The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi, has urged medical and dental students to treat patients with compassion and empathy, stressing that these values are just as important as professional knowledge and skills.
He explained that many patients meet doctors and other health professionals when they are sick, worried or afraid. For this reason, he said, medical practitioners must learn to communicate clearly, show understanding and reassure patients throughout their treatment.
Prof. Antwi-Kusi gave the advice at the third White Coat Ceremony organised for students of the KNUST School of Medical Sciences and School of Dentistry.
The ceremony was held under the theme, “Embracing the White Coat: A Commitment to Compassion, Integrity and Excellence in Patient Care.”
Addressing the students, he encouraged them to reflect on how their behaviour, attitude and communication could affect the experiences of the people they treat. He noted that having medical knowledge alone was not enough to provide quality healthcare.
“Never let competence replace compassion. You will learn to diagnose, operate, resuscitate and prescribe. But patients experience you, not your knowledge alone. Sometimes the most powerful medicine is simply saying, I understand you are frightened. Let me explain what is happening.
“We will stay with you through this. Ask yourself, if this were my father, how would I want him to be treated? Treat every patient as though he or she is your relative,” he said.
Prof. Antwi-Kusi further explained that being a medical professional involves more than identifying illnesses and providing treatment. According to him, doctors must also pay attention to the feelings and concerns of patients and their families.
He stressed that showing empathy should not be seen as a sign of weakness but as an important part of being a professional healthcare provider.
“Medicine is not only about what doctors do. It is also about how patients feel and how families feel. Empathy is not weakness. It is professionalism,” he added.
His message served as a reminder to the medical and dental students that as they begin their professional journeys, they must combine their medical skills with kindness, respect and genuine concern for the people they care for.
