Belgian Forum on Narrative Medicine
When narratives enrich care
Healthcare is not limited to diagnoses, treatments or medical examinations. Every patient, family member and healthcare professional carries a story, an experience and a personal perspective that influence the care relationship.
To better take this human dimension into account, the Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B.) and the ULB Health Pole of Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) are launching the Belgian Forum on Narrative Medicine, a new initiative forming part of the dynamic of the Medical Humanities in Healthcare. Its first seminar series will begin in September 2026.
A space for meeting, reflection and sharing
Developed in the early 2000s at Columbia University (New York), narrative medicine seeks to complement medical expertise with a better understanding of the lived experience of illness. It draws on the stories of patients, their families and healthcare professionals to enrich listening, foster dialogue and strengthen the quality of the care relationship.
The Belgian Forum on Narrative Medicine aims to bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, students, patient partners and those working in the humanities for conferences and discussions devoted to the human dimensions of care. Rooted in paediatrics, it opens up a broader reflection on healthcare practices, vulnerability, listening and supporting people throughout their care journey.
An annual seminar series
The Forum will organise an annual series of conferences, held on the fourth Friday of each month, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., online.
Each meeting will feature a recognised expert in narrative medicine, the medical humanities or the humanities applied to healthcare. The conferences will be followed by a discussion with participants, recorded and then gradually made available online together with a transcript.
First seminar
Friday 25 September 2026
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Narrative medicine: foundations, training and institutionalisation
Speaker: Isabelle Galichon
Associate Professor at the University of Bordeaux, specialist in narrative medicine
During this inaugural conference, Isabelle Galichon will present the foundations of narrative medicine and how listening to people’s stories can enrich care practices. This first meeting will open the series by reflecting on the place of human experience, dialogue and the caregiver–patient relationship in contemporary healthcare.
Practical information
- Free of charge
- Open to healthcare professionals, students, researchers and partner patients
- Online
- Registration recommended
Ethics and Economics accreditation
Seminar on Friday 23 October 2026
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
OnlineChildren’s artistic productions as narrative forms in paediatric care
Speaker: Isabelle Lambotte
Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B.During this second seminar, Isabelle Lambotte will explore how children’s artistic productions, particularly drawings and visual creations, can be considered genuine narrative forms. These forms of expression provide valuable insight into their experience of illness, their experience of care and how they communicate in a paediatric setting.
Seminar on 27 November 2026
Friday 27 November 2026 –
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Narrative medicine in veterinary medicine: care narratives, end-of-life care and ethical issues
Proposed speaker: Germinal Petit-Étienne
DolceVeto
On the occasion of this seminar, Germinal Petit-Étienne will reflect on the role of care and end-of-life narratives in veterinary medicine. In particular, he will explore how narrative medicine can contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between animals, their owners and veterinary professionals, while shedding light on the ethical and emotional issues associated with end-of-life care and animal euthanasia.
Seminar on 26 February 2027
Friday 26 February 2027
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Health humanities: what place for the human being in care practices?
Speaker: Jurgen Pieters
Ghent University
During this seminar, Jurgen Pieters will examine how health humanities can contribute to care practices that are more attentive to the human experience. In particular, he will present the CHARM chair (Consortium for Health Humanities, Arts, Reading and Medicine), which explores the links between the humanities, the arts, literature and medicine, and their role in understanding and supporting patients.
Seminar on 26 March 2027
Friday 26 March 2027
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Narrative medicine in general practice: listening, understanding and supporting
Speaker: Florence De Corte
On the occasion of this seminar, Florence De Corte will present the contribution of narrative medicine to the daily practice of general medicine. In particular, she will address the importance of listening to patients’ narratives in order to better understand their illness journeys, expectations and needs. The seminar will offer an opportunity to reflect on how this approach can enrich the doctor–patient relationship and promote more personalised support.
Seminar on 23 April 2027
Friday 23 April 2027
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Narrativity in perinatology: lived experiences and clinical and ethical issues
Speaker: Franck Devaux
During this seminar, Franck Devaux will explore the role of narratives and lived experiences in perinatal care. In particular, he will examine how the narratives of patients, their relatives and care teams can shed light on the clinical and ethical issues arising during this particular period. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the importance of listening, dialogue and taking different experiences into account when supporting families.