They use “everyday language” to explain how the vestibular system works, as well as the innovation that is the result of many years of work. “It’s not a scientific treatise or an incomprehensible technical explanation,” emphasizes Charlotte Wiersma, Health University board member. “Our meetings are intended for laypersons, ‘ordinary’ people who are interested in health and curious about what researchers and doctors are inventing and working on. This is the goal of the Healthuni: to inform a broad public in way they can understand. After the presentations, the audience has the opportunity to ask questions.”

Audience

The Health University was founded in 2012 by medical students at Maastricht University with support from MUMC+ and later, Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus. Each year, two series of five sessions each are held on a particular theme. “The first part of the evening might feature a lecture on the heart, for example, which is given by a doctor. After the lecture, education groups are formed with students who engage in a dialog with the audience. The challenge is to make sure everyone can understand what we’re talking about. For us as medical students, this is essential. After all, we will also be expected to explain to patients what is going on and which treatments we recommend. Gone are the days when doctors could communicate using often incomprehensible medical terminology.”