Nuria Fernandez, Online Education Specialist at Kenes Group, has been awarded the IAPCO Innovation Award 2025 for her visionary work on the AI-powered simulation training course, Mastering Sensitive Discussions on Weight Management. The award was presented by IAPCO President Sissi Lignou at the IMEX Frankfurt Gala Dinner on 21 May, recognising bold ideas that create real-world change across the meetings and professional education industry.
Kenes Group celebrates 60 years of transforming medical education, and this award highlights their commitment to innovation and empowering knowledge through cutting-edge technology.
Nuria’s course, hosted on UNLOK Education — Kenes Group’s proprietary digital learning platform — is a breakthrough in online learning. The 15-minute simulation equips healthcare professionals to handle emotionally sensitive conversations, particularly with patients living with chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes. It combines actor-led scenarios with emotional recognition AI, analysing facial expressions, tone of voice, and engagement to provide personalised feedback aimed at improving both verbal and non-verbal communication.
“We saw the potential to use emotional recognition AI to help healthcare professionals handle conversations with their patients more sensitively and without judgment,” said Nuria Fernandez. “This technology provides an opportunity for self-reflection and growth in a way that traditional training does not.”
Since its launch at the ATTD 2024 Congress, the course has reached over 300 healthcare professionals worldwide and has been praised for its human-centric, tech-forward approach. It addresses difficult topics such as weight and chronic illness by fostering a safe environment for building empathy, communication skills, and confidence — ultimately improving patient outcomes.
As Kenes Group celebrates 60 years of advancing medical education, this award underscores its ongoing commitment to innovation and enhancing healthcare through transformative technology.
