hyenas and an elegant elephant. A frog hops behind a parading monkey and a galloping zebra. As the players take their places, a baboon steps to the front of the room and holds up a lion cub to the tune of “Circle of Life.”

These characters brought a piece of the African jungle to the pediatric inpatient unit of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital last year. The actors — a group of UF medical students — swapped stethoscopes and white coats for face paint and feathers in a performance of Disney’s “The Lion King.”

Learn more about the White Coat Company and their role in healing our patients.