Irish Network of Healthcare Educators

Description

The Irish Network of Healthcare Educators (INHED) 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, hosted by Queen’s University Belfast, marked the first in-person conference in three years and represented a significant milestone as it was the first time INHED had been led by a School of Nursing and Midwifery. This development highlighted INHED's progressive commitment to fostering inclusivity in health professions education and underscored the importance of cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration.

The conference theme, “Body and Mind in Health Professions Education,” invited participants to explore innovative approaches in healthcare education, focusing on the interconnectedness of physical and mental health. We were honoured to welcome internationally renowned keynote speakers: Dr Martina Kelly (University of Calgary), Dr Blanáid Gavin (University College Dublin), and Dr Paul Murphy (Queen’s University Belfast). Each speaker offered their unique insights into contemporary teaching and learning practices, critically examining established methods and proposing new strategies to enhance educational outcomes across the health professions.

The programme was diverse and comprehensive, featuring 24 national and international workshops and 12 parallel oral presentation sessions. These sessions included contributions from various healthcare disciplines, including medicine, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, biomedical science, physiotherapy, psychology, dentistry, and occupational therapy.

A notable feature of this year's conference was the student-led session, which focused on the critical issue of planetary health, reflecting on the profound connection between human health and the health of the planet. In this session, students engaged in a dialogue with a panel of educators, sharing their perspectives and discussing ongoing efforts to address the challenges at the intersection of environmental and human health. Additionally, the patient-led session, facilitated by WAVE, the largest cross-community organisation supporting those affected by the Troubles/Conflict in Northern Ireland, provided an invaluable opportunity to hear from individuals who had experienced the impact of these events firsthand.

The event served as a significant opportunity for reflection, learning, and the advancement of healthcare education across disciplines.

Period	29 Mar 2023 → 30 Mar 2023
Event type	Conference
Location	Belfast, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National