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At WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital, laughter might not be listed as a treatment, but one security officer makes it part of the daily care plan.
Meet Marcus Engram, a towering figure dressed in all black, carrying keys, a radio, and most importantly, a pocket full of groan-worthy, grin-inducing dad jokes.
“Do you know why Elsa couldn’t have a balloon?” he asks, pausing for dramatic effect. “She let it go.”
It’s not just the patients who hear punchlines like this, staff, visitors, and anyone walking the halls are fair game for Marcus’s mission to spread smiles.
From Security Guard to Resident Comedian
Marcus began telling dad jokes at work a couple of years ago, thanks to a housekeeper who thought of him when she came across a box of jokes during cleaning. Knowing his love for humor, she handed them over, and he’s been dishing them out ever since.
“Why don’t crabs ever volunteer?” he asks. Then delivers the punchline with a perfectly straight face: “Because they’re shellfish.”
These aren’t just jokes. They’re small moments of connection in a place where people are often going through tough times.
Between monitoring hallways and keeping the hospital safe, Marcus brings levity to the people who need it most. Whether it’s a team member under pressure or a patient recovering from surgery, he knows a well-timed pun can go a long way.
A Light in a Heavy Place
“I had one patient who had a tough surgery,” Marcus recalls. “I started telling him jokes, and by the end of it, I could see a difference in his day. It’s about more than laughing, it’s about lifting people up.”
While his sense of humor is clearly a hit around the hospital, his biggest fan might be his six-year-old daughter, though like any kid, she sometimes plays it cool.
“She’s starting to understand jokes now,” Marcus says proudly. “She comes home and tells me her own, and I respond with mine. She loves it… most of the time.”
A Different Kind of Father’s Day Gift
Marcus isn’t looking for cards, ties, or Father’s Day gifts. His wish? Just more chances to connect through humor.
“What did one wall say to the other wall?” he asks as he walks the hall. Then, with a knowing smile: “I’ll meet you in the corner.”
His delivery may be deadpan, and his uniform might be serious, but his impact is anything but cold. In an environment that can feel clinical or overwhelming, Marcus’s jokes are a warm reminder that sometimes, the best medicine really is laughter.
Spreading Smiles, One Joke at a Time
Whether it’s a joke about golf—“Why do golfers bring two pairs of pants? In case they get a hole in one”, or a pun about seafood, Marcus’s humor is simple, heartfelt, and always served with a smile.
“You never know what someone’s going through,” he says. “If I can make someone laugh, even just a little, that’s a good day.”
At WellSpan, he’s not just a security officer. He’s a walking, joking example of how kindness and a little levity can make a real difference.
