UCH Holds Two-Day Workshop on Empathy Care Training for Staff
UCH Holds Two-Day Workshop on Empathy Care Training for Staff
UmarFarouk123 
The University College Hospital, Ibadan, has organised a two-day workshop for staff members on Empathy Care Training aimed at promoting compassionate service delivery.
The workshop, themed “Empathy Care Training: Healing with Compassion,” was held on Monday, 24 August and Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at the Prof. Simeon Adebo Continuing Education Centre, UCH, Ibadan, under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo.
In her welcome remarks, the Director of Administration and Secretary to the Board of Management, Mrs. Oluseyi Eze, urged participants to take advantage of the training and cascade lessons on empathy and positive attitudinal changes to other members of staff.
The first speaker, Dr. Kayode Iyun, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery, traced the history of medicine and explained the role of the body, soul, and spirit in the healing process. He stated that empathy involves a dynamic interplay between the physical body, the conscious soul, and the inner spirit, and encouraged participants to be self-conscious, God-conscious, and world-conscious in service delivery.
Also speaking, Dr. Femi Olowookere, Director of the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre, said compassion is greatly desired by patients and their families. He urged participants to extend compassion to patients, their relatives and colleagues, and advised them to cultivate good habits, effect positive behavioural changes, and respond promptly to clients’ needs.
Prof. Yomi Esan, Acting Head of the Department of Psychiatry, lectured on the attitude expected of a good healthcare professional. He said such professionals demonstrate empathy by seeing the person and not just the illness, respect dignity and privacy, and communicate clearly, honestly, and effectively.
The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, was represented by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Olubukola Adesina, who declared the workshop open. She urged participants to pay active attention to the Train-the-Trainers session and adopt positive changes in attitude towards patients, their relatives, and colleagues.
Prof. Adesina noted that UCH is anchored on the tripod of Clinical Services, Training, and Research, and affirmed that the hospital has the capacity to train trainers in empathy across all three areas.
The workshop concluded with participants committing to cascade the training to their respective departments to foster a culture of compassionate care across UCH.
