Suzanne Kurtz, PhD, is Professor Emerita at both the University of Calgary, Canada, where she was a communication specialist in the Faculty of Education and Director of the Faculty of
Medicine’s clinical communication program (1976-2005) and Washington State University, USA, where she served as Nestle Purina Professor of Clinical Communication and founding Director of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Clinical Communication Program (2006-2017).
Focusing her career on improving communication and educational practices in the professions and in the community, development of communication curricula, and clinical skills evaluation, she has worked with students, residents, practicing physicians and veterinarians across the specialties, nurses and technicians, other allied health professionals, patient and client groups, teachers, administrators.
Working locally, nationally, and internationally, Dr. Kurtz has also consulted with or advised industry partners, human and animal health-related government and professional organizations, and teachers of law. She was co-organizer for the eight International Conferences on Communication in Veterinary Medicine.
Contributing across diverse cultural and disciplinary lines, she continues to consult regarding skilled communication at all levels of human and veterinary practice and education and has collaborated on several health-related international development projects in Nepal, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. In addition to numerous presentations, articles, and chapters, her publications include several co-authored books: Multiple editions of Skills for Communicating with Patients (co-authors J Silverman, J Draper, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2022 [revised 3 rd edition]), and its companion volume entitled Teaching and Learning Communication Skills in Medicine (1998, 2005), Skills for Communicating in Veterinary Medicine (2017), Participatory Education in Cross-Cultural Settings (1997), and Communication and Counseling in Health Care (1983).