Interdisciplinary collaboration produces inspiring communication products and ambassadors
At Leiden University Medical Center, 20 students recently took the interdisciplinary Honors Orientation Course "Post-COVID Belicht" (Post-COVID Illuminated). Honors programs are designed for bachelor's students seeking an additional challenge alongside their regular studies. C-support, as a community partner, was involved in the design and implementation of the program. "And it was definitely worth repeating," says medical advisor Alfons Olde Loohuis, who provided input for C-support's contribution. "It's incredibly valuable to teach young people to think and think broadly, to prevent tunnel vision in practice where possible."
Truly interdisciplinary
To introduce the four-month program, Alfons gave a lecture on the disease and its impact on all aspects of patients' lives. He did this—as he often did—with a patient who is a general practitioner. The students then took in-depth classes from philosophical, social science, and historical perspectives, and participated in workshops led by a lawyer and a communications expert. Afterward, they worked in small groups on a communication product for a target group of their choice. They also received intensive guidance throughout this process, and they were able to rely on Alfons and other presenters.
Impressive results
On Monday, June 23, the seven groups presented their final products to a professional jury. The jury consisted of Alfons, representing C-support, patient-GP Marja Diemel, Anske van der Bom (epidemiologist and chair of the PCNN), and Laura Kuijpers (internist-infectious disease specialist and chair of the LUMC Post-COVID Expertise Center). "We were very impressed by the teams' creativity and the quality of the pitches across the board. It was striking that almost all the groups used AI and that they had to, and could, clearly explain how they had done so. So, we give a big thumbs up to Dr. Marion Verduijn, honors program coordinator, for the way the program was designed and the students were supervised."
All winners
The final products ranged from confronting posters to highlight the potential impact of post-COVID care and a video about living loss to a mandatory continuing education program for aspiring doctors, a comic book for adults, and an Instagram campaign for older children. All of these are practically applicable, according to Alfons. "The winner was ultimately 'Mama's Love Is Not Sick,' a picture book for young children that beautifully struck the right tone, offering both child and parent guidance and comfort. My personal favorite was a well-thought-out and developed app that can give post-COVID patients more insight and control."
40 new ambassadors
Our Communications department is currently exploring whether we – or other organizations – can use these products in our work or for educational purposes in the future. Thanks to the intensive way the students have delved into the subject, we have gained at least another 40 highly talented and passionate ambassadors. That alone makes the time investment more than worthwhile for me. This is also because the interdisciplinary approach of this form of honors education seamlessly aligns with how we believe patients and their clinical picture should be viewed. As far as I'm concerned, C-support will be participating again next year for the planned follow-up edition on PAIS, or post-infectious disorders.
Update: Students' final products
A number of the students' final products have been made suitable for sharing:
- Picture book 'Mama's love is not sick', for young children with a parent with post-COVID
- Comic strip 'Emma again', about Living Loss.
- Documentary 'Silence of Living Loss', about the impact of illness on people with post-COVID and their loved ones.
The winning team
