MedTalks with Kathrin

In this MedTalk, Kathrin Kunze speaks with Miriam Santos Freire about living with sickle cell disease, patient advocacy, clinical trials, and the importance of truly listening to patients. Through her personal journey with HbSS sickle cell disease , Miriam shares what it means to live with an invisible condition, navigate healthcare systems, and turn lived experience into advocacy and change. Miri...

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 ibuprofe...

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...

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...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking MedTalk, I welcome Lorna Pirozzolo from Cancer.je — an advocate, aviation professional, and woman living with incurable stage 4 breast cancer. Together, we speak openly about cancer, identity, suffering, advocacy, and one of the most polarising topics in healthcare today: assisted dying. Lorna shares her extraordinary journey – from discovering a small...

Why do many Black and Brown communities still experience deep mistrust in healthcare — and how does this affect rare disease diagnosis today? In this powerful MedTalk, global patient advocate Connie Lee Montgomery shares her lived experience with rare diseases, including Factor VII deficiency and Pemphigus vulgaris, and connects it to a history that cannot be ignored. For many Black communities, t...

What does it really take to move from translation into medical writing—and why is this shift more relevant than ever? In this MedTalk, I sit down with Ana Sofia Correia, an experienced medical translator, writer, and linguistic validation consultant, to explore how language professionals can step into a broader role as medical communicators. We talk about mindset, positioning, and practical strate...

In this MedTalk, I sit down with Dr Shalya Anand to explore a topic that affects 3.7 billion people worldwide — yet is still widely overlooked: oral health. Together, we unpack why oral health is not just about teeth, but deeply connected to overall health, prevention, and quality of life. What we discuss in this episode:Why oral diseases are one of the most widespread yet preventable health issue...

What if we could communicate — without speaking the same language at all? In this fascinating MedTalk, I sit down with artist and communication designer Juli Gudehus , who introduces Tuqtuli — a groundbreaking, language-independent communication principle based on intuitive visual signs. Together, we explore how communication can move beyond words and into something deeply human, shared, and unive...

In this episode of MedTalks, Kathrin Kunze speaks with Nicole Thorpe, a young-onset Parkinson’s advocate, about the lived reality of the disease — beyond clinical definitions. Diagnosed at 39, Nicole shares how a single sentence shaped years of silence, how fluctuating symptoms impact daily life, and why invisible aspects of the disease are often overlooked. This conversation highlights: The impor...

What is it really like to live with type 1 diabetes – for a lifetime? In this MedTalk, Angelo shares his deeply personal journey of living with diabetes mellitus type 1 for over 40 years. From his diagnosis at age 14 to navigating daily life today with advanced technology, this conversation offers an honest and powerful look into the reality behind the condition. This is not just about blood sugar...

What role do metaphors play in medical writing – and how do they shape the way patients understand health, illness, and clinical research? In this MedTalk, I am joined by Mark Gibson from the Gibson Research Consultancy (GRC) to explore the power of storytelling and metaphors in healthcare communication. This conversation dives deep into how language shapes perception, influences patient experienc...

What do oncology nurses really experience at the bedside — and how does that knowledge shape the way we communicate about cancer today? In this MedTalk, I speak with Karin Rijff, a former oncology nurse with more than 22 years of clinical experience, including work in oncology and clinical research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Today, Karin works as a sworn medical translator and linguistic...

What does it mean to truly fight to breathe? In this MedTalk, I speak with patient advocate and consultant Caleigh Haber, who has lived with Cystic Fibrosis for 35 years and has undergone two double lung transplants and three open-heart surgeries. What began as a conversation about patient engagement quickly became something deeper — a powerful story about resilience, family support, survival, and...

This MedTalk was more than a conversation — it was an experience. In this deeply moving episode, I welcomed Nur Ferrante Morales — linguist, healthcare professional, poet, and person living with Multiple Sclerosis — to share what it truly means to live, work, and heal across all sides of the healthcare table. And yes, I mean this literally:Everybody in the world should have a Nur in their backyard...

What a conversation. What a group. What a powerful reminder of why patient voices matter so deeply in research and clinical care. We had the privilege of hearing from David Chuter, long-standing cancer survivor and advocate, who shared his journey from diagnosis to building support structures and shaping research culture. His commitment to collaboration across patient organisations — instead of du...

In this MedTalk, I’m joined by Andrea Behrendt — breast cancer survivor, medical communicator, and collaborator on How to Speak Cancer — for an honest and deeply human conversation about breast cancer, diagnosis, treatment, and life after cancer. Andrea shares her personal journey from an initial DCIS diagnosis to invasive ductal carcinoma, including how her diagnosis was delayed, what it felt lik...

Some of the most meaningful conversations happen when things don’t go according to plan. Due to a time-management mix-up with our scheduled speakers, we had to improvise. And in that moment, Emma Goldenberg generously stepped in and offered to share her work and experience as a medical interpreter in trauma-intense environments. Emma works in pediatric emergency care and in residential centers for...

In this Med Talk on Cervical Health Awareness for Young People, medical communicator, nurse, and author Kathrin Kunze discusses cervical cancer and HPV in clear, accessible language. This session covers:✔ What HPV is and how it’s transmitted✔ Why HPV infection does not automatically mean cervical cancer✔ The role of vaccination for girls and boys (ages 9–14 and beyond)✔ The importance of Pap and H...

What if language were treated not as an afterthought, but as a structural element of clinical research? In this MedTalk episode, we explore how language shapes patient experience, trust, recruitment, and retention in clinical trials. Together with Laura Rolfi and Claudia Bayá Crapuchett, we open an honest, practice-driven conversation about why patient-centered research cannot exist without patien...

In this MedTalk, I had the great pleasure of welcoming Kim Winqvist and Eva Nyblom for a deeply inspiring conversation about EUPATI – the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation. EUPATI is a powerful initiative dedicated to strengthening patient education and enabling meaningful patient involvement in research, drug development, and regulatory processes. In this conversation, Kim shar...

In this MedTalk, Jamie Tierney shares his family’s journey after his son was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) at age three. Jamie describes the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the obstacles faced in accessing clinical trials, and the creation of DMD Access and Innovation to support other families. Joining him in conversation:Keith Berelowitz, on the importance of patient advocac...

In this insightful conversation, I introduce Keith Berelowitz, a scientist and seasoned clinical research leader with over 20 years of experience in human trials. Keith shares the story behind pRxEngage, a tech-driven platform designed to make clinical trial participation accessible, meaningful, and human-centered.pRxEngage goes beyond medical eligibility—it looks at a person’s behavioral fit and...

✨ Welcome to the second part of the Medtalks webinar series – a session full of insights on patient-facing documents, linguistic validation, and truly listening to the patient voice. Due to a little technical hiccup, the very beginning of the talk didn’t make it into the recording – but don’t worry, the remaining 50 minutes are packed with engaging content.🔹 What you’ll hear in this webinar:Mark...

Listen to a great conversation with Samuel, Sébastien Rousseaux, and Leon about how Med Planet operates since becoming part of the M3 group in early 2023. 🚀We explored how Med Planet specializes in medical and pharmaceutical market research translation, and the qualities that make freelance translators truly stand out — from flexibility and a strong can-do attitude, to excellent communication ski...