About Reactivate

Kathy Otto started working with GP educators 22 years ago as an advanced roleplay actor. In collaboration with medical educators, trainers and GP’s, she has developed and delivered the PTK communications course for IMGs for the past 15 years.

As well as running the PTK course, Kathy has worked with many trainees and non-medical members of staff individually, who were struggling with an aspect of communication which was impacting their lives. She also has a vast amount of personal lived experiences with the NHS, social care and education, having been a foster carer and teacher in the past, and brings all those skills into the Reactivate Courses.

The first PTK course evolved from an initial chat with five international trainees looking at linguistics. They

shared the highs and lows of their amazing journeys, and we explored their unique experiences being new to the UK and the NHS. This led us to a greater understanding of how best we can support them.

Very soon the PTK course had grown into a safe space which looked not only at how everyone spoke, but what they said, and as importantly, how they felt. Learning from the challenges of the past, the current, and the future.

Working with those for whom English is a second language, and/or addressing cultural differences has

been at the forefront of our PTK work. We have also developed successful techniques and programs for

working with neurodivergent individuals and those struggling with anxiety or stress-related issues.

Having gained a clear insight into the needs of both the trainers and the trainees, and through developing techniques to help to understand and to be understood linguistically and culturally, and learning how to fit in both in and out of the work setting: The Reactivate Communication Courses were born.