International empathic healthcare network expands

A pioneering international network dedicated to championing the use of empathy in healthcare consultations to improve outcomes for patients and clinicians has expanded its reach.

The Global Empathy in Healthcare Network is made up of members from more than a dozen countries which are united in a common goal to restore empathy and human connection in healthcare.

Its band of key international empathic healthcare organisations and leaders has now been further strengthened by two more dynamic centres – Emp@thies Humanisation des soins in France and The Empathy Place based at the Global Compassion and Empathy Initiative in Scotland.

Professor Jeremy Howick, Co-founder, with Catherine Eyres, of the Global Empathy in Healthcare Network, and Director of the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare at the University of Leicester, said: “Healthcare professionals and educators are increasingly realising the importance of practising empathetically.

“There’s a growing body of evidence that shows patients who are treated with empathy have a better experience of healthcare and have improved outcomes. In addition, practising with empathy has been shown to help healthcare professionals to cope with the pressures of fast-paced healthcare systems.

“This is why the Global Empathy in Healthcare Network is dedicated to driving forward the use and development of empathic healthcare around the world.

“Our members are leaders in this field and we are thrilled to welcome Emp@thies Humanisation des soins and The Empathy Place to the network so we can benefit from their valuable expertise and insights.”

Last month, the Global Empathy in Healthcare Network welcomed around 120 healthcare professionals, researchers and educators from across the globe to Leicester for its 2025 symposium.

The international event focussed on how healthcare professionals could use empathy to rehumanise healthcare in an era of technological advancements and remote interactions.

The conference’s award-winning plenary speakers included CBS News’ Chief Medical Correspondent Jonathan LaPook, MD who is Professor of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, an internist and gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health, and the Founder and President of the NYU Langone Empathy Project.

Leading international experts also delivered a series of insightful masterclasses and the event featured a debate entitled ‘AI care- and chat-bots cannot provide empathic care’.

The symposium was delivered in association with the International Association for Communication in Healthcare (EACH) and attracted attendees from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

The Global Empathy in Healthcare Network has also been shortlisted for the International Collaboration of the Year title in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2025 which recognise excellence and innovation across the UK higher education sector. The winners will be announced on Thursday, November 13, at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.