People

Dr Dinesh Palipana

International empathy, disability and diversity expert.

Find out more about Dr Dinesh Palipana

Honorary Fellow

PhD student

Supervisors

• Professor Jeremy Howick
• Professor Simon Gay
• Dr Amber Bennett-Weston

Research

Alastair is exploring whether artificially intelligent (AI) care- and chat-bots can be as empathic as human practitioners and if they can provide the same benefits of empathic care that patients receive from humans. As AI technologies are increasingly used in healthcare, even sometimes replacing human interaction, it’s important to understand the extent to which they can show empathy and thus improve patient outcomes. Alastair’s PhD research looks at how AI interacts with patients and whether it can deliver the same level of empathic care that’s been shown to improve patient satisfaction and quality of life. Before starting this research, Alastair completed a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Nottingham.

PhD student

Supervisors

• Dr Claire Brock
• Professor Jeremy Howick

Biography

Esther Kentish holds a Bachelor of Arts (2017) in English Literature and Language with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Science (2018) in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Science (2020) in Medical Humanities from King's College London. Esther matriculated at the University of Oxford in 2020 and spent two years in the Faculty of English. Esther worked with patients in a hospital as a Mental Health Technician in the geriatric in North Carolina, United States, and is currently working in Britain on COVID-19 research. Her research focuses on scientific communication, medical humanities, poetry, life writing, autobiography, and biography. Authoring 6 books, one of which, The Emotional Healing Behind Words, is a poetic memoir featuring a critical, meta-data analysis of 47 poems written between 2009 and 2012. Esther is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Research

TEDx speaker and published author, Esther Kentish, examines the interwoven parts and interactions between illness and narrative in projects that communicate the scientific aspects of medicine and illness through life-writing, patient narratives, and digital media. In addition, the publication of Esther's literary work promotes de-stigmatization of illnesses while investigating their origin and cause. Esther's study focuses on English literature and medicine, two specific subfields under Medical Humanities. Esther intends to use her research platform in medical humanities and literature to examine the impacts of mortality from diseases and illnesses, the realities of pandemics in both abstract and physical spaces, and its impact on both gender and race. Esther is enthusiastic about utilising qualitative tools such as metadata analysis and data visualisation as well as artistic tools (particularly performing arts such as spoken word poetry, music, and dance) to communicate statistical value and medical information regarding the aetiology and progression of disease. Esther is presenting her research on COVID-19, patient narratives, autobiographies, and biographies in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.

Professor of Interprofessional Education and Patient Safety Lead

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Paul is Director of Public Affairs and Engagement at the University of Leicester. In this role he leads on the University’s Public Affairs Strategy, encompassing global, national, and local stakeholder engagement and advocacy.

Educational Designer, Leicester Medical School

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Professor of Health Psychology, University of Southampton

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Lived Experience Ambassador, NHS England

I have 30 years of experience working as a patient leader with a long-term condition helping to improve patient engagement, quality improvement and patient safety.

In my working life I am a matrix worker for NHS England working on personalised care, quality, safety as well as in primary care improvement.

I’ve had the privilege of working and knowing the NHS from bed to board. I’ve seen both the best and worst and I believe we can and should work toward a safe, reliable effective care system that supports both patient and staff in everything they do. I am committed to transforming the human experience of health and care for all.

Key to improvement in care is empathetic care. Working with the Stoneygate Centre for empathetic healthcare as a lived experience ambassador I want to see empathy at the centre of training for all staff.

Follow me on Twitter @QIPatient or connect with me on LinkedIn @jonobroad.

Director of the Jefferson Longitudinal Study

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Professor of Primary Care and Multimorbidity, The University of Edinburgh

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Academic Librarian (Medicine and Healthcare) 

Current Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Committee on Medical Ethics and a medical doctor, educator and erstwhile academic in Oxford with an interest in professionalism and ethics in healthcare education. He co-edited the BMA medical book award-winning Handbook of Primary Care Ethics (CRC press) and BMA Highly Commended Marketization, Health and Ethics (Routledge) in 2018. He co-directs the Society of Apothecaries’ course in philosophy.

