Conference | Meet the Keynote Speakers

The English for Healthcare conference is a fantastic opportunity to get up-to-date with the all the great things happening in the global world of healthcare English, as well as meet and network with fellow practitioners, researchers and academics working in English for Healthcare and OET preparation. We’re delighted to have no less than 3 eminent keynote speakers from the world of medical language and communication.

Professor John Skelton

John Skelton is Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Clinical Science at the University of Birmingham in the UK. As Professor of Clinical Communication, he founded and led the Interactive Studies Unit (ISU), which researches and teaches aspects of medical language and communication to health professionals, and students of the health professions, both nationally and further afield. John has published widely in Clinical Communication, Applied Linguistics and related areas, with research published in The Lancet, BMJ, Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching Journal, amongst many others. He is well-known to EALTHY members for his memorable presentations at previous conferences and as Chair of the Association.

Dr Zsofia Demjen

Zsofia is Associate Professor at University College London. She works at the intersections of language, mind and healthcare, examining the language used by patients, carers, healthcare professionals, journalists, poets, and writers in metaphor, im/politeness, personal pronouns, negation, narratives and humour, among others. Zsofia is widely published through research articles, chapters in multiple books, has written, edited and co-written books, including Applying Linguistics in Illness and Healthcare Contexts (Bloomsbury, 2020) and Researching Language and Health, A Student Guide (Routledge, 2023).

Dr Emma Brooks

Emma is a lecturer in Language Learning and Intercultural Communication and Honorary Research Fellow at University College London, Institute of Education. Her work centres on the interface between language and healthcare, looking at how medical professionals and patients engage effectively in diverse linguistic environments. She has particular interests in translanguaging, intercultural communication, superdiversity and the role of language in facilitating (in)equalities in healthcare environments.

Early Bird tickets are now on sale. Until June 30th members pay £120 and non-members £160.

Afterwards, tickets will be £150 for members and £190 for non-members.  To become a member, go to Member Benefits.

Download the Conference Flyer

6th English for Healthcare Conference, Brighton 2024