Professor John Skelton
John Skelton is Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Clinical Science at the University of Birmingham in the UK. As Professor of Clinical Communication, he founded and led the Interactive Studies Unit (ISU), which researches and teaches aspects of medical language and communication to health professionals, and students of the health professions, both nationally and further afield. John has published widely in Clinical Communication, Applied Linguistics and related areas, with research published in The Lancet, BMJ, Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching Journal, amongst many others. He is well-known to EALTHY members for his memorable presentations at previous conferences and as Chair of the Association.
Dr Emma Brooks
Emma is a lecturer in Language Learning and Intercultural Communication and Honorary Research Fellow at University College London, Institute of Education. Her work centres on the interface between language and healthcare, looking at how medical professionals and patients engage effectively in diverse linguistic environments. She has particular interests in translanguaging, intercultural communication, superdiversity and the role of language in facilitating (in)equalities in healthcare environments.
Dr Zsofia Demjen
Zsofia is Associate Professor at University College London. She works at the intersections of language, mind and healthcare, examining the language used by patients, carers, healthcare professionals, journalists, poets, and writers in metaphor, im/politeness, personal pronouns, negation, narratives and humour, among others. Zsofia is widely published through research articles, chapters in multiple books, has written, edited and co-written books, including Applying Linguistics in Illness and Healthcare Contexts (Bloomsbury, 2020) and Researching Language and Health, A Student Guide (Routledge, 2023).
OTHER CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Virginia Allum
Virginia is an internationally renowned Medical English author and speaker. She co-authored the Cambridge Guide to OET Nursing and the Cambridge English for Nursing textbooks. As Head of Medical English at SLC, she has authored of several online Medical English and OET preparation courses published by SLC, including English for Nurses, English for Doctors, English for Care, Medical Terminology, and Reach OET B Medicine and Nursing.