BACKGROUND:
This presentation examines the efficacy of immersive role-play as an innovative approach for professional development among midwives and healthcare practitioners, presenting its use in reflecting on and cultivating medical empathy. We present findings from a structured educational intervention implemented in Bucharest as part of the "Health for All Women" initiative, which aims to enhance access to reproductive healthcare and midwifery services.

OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive role-play as an educational intervention for enhancing empathic communication and patient-centered care among midwives and other healthcare professionals.

METHODS:
The educational intervention utilized scenario-based simulation derived from authentic clinical encounters within the Romanian healthcare system. Facilitated by a professional actress and an experienced midwife-educator, participants engaged with complex patient narratives involving adolescent pregnancy, intimate partner violence, healthcare access disparities, and systemic barriers to care. This methodology catalyzed critical reflection on professional ethics, empathic communication, and culturally responsive interventions in reproductive healthcare delivery

RESULTS:
The program engaged 36 healthcare professionals, including midwives, physicians, and students in healthcare disciplines. Post-intervention evaluation demonstrated exceptional outcomes, with 100% of respondents assigning the highest possible rating to content quality. Qualitative feedback indicated significant transformations in professional perspectives, with participants reporting enhanced motivation to implement intersectional and patient-centered approaches. Recurring themes in participant testimonials characterized the experience as "emotionally impactful," "professionally transformative," and "offering profound clinical insights."

CONCLUSIONS:
Immersive role-play demonstrates considerable efficacy as an educational strategy that cultivates critical clinical reasoning, empathic engagement, and nuanced understanding of sociocultural determinants in midwifery practice. We advocate for the systematic integration of experiential learning methodologies into continuing professional development programs for healthcare practitioners, as a strategic component of developing organizational cultures predicated on empathic practice and equitable reproductive healthcare delivery.

KEY MESSAGE:
Immersive roleplay serves as a transformative educational tool that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied practice in healthcare settings. Poster session 2 (Group A)