Lions Health to discuss better consumer and patient engagement

Lions Health is a new bespoke international Festival celebrating the power of creativity in healthcare marketing and communications, taking place in Cannes, France, 13-14 June 2014. Experts from around the world will take to the stage as part of the international line-up of award-winning advertising creatives and healthcare professionals at the forefront of the industry who will be imparting their knowledge and experience.

“As a global event, our aim is to provide a platform where the healthcare communications industry from all corners of the globe can meet, learn and discuss how to better apply creative excellence that will result in better consumer and patient engagement,” comments Louise Benson, Lions Health Festival Director.

Newly confirmed speakers include:

Takenori Takebe, Associate Professor, Medical Faculty, Yokohama City University and Masaya Shimizu, Planning Director, Dentsu, will discuss the challenges faced in a country like Japan, where 25% of the population is over 65 years old, to improve communications and creativity that lead to a change in people’s daily behaviours and align life expectancy with quality of life rather than mere longevity.

Dr Myriam Sidibe, Unilever-Lifebuoy Global Social Mission Director and Samir Singh, Global Brand Vice President For Unilever in Personal Care Category are the people behind the award winning Lifebuoy’s Help a Child Reach 5 campaign, which has already reached 183 million people, where imparting a lifesaving hand washing habit is helping halve the two million annual deaths of children under five from diarrhoeal disease. On stage they will explore how social purpose and creativity go hand in hand and how being transparent about the commercial opportunities in a social cause liberates accelerated growth.

Rita Charon, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of the Program in Narrative Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons together with Donna Murphy & Doug Burcin, Global CEOs, Havas Health will present ‘How the Story Is Changing: The Power of Narrative Medicine’, a compelling and moving seminar, explaining how genuine contact with patients can lead to a deeper understanding of their needs, their illness and more effective ways of treating them. Using a mix of science, anthropology, reality programming and emotion, this session explores the doctor-patient relationship and offers a practical guide for implementing narrative methods in healthcare communication.

John McCarthy, Vice President, GlobalCommercial Excellence, AstraZeneca and Ewen Sturgeon, Chief Executive, International, DigitasLBi will give an exclusive first look at their ground-breaking global strategic partnership to co-create digital products and services that reframe the challenges faced in healthcare to benefit doctors and possibly improve the lives of patients.

The first Lions Health Festival will offer two-days of compelling thought-provoking content, inspiring screenings and exhibitions of all the latest healthcare marketing communications from around the world, unrivalled networking opportunities, and will culminate in the first Lions Health trophies being presented to the winners at a dedicated awards ceremony taking place in the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Saturday 14 June.