Presence Team Presents DREAM Guideline Workshop at SAAHE 2025

We are delighted to share that the Presence Team from North-West University presented an in-conference workshop at the South African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) 2025 conference, titled:

“Leading by Example: Cultivating Presence Practices for Health Professions Educators”

Facilitated by Dr Kathleen Froneman, Prof Tinda Rabie, Mrs Anna-Therese Swart, Dr Khumo Shopo, and Mrs Babalwe Tau—affiliated with the NuMIQ Focus Area at North-West University's Potchefstroom Campus—the workshop brought together educators and researchers from across the health professions to engage in the principles and practice of presence in teaching.

In health professions education, presence is not only a relational practice but also a critical leadership quality. Educators shape future practitioners not just through knowledge, but through how they model attentiveness, compassion, and engagement. This workshop invited participants to explore and embody the DREAM Guideline, which stands for:

• Dedication: “Doing the best you can”

• Respect through Relationship: “Good care is about perspective, connecting and attuning”

• Environment: “Supporting good care through relational management”

• Art of Healthcare, Attitude & Advocacy: “Understanding is where change can start”

• Motivation: “Good care requires readiness”

Through interactive activities—including mindfulness exercises, the reflective "garden exercise," role-playing, and small group discussions, participants explored how presence can be cultivated and sustained in both educational and clinical settings. The workshop created a space for educators to reflect deeply on their own teaching practices, share challenges and successes, and develop actionable strategies to strengthen their presence with students.

One of the key outcomes of this workshop was the establishment of a professional network for future collaboration among participants committed to enhancing the learning environment through presence. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants noting the relevance, depth, and emotional resonance of the experience.

Together, we continue to lead by example—fostering presence, connection, and compassion in health professions education.