After the great interest and successful first edition of the training program in Therapeutic communication in pediatrics, Foundation "For Good", New Bulgarian University (NBU) and SBAL for Pediatrics "Prof. Dr. Ivan Mitev" announce second edition of the program.
The first course showed how strong the need is for training that focuses not only on medical expertise, but also the human side of caring for the child and his family. We received dozens of applications and extremely valuable feedback from the course participants – doctors, nurses and specialists working with children in a hospital environment. All 30 participants who graduated from the first course received an official certificate from the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) at NBU.
This gives us the confidence to continue and develop the initiative that sets empathy and communication as a key part of treatment.
A child never forgets a stay in the hospital. In the hospital room, where fear, pain, and uncertainty meet, it's not just the drugs and procedures that matter. Words matter. The way the doctor speaks to the child. The look at the worried parent. The gesture that builds trust in a moment of vulnerability.
It is here that the need for a program arises that not just teaches medical care, but develops skills of empathy, trust and professional compassion.
The training program is part of the initiative "Academy for Therapeutic Communication in Healthcare", created by the For Good Foundation in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Work of the New Bulgarian University. This partnership makes the program certified to The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) at NBU. Each successfully completed course participant receives a certificate.
Work on the project began more than two years ago with focus groups and surveys among medical professionals in SBAL for Pediatric Diseases "Prof. Dr. Ivan Mitev" and other pediatric departments in the country. The goal was to create a program that meets the real needs of the healthcare system in Bulgaria.
The program covers 45 academic hours, which combine theory, practical exercises and work on real cases.
The training is led by teachers from New Bulgarian University, as well as experts in the field of:
medical communication
psychology
child development
working with patients and families
The goal is for participants to develop basic theoretical and practical skills, that they can apply directly in their daily work.
The course aims to develop skills in therapeutic communication between healthcare professionals, child patients and their families. The training focuses on the human side of medical care – understanding the emotions, fears and needs of the child and parents in the hospital environment.
The program helps participants build skills for empathetic and professional communication, for building trust in the treatment process, and for working in difficult and sensitive situations. Through practical case studies and discussions, the course encourages the development of confidence, ethical sensitivity, and effective communication within the medical team.
The goal is not only to improve the way patients are communicated with, but also to create a more supportive and humane environment for treating children.
Fundamentals of therapeutic communication in pediatrics
Child's mental development and impact of illness
Communication with children, adolescents and their families
Individual approach to the patient and building trust
Working with children at risk and vulnerable families
Ethics of care and empathy in medical practice
Communication and interaction within the hospital team
Practical work on clinical cases from real practice
The program is aimed at specialists who work with children in a hospital environment:
pediatricians
nurses
psychologists
speech therapists
social workers
other specialists from the healthcare system
A partner in the implementation of the program is Bulgarian Pediatric Association, which supports the initiative and participates in its development.
For the second edition of the program, the following will be selected again: 30 specialists, who will undergo training through scholarship program, funded 70% by the For Good Foundation„ .
The selection process will go through two stages.
After the selection is completed, the following will be selected: 30 participants, who will be included in the second edition of the training.
All 30 approved candidates will undergo training through scholarship program:
70% of the tuition fee is covered by the For Good Foundation„
30% is the deductible of each approved participant – fee of 75 euros
The goal of this model is to make learning accessible to as many specialists as possible, while ensuring commitment to the program.
"We want to change not just the conditions in which the child is treated, but how he feels during the treatment. Because a hospital stay should not be a trauma, but an opportunity for recovery - with care, understanding and trust - believe the Foundation team and add: - This is just the first step in the broader mission - to return humanity to healthcare. Because children remember not only the procedures, but also how they felt. And when medicine and empathy go hand in hand - treatment has not only a physical but also a psychological aspect."
Nadezhda Rangelova, Chairwoman of the For Good Foundation„
The mission of the For Good Foundation is not only to improve the physical environment in children's wards, but also the way in which child care occurs.
In the project "Firefly - a hospital that doesn't look like a hospital" we are changing the space.
With the Academy of Therapeutic Communication, we are working to change the culture of medical care.
Because children remember not only the treatment, but also how they felt during it.
And when medicine and empathy go hand in hand, treatment has not only a physical but also a psychological aspect.
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