During the first stage of the Empathy Course at Ken Walker International University, students focused on developing emotional awareness, authentic self-expression, and the foundations of patient-centered communication. Under the guidance of theatre and film actor Vladimer Novosardov, this initial stage emphasized emotional perception, non-verbal communication, and authenticity in patient interaction.
Building on this foundation, the second stage of the course is designed to integrate emotional intelligence into clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making.
At this stage, students work on clinical cases under the joint supervision of an actor and a physician. The actor evaluates emotional engagement, non-verbal communication, and credibility in patient interaction, while the physician focuses on clinical logic, ethical judgment, professional communication, and decisions aligned with medical standards.
The clinical phase of the course is guided by Dr. Ketevan Shengelaia, an invited lecturer at KWIU, a medical doctor, and a PhD candidate with extensive international academic and clinical experience gained in Italy, Turkey, Poland, and other countries.
Currently undergoing advanced training in reproductive medicine, Dr. Shengelaia brings a strong evidence-based perspective to the course, with academic and clinical interests in obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive health, and patient-centered care. Alongside her clinical work, she is actively involved in medical education, academic mentoring, and research.
Reflecting on the purpose of this second stage, Dr. Shengelaia notes: “In medicine, knowledge allows us to diagnose, but empathy allows us to heal. Empathy is not an abstract virtue - it is a measurable professional competency. It shapes patient trust, influences adherence, and defines the quality of the doctor–patient relationship.”
The core purpose of the Empathy Course is the progressive development and formation of empathy skills, which in the second stage are synthesized with essential medical and clinical skills. At this phase, empathy evolves from emotional understanding into a professional clinical competency, preparing future physicians not only to treat disease, but to provide comprehensive, ethical, and truly human-centered care.