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Session Type: Panel

Theme: 10. Well-being, Sport (football!), Medicine: Living and Dying in Cross-cultural Perspective
Panel

Healing Through Humanity I: Humanity Approaches for Healing and Healthcare

Friday, June 13, 2025
09:00 - 10:45 GMT
Location: LOS-104

In an era where the interplay between healthcare and human experience is more critical than ever, the "Healing through Humanity" panel aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue among health professionals, sociologists, anthropologists, and advocates of holistic wellbeing. Building on the insights from past ICAS discussions and the formation of the Healing through Humanity Network in 2024, this panel seeks to develop humanistic models for healthcare and healing practices that are both sustainable and inclusive.

The primary goal of this panel is to explore how intrinsic human qualities and sociocultural contexts can enhance healthcare delivery and public health interventions. By examining the fundamental human attributes that contribute to effective care, we aim to construct a comprehensive model that integrates emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural sensitivity into medical practices. This initiative is designed not only to enrich the academic discourse but also to provide actionable strategies for health policy development.

The panel will facilitate the identification of evidence-based approaches to weave humanistic principles into public health initiatives. By fostering collaborations across disciplines, we hope to influence the future landscape of healthcare, ensuring that it is more humane and responsive to the diverse needs of communities. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions that bridge the gaps between theory and practice, addressing the pressing challenges in global health today.

Our agenda will include an academic panel, a roundtable discussion, and a variety of engaging activities such as a documentary/film session and an art-medicine workshop. These activities will underscore the importance of narrative and creativity in healing. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal, to engage with the local community through public dialogues and outreach initiatives, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural healing practices.

This panel serves as a continuation of our commitment to the themes explored in previous ICAS roundtables, including global health, equity, and cultural healing. By participating in the AA Confest 3, we seek to build on the momentum generated by our prior discussions, enhancing academic inquiry and practical applications in healthcare.

Presentations:

  • 09:00 - 10:45 GMT
    Improving Performance of Healthcare Ngos Operating in Conflict Zones

    Presenter: Cha-Hsuan Liu – International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)

  • 09:00 - 10:45 GMT
    The African philosophy of Ubuntu

    Presenter: Dorine van Norren – Leiden University

  • 09:00 - 10:45 GMT
    Epistemologies of Energy Healing: Unsettling Sociological Debates through Pranic Healing Practice

    Presenter: Aditya Kiran Kakati – International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)

  • 09:00 - 10:45 GMT
    Chinese Medicine Serving African Populations

    Presenter: Mame Awa Ly Fall – Institut MHALF