The First Congress for the Humanization of Medicine builds on an idea conceived by Professor Kazimierz Imieliński, creator of Polish Academy of Medicine and Albert Schweitzer World Academy of Medicine. Humanizing the face of medical science, ensuring an ethical background and safeguarding patient rights are important prerequisites for the success of the treatment process and for productive communication between healthcare professionals and patients.



Aware of the need to improve communication with patients and prevent broadly understood dehumanization of medicine, the University of Warsaw conducted a study, commissioned by the Minister of Health, to assess the degree of humanization in medicine as regards medical professions and therapeutic teams, with particular emphasis on the relationship between the medical team and the patient. The research also focused on evaluating the impact of the state of epidemic associated with the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on this relationship. The project covered 100 healthcare institutions. The study was conducted among representatives of five medical profession groups: medical doctors, nurses, paramedics, other medical staff and non-medical staff, as well as in two patient groups. The analysis of these groups also included family circumstances and personal characteristics of the respondents, with strong emphasis on the impact wrought by the pandemic. The findings will be presented at the Congress for the Humanization of Medicine.



During the event, experts will try to identify the strengths and weaknesses of introducing the idea of humanization from the point of view of healthcare professionals and patients, also taking into account the importance of under- and postgraduate education. Considering the necessity to ensure an interdisciplinary approach in discussing the issue of humanization in medicine, the organizers envisage four thematic perspectives: systemic, educational, psychological and patient-oriented.



The target audience of the Congress are employees of healthcare institutions, university lecturers, ethicists, students of medical, health, human or social sciences, non-governmental patient organizations, journalists specializing in healthcare and hospital management teams. Participants of the Congress will also include university presidents and deans.



• Opening gala
• Keynote speech “Humanism and innovation in medicine” by Maria Siemionow, Professor of Orthopaedics, Director of Microsurgery Research, University of Illinois Chicago
• Presentation of research results, Prof. Zbigniew Izdebski, Head of Department of Biomedical Fundamentals of Development and Sexology, University of Warsaw, Head of Department of Humanization in Medicine and Sexology, University of Zielona Góra
• Healthcare system session
• Patients in the healthcare system, quality of healthcare and patient safety
• Phases of human life and humanization of medicine
• Teaching humanization in medicine
• COVID-19 and humanization of medicine
• Technological progress in medicine and systemic solutions: An opportunity or a threat to humanization
• Ethical and legal considerations in patient care
• People with disabilities and humanization of medicine
• Burnout syndrome and stress among healthcare workers – measures of support
• Sexology session
• Cultural and spiritual considerations in patient care
• Session of medical students
• Humanization of medicine or humanization of the healthcare system?
• Session of the Commissioner for Patient Rights and NGOs
• Communication in medicine
• Session of managers of healthcare institutions
• Narrative medicine workshop
• Concert at the University of Warsaw Library