From their earliest days, two aspects have permeated all aspect of Shanna’s life: a love of languages and a feeling of always being a little out of place.

Born in Malaysia, she spent the first several years of her life in Singapore before moving to her family’s home state of Texas. Speaking a mix of Malay and English, with little phrases of German thrown in from her grandmother, she was met with strange looks from classmates and was frequently on the receiving end of something akin to, “I don’t understand what you’re saying”.

Decades later, the seeds of that experience - and dozens more along the way - fostered in her a deep desire to generate connection and to help others to feel seen, heard, and understood.

An adolescent cancer survivor herself, she also works with Laughter League as a therapeutic healthcare clown, harnessing the universal languages of play and humor to connect with children and adults from all over the world. And with her company Act V Scholars, she brings the study of Shakespeare - one of humanities most profound communicators - to retirement communities and assisted living facilities throughout the greater Seattle Area.

She is a Winner of the 2024 Ashland New Plays Festival, Honorable Mention for the 2024 Neukom Institute Literary Award, Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Bay Area Playwright’s Festival, and Selection for the 2025 New Works Northwest Festival, along with many other amazing festival and playwright in residence selections and recognitions.

But to the patients, families, and staff of Seattle Children’s Hospital, she is simply Dr. So-n-So, Clown MD.

Stay Rowdy. xo