Machines That Care: Can Social Robots Redefine Human-Centered Healthcare?

From hospitals to homes, social robots are entering everyday care, supporting patients, assisting caregivers, and helping manage tasks from monitoring to rehabilitation. But what happens to trust, empathy, and human connection when machines take on these roles? Can they ease workforce shortages and improve quality of care without replacing essential human judgment? This session explores how these technologies are reshaping care and what it will take to integrate them responsibly.