He teaches students across the entire professional life course, from applicants to medical school through to healthcare leaders. He also teaches on a range of courses at Oxford University and is a Catalyst Fellow at Hull-York medical School. His PhD is on education in ethics of British family doctors.

Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Senior Lecturer

An experienced Advanced Communication Skills Training course facilitator, who regularly delivers courses to senior health care professionals. Barbara has developed and delivers innovative teaching to medical students in their clinical years that focuses on patient-centred care in the context of managing serious disease such as cancer. Simulation and facilitated debrief promotes the value of empathy alongside managing clinical complexity.

Global Executive Positive Psychology Coach

Gary is a 30+ year clinician, researcher, educator, and global business strategist, weaving together a deep understanding of neuroscience and neuroplasticity, positive psychology, and mind-body practices, with strategic and future-based scenario planning, cross-cultural team management, subconscious bias, and post-traumatic growth.

Deputy Head of Nursing Alliance and Professional Nurse Advocate, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Daniel Stendall RN(A) is a Deputy Head of Nursing at the University Hospitals of Leicester. He has over 20 years nursing experience across a number of NHS organsisations and, as a qualified Emergency Nurse, he spent 12 years in the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service. Undertaking his commission, he spent 3 years as a Leadership Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. Educated to Master’s level, he is also a Professional Nurse Advocate and has a keen interest in leadership and empathy. After supporting our work with UHL last year, he is excited to continue to support the Stoneygate Centre working on a project with UHL Maternity Services.

College Marketing and Recruitment Manager

Head of the School of Healthcare

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Deputy Medical Director, General Medical Council; Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospitals of Leicester; Honorary Professor, University of Leicester

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Dr Harry Dudson-Musekiwa is a Foundation Year 1 Doctor, having begun his medical journey as part of the University of Leicester's first Medicine with a Foundation Year cohort.

Inspired by his experience as a carer for a close family member, he entered medical school with a passion for holistic patient care, shaped by both positive and negative clinical experiences. Coming from a single-parent, council estate background, he remains committed to encouraging others to pursue careers in healthcare, regardless of their background.

During his six years at university, he participated in numerous outreach sessions to inspire school students to consider careers in healthcare. In 2018, he shared his experiences with Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, during their visit to the University of Leicester. He was also featured in the NHS and Health Education England campaign "Dr You" to share how his caregiving experience motivated his journey into medicine.

In 2023, he completed a Master's degree in medical research, conducting a project titled "Evaluating the benefits of promoting social and community integration following a diagnosis of autism in adulthood." This research deepened his interest in clinical empathy, a concept that first resonated with him during his foundation year in 2017. He believes empathy is key to improving patient outcomes and fostering a supportive, efficient healthcare environment.

Associate Director and Scientist in the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, and Professor and Director of Educational Research and Scholarship in the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia

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Executive Director of the Oxford Centre for Triple Value Healthcare, and a Director of the Optimal Ageing Programme; Advisor to Public Health England and Chair of the NHS Health and Social Care Digital Service

Learn more about Professor Sir Mayur Lakhani (CBE)

Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; Co-founder and Co-Director, Berkeley Group for the Ethics and Regulation of Innovative Technologies

Learn more about Professor Jodi Halpern

Chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management; Board Member and Chair of the Clinical Executive of NHS Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Integrated Care System; GP Principal-Partner in Leicestershire

Learn more about Professor Sir Mayur Lakhani (CBE)

Medical Director for Education Reform and Professional Development, Workforce Training and Education Directorate, NHS England; Honorary Professor, University of Leicester and Honorary Fellow, University of Nottingham

Learn more about Professor Sheona Macleod

Emergency department doctor at the Gold Coast University Hospital; Senior lecturer at Griffith University; Research Fellow at the Jamieson Trauma Institute

Learn more about Dr Dinesh Palipana

Riya Shah is a Medical Student at Leicester Medical School and Committee Member of the Student Empathic Healthcare Society.