What if a patient could understand essential medicine instructions without speaking the local language?

In this second MedTalk with communication designer and Tuqtuli founder Juli Gudehus, we move from theory to practice and explore a fascinating real-world example: The Ibuproject.

The Ibuproject is an international, interdisciplinary initiative that aims to translate information from an ibuprofen patient information leaflet into visual signs and pictograms. The goal is not to create another language, but to develop a communication principle that allows people to understand important health information regardless of their native language.

Together, we discuss:

💊 How an ibuprofen package leaflet is being transformed into visual communication
🌍 Why language barriers remain a major challenge in healthcare worldwide
🖍️ How a shared visual vocabulary can support understanding across cultures
🧠 Why everyone can contribute—even if they believe they "can't draw"
🏥 Potential applications for patients, healthcare professionals, refugees, and people affected by stroke or communication difficulties
🤖 The future role of AI in testing and developing visual communication systems
🎨 Upcoming exhibitions and the growing international Tuqtuli community

The project currently brings together participants from nine countries, six disciplines, and multiple generations, all working towards one ambitious goal: making communication possible when no common language exists.

If you work in healthcare, patient communication, clinical research, health literacy, translation, linguistics, design, or accessibility, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

🔗 Learn more about Tuqtuli:
Website: https://tuqtuli.com
The Ibuproject: https://tuqtuli.com/the-ibuproject

📱 Follow Tuqtuli:
Instagram: @tuqtuli
LinkedIn: Tuqtuli
Facebook: Tuqtuli
Mastodon: @tuqtuli

💬 What information from a medicine leaflet do you think would be most difficult to communicate using only signs?

#MedTalks #Tuqtuli #Ibuproject #HealthCommunication #MedicalCommunication #HealthLiteracy #PatientCommunication #VisualCommunication #HealthcareInnovation #PatientSafety #GlobalHealth #InterculturalCommunication #PlainLanguage #Accessibility #HealthcareDesign #ClinicalTrials #PatientCentredCare

In this MedTalk, I speak with Dr. Eugene Antenucci, also known as Dr. Gene, about longevity, vitality, oral health, nutrition, movement, community, and whole-body wellness.

Instead of approaching longevity as something we need to “hack”, measure, or optimise obsessively, this conversation looks at a more human and realistic question:

How can we care for our bodies, minds, and communities in a way that supports long-term health and quality of life?

Dr. Gene shares his perspective as a dentist with more than 40 years of experience, including his holistic view of patient care. Together, we explore how health is connected to daily habits, food choices, movement, purpose, relationships, and oral health.

In this conversation, we talk about:

🦷 Oral health and whole-body health:

Why the mouth is not separate from the rest of the body, and how gum inflammation, bacteria, and oral hygiene can influence systemic health.

🌿 Longevity and vitality:

Why the goal is not only to live longer, but to stay active, connected, purposeful, and well for as long as possible.

🥗 Ancestral nutrition and modern food choices:

How whole foods, plant-focused eating, legumes, good-quality proteins, fish, and mindful food sourcing can support long-term health.

🚶 Functional movement:

Why daily movement, walking, stairs, and natural activity may matter more than extreme gym culture.

🤝 Community and purpose:

How social connection, intergenerational relationships, and having a sense of purpose can support healthy ageing.

🧠 Stress, the mouth, and the body:

How stress can show up through teeth grinding, oral symptoms, and wider health patterns.

This MedTalk is for anyone interested in healthy ageing, preventive health, oral-systemic health, holistic wellness, lifestyle medicine, vitality, and practical longevity — without the hype.

✨ Key message:

Longevity is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about honouring the body, moving daily, eating mindfully, caring for the mouth, and staying connected to people and purpose.

🎙️ About MedTalks: MedTalks is a space for conversations about medical language, healthcare, patient communication, health literacy, and the human side of medicine. Hosted by Kathrin Kunze, nurse, medical communicator, translator, author, and founder of Kathrin’s Medical Linguistics.

🌐 Website: www.kathrinkunze.com

📘 Blog: https://www.kathrinkunze.com/books/how-to-speak-cancer---the-blog/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrins-medical-linguistics/

#longevity #healthyageing #oralhealth #wholebodyhealth #healthyliving #vitality #lifestylemedicine #preventivehealth #holistichealth #wellness #nutrition #movement #communityhealth #healthcommunication #medicalcommunication #healthliteracy #patienteducation #medtalks #drgene #oralhealthiswholehealth

In this MedTalk, I speak with Lorenza Oprandi, a graduated clinicaln art therapist with a non-verbal psychotherapisty approach, a certified neuroscience practitioner, medical linguist, graduated Med-Tech, and certified clinical research coordinator, about the power of art therapy in patient care.

Lorenza gives us a deeply practical and visual introduction to art therapy as non-verbal psychotherapy, with a special focus on oncology and the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. She explains how creative expression can help patients process fear, trauma, uncertainty, pain, changes in body perception, and the feeling of helplessness that can come with illness.

This episode includes a presentation with drawings and examples from Lorenza’s therapeutic work. If you are listening on audio only, I warmly recommend watching the video version on YouTube as well, because the visual material is an important part of this MedTalk.

In this conversation, we talk about:

🎨 what art therapy is — and what it is not

🧠 how creativity, emotions, the body, and the subconscious are connected

💬 why non-verbal expression can help when words are difficult

🫶 how art therapy may support people before, during, and after cancer treatment ️

🖌️ how drawings, objects, movement, music, inner images, and stories can become part of the therapeutic process

🌱 why the focus is not on “beautiful art”, but on expression, process, relief, and meaning

🤝 how art therapy can help restore agency, self-confidence, emotional autonomy, and connection with the body

Lorenza also shares a detailed patient example from oncology rehabilitation, showing how creative work helped one patient explore internal conflict, transform fear, set boundaries, reconnect with inner resources, and find more emotional stability.

This MedTalk is for healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, medical communicators, therapists, patient advocates, and everyone interested in the human side of medicine. Because healing is not only about treatment. Sometimes, it is also about finding another language for what we carry inside, in order to better understand it and eventually to transform it.

Connect with Lorenza Oprandi Website:

https://www.bien-dans-mon-corps.ch/

Email:

contact@express-your-soul.ch

lorenza@medical-mission-booster.ch

Lorenza’s website Bien Dans Mon Corps focuses on feeling at ease in the body, rebuilding confidence, strengthening posture, and learning to accept and care for the body through non-verbal psychotherapy and coaching.

Follow your favourite channel and share this conversation with someone who may benefit from learning about the power of art therapy in patient support.

#MedTalks #ArtTherapy #NonVerbalPsychotherapy #PsychoOncology #CancerCare #PatientSupport #HealthCommunication #MedicalCommunication #PatientCentredCare #MentalHealth #TraumaSupport #Neuroscience #CreativeTherapy #OncologyCare #BodyMindConnection #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareHumanity