Fernando Salvetti – e-REAL Labs at Logosnet
Barbara Bertagni – e-REAL Labs at Logosnet
Roxane Gardner – Harvard Center for Medical Simulation
Jenny Rudolph – Harvard Center for Medical Simulation
Alexander Croft – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
This engaging and transformative workshop is designed to empower medical professionals with essential communication skills. Through immersive experiences with diverse and inclusive digital avatars, participants will learn to recognize and manage biases, master non-verbal communication, and adopt a patient-centered approach when delivering challenging medical news. This concise yet impactful session emphasizes the vital role of diversity and inclusion in effective communication, equipping attendees with the tools and mindset necessary for compassionate and empathetic healthcare interactions. Participants will leave with enhanced abilities, a deeper understanding of inclusivity, and the confidence to navigate difficult conversations with sensitivity and expertise.
The primary aim is to equip medical professionals with the skills and mindset needed to deliver difficult medical news with empathy, sensitivity, and inclusivity. We intend to achieve this by harnessing the power of diverse and inclusive conversational digital human avatars, providing a safe and immersive environment for practice and learning.
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize and manage personal biases and emotions during difficult
- Utilize non-verbal communication effectively to convey empathy and
- Apply a patient-centered approach to delivering difficult
- Provide timely and appropriate feedback to colleagues in similar
Main Presenter:
Fernando Salvetti, PhD, is a globally recognized strategist, educator, and innovator in immersive learning, artificial intelligence, and extended reality (XR). As the founder and managing partner of Logosnet and e-REAL Labs (Turin, Lugano, Houston and New York), Dr. Salvetti has spent over two decades designing and implementing transformative training solutions for organizations across sectors, including education, healthcare, corporate development, and international institutions.
Dr. Salvetti’s interdisciplinary expertise spans epistemology, anthropology, and jurisprudence, enabling him to address complex challenges through innovative approaches that integrate technology and human-centric design. A pioneer in the application of generative AI and immersive technologies, he has developed cutting-edge tools such as AI-driven avatars and XR platforms to foster critical thinking, decision-making, and cross-cultural competence.
An accomplished author and speaker, Dr. Salvetti frequently contributes to international conferences, sharing insights on leadership, digital transformation, and the future of learning. His commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice has made him a leader in shaping the evolution of professional training and organizational development worldwide. Editor of several books and author of many scientific articles, among his latest engagements as a speaker there are the 8th annual Tristate Simulation Symposium at Mount Sinai West (New York 2024), TLIC2024, IMSH2024, SESAM2024, ASPiH 2024, the Harvard Center for Medical Simulation in Boston, the Global Thinkers Forum in London, the Italian Air Force Meeting on Leadership, etc.
Co-Presenters:
Barbara Bertagni, PhD, is a psychologist, philosopher, and corporate educator with extensive experience in designing and delivering innovative training programs for professionals across industries. A co-founder of Logosnet and the e-REAL Labs (Turin, Lugano, Houston, New York), she specializes in leveraging immersive technologies, including AI-driven avatars and extended reality (XR), to create impactful learning experiences that foster critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and cross-cultural competence.
Dr. Bertagni has collaborated with global organizations, universities, and institutions, applying her interdisciplinary expertise to areas such as healthcare training, leadership development, and sustainability education. Her work combines academic rigor with practical application, enabling individuals and teams to thrive in complex, dynamic environments.
With a strong academic foundation in epistemology and anthropology, Dr. Bertagni is also an accomplished author and speaker, contributing to international conferences and publications on topics including human behavior, immersive learning, and AI in education. Her commitment to innovation and excellence continues to shape the future of professional training and development.
Roxane Gardner, MD, MPH, DSc, is a highly accomplished physician, educator, and leader in the field of medical simulation and healthcare training. She serves as the Executive Director at the Harvard Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) in Boston, where she is instrumental in advancing the use of simulation-based education to improve patient safety, team performance, and clinical outcomes.
With a multidisciplinary background in medicine, public health, and healthcare systems design, Dr. Gardner has developed and implemented cutting-edge training programs that combine real-world scenarios with immersive learning techniques. Her expertise extends to interprofessional education, leadership development, and the application of generative artificial intelligence to enhance medical training.
Dr. Gardner is a sought-after speaker and consultant, contributing to global initiatives aimed at reducing medical errors and fostering a culture of continuous learning in healthcare. Her passion for innovation and her commitment to improving the quality of care make her a pioneer and visionary in the field of medical education.
Jenny Rudolph, PhD, is a renowned educator, researcher, and innovator in the field of simulation-based healthcare training. As the Senior Director for Innovation at the Harvard Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) in Boston, she has led transformative efforts to enhance clinical education and team performance using cutting-edge simulation technologies and evidence-based methodologies.
Dr. Rudolph’s expertise lies in the intersection of healthcare, communication, and behavioral science, focusing on debriefing, reflective practice, and psychological safety in training environments. Her pioneering work in simulation has advanced the development of curricula that improve patient care, foster collaboration, and reduce errors in high-stakes medical settings.
An influential thought leader, Dr. Rudolph is a sought-after speaker and contributor to global conferences and publications on medical education, leadership development, and the integration of artificial intelligence in training. Her commitment to fostering learning environments that promote trust, curiosity, and innovation continues to shape the future of healthcare education worldwide.
Alexander Croft, MD, is a dynamic physician-educator and leader in medical simulation and emergency medicine. He serves as the Assistant Medical Director at the Howard and Joyce Wood Simulation Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He also holds key roles as Co-Director of Simulation, Director of the In-Situ Simulation for Acute Care (ISSAC) Program, and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Croft specializes in simulation-based education, focusing on enhancing clinical team performance, communication, and the integration of human factors in high-stakes environments. His work bridges clinical practice and education, using in-situ simulation to identify and mitigate latent safety threats, strengthen interprofessional collaboration, and improve patient outcomes.
Recognized for his excellence in teaching and research, Dr. Croft has received multiple awards, including the Golden Stethoscope Award (2022), Best Research Presentation from the SAEM Simulation Academy (2022), and Chief Resident of the Year (2021). His innovative contributions continue to shape the future of emergency medicine training and simulation-based quality improvement.