The workshop explores the intersections between Medical Humanities, field philosophy, and contemporary practices of health communication. Bringing together both theoretical insights and applied perspectives, the event focuses on how humanities-based approaches can help address uncertainty, risk, and ethical complexity in healthcare. Through dialogue among scholars from diverse traditions, the workshop aims to foster shared reflections on how to rethink communication, decision-making, and care in today’s medical contexts.
Students who participate in the workshop may, upon request, receive a Certificate of Attendance. The certificate does not confer academic credit.
Programme
Tuesday, April 28 2026
Aula Magna Storica - Palazzo La Sapienza
15.00
Dr. Paola Cappellini, Circle U. Coordinator
Welcome Address
Giovanni Scarafile, Chair and Professor of Applied Ethics
Introduction to the Workshop
15.15 - 16.00
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Eivind Engebretsen, Dean of the Open Campus at the European University Alliance Circle U.
Narrative Knowledge Translation: A Translational Medical Humanities Approach to Health Communication
16.15 Coffee Break
16.30 – 17.00
Prof. Marta Spranzi, Centre d’éthique clinique, Paris
Decisions to Withhold and Withdraw Treatment in ICUs: “Variability”, the Deliberation Process, and the Critique of Consensus
17.00 - 17.30
Prof. Vito Peragine, Vice-Rector of the University of Bari and Full Professor of Economics
Health, Health Care and Fairness: An Economic Perspective on Ethical Complexity
17.30 - 18.00
Prof. Caterina Rizzo, Member of the University Board of Administration and Full Professor of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (University of Pisa)
Beyond Information: Communication, Trust, and Equity in Global Health
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Room Pao C1 – Palazzo Carità
16.00 - 17.30
Eivind Engebretsen and Marta Spranzi in dialogue with students in the Applied Ethics course
Reframing Philosophy: From Medical Humanities to Field Philosophy
Join the workshop online
Information and contact
The initiative is supported by Erasmus+ funds from the Circle U. European University Alliance and has benefited from the support of the Project of excellence "Un senso nel disordine. Praticare la complessità" - Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge (University of Pisa).
Prof. Giovanni Scarafile, giovanni.scarafile@unipi.it
