English for Healthcare: from expertise to practice

What an incredible two days we spent at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland! A huge thank you to the hosting institution, speakers, sponsors, and every participant who contributed to this vibrant exchange of knowledge.

The atmosphere at the 7th English for Healthcare conference was wonderfully warm and relaxed. It felt less like a formal event and more like a long-awaited reunion. It was a joy to reconnect with old friends and colleagues after two years, while also being energized by so many inspiring new faces joining our community.

Despite the challenging constraints related to tight university budgets and immigration policies as well as the ongoing debates on AI-related challenges, the spirit of the conference remained overwhelmingly optimistic. Instead of focusing on the hurdles, we spent our time sharing innovative ideas on how to evolve and thrive.

The discussions proved that empathy, cultural nuance, and personal connection are more vital than ever in healthcare education.

While technology and AI are changing the way we work, the ”human element“ remains at the heart of Medical English and communication skills training. 

So much to take away! Do you agree with us?

These are the moments that touched us – the EALTHY team – Chris, Ros, Louise, and Petra, the most:

CHRIS MOORE, Director and Board Member:

This was an inspiring event in so many ways. I loved the emphasis on the humanity behind healthcare communication – something which algorithms cannot provide no matter how well they replicate the words we use. I also loved the openness and the willingness to explore how we fully engage with the incredibly fast-paced, fast-changing educational landscape we live and work in and what this means for what we do and how we engage with our learners.

ROS WRIGHT, Head of Professional Development:

I was struck by the level of optimism. It was no surprise that AI was a key feature of this year’s conference. However, instead of seeing it as a major threat, presenters were keen to demonstrate how AI had become just another tool in their armour, albeit a very useful one. Dr Andy Ward’s fascinating plenary set the tone for the conference. Drawing on his expertise in the training of empathy skills, Andy’s session reiterated the need for effective ‘human-centred’ care. Rachael Roberts sought to further emphasise the sense of optimism with a highly motivational plenary session; pointing out that as specialists in our field with an understanding of the therapeutic benefits of clinical communications – and therefore the need for the ‘human in the loop’, maybe as English for healthcare professionals, we were in effect already ahead of the curve.

LOUISE ATKINSON, Board Member:

For me it is always inspiring to see what other teachers are doing from VR goggles to using different games in our teaching. This variety I love! I liked how the role of empathy has become more and more important. We are not machines and students still appreciate that. A great conference with good, inspirational, innovative ideas What EALTHY is good at promoting!

PETRA ZRNÍKOVÁ, Membership Secretary:

The message that resonated with me the most is that a human teacher still matters. Making our work visible by teaching what AI really can´t teach us – empathy and pragmalinguistic competence is more important than ever. Also, I see a huge call for developing courses for nurses that reflect their changing roles and training requirements both at the national and global level.

What is your unforgettable take-away?