WONCA News March 2024

WONCAPRESIDENT

NEWS

EXECUTIVEMEMBERATLARGE ADJPROFESSORKARENPRICE(AUSTRALIA)

EXECUTIVEMEMBERATLARGE DRMARÍAPILARASTIERPEÑA(SPAIN)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCAAFRICA DRJANEFRANCESNAMATOVU(UGANDA)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCAASIAPACIFIC DR BRIANCHANG(TAIWAN)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCAEAST MEDITERRANEAN

DRABDULAZIZMAHMOODNASSERAL-MAHREZI(OMAN)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCAEUROPE PROFSHLOMOVINKER (ISRAEL)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCAIBEROAMERICANACIMF DRDORAPATRICIABERNALOCAMPO(COLOMBIA)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCANORTHAMERICA DRVICTORKNG(CANADA)

REGIONALPRESIDENT,WONCASOUTHASIA DRKANAPATHIPILLAISRIRANJAN(SRILANKA)

YOUNGDOCTORS'REPRESENTATIVE DRCHANYUENCHINGCHERYL(HONGKONG)

WONCACHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICER DRHARRISLYGIDAKIS

WONCAWORLDSECRETARIAT WORLDORGANIZATIONOFFAMILYDOCTORS AVENUEDESARTS7-8 1210BRUSSELS BELGIUM

EMAIL:SECRETARIAT@WONCANET PHONE:+32(0)23290075

WONCAEDITOR DIARMUIDHAYES

EMAIL:COMMUNICATIONS@WONCANET

FROM THE PRESIDENT

WONCA Conferences

Looking forward, looking back.

It's time to start thinking of WONCA conferencesagain

With some early bird registrations and abstract submissions closing soon, it's importanttostartthinkingaboutattendinga WONCAconferencein2024.

First coming up is the WONCA South Asian regionconferenceinColombo,SriLanka.It celebratesthegolden50thanniversaryofthe CollegeofGeneralPractitionersofSriLanka

who are hosting their third WONCA region conference. So why not join them in their celebrations?

WhygotoaWONCAconference?

FUN

We had a fabulous time celebrating another Golden anniversary celebration, then of the Philippines Academy of Family Physicians in conjunction with the WONCA Asia Pacific conferenceheldinCebu,ThePhilippines

LEARNING ABOUT OTHERS

As a rural doctor I'll be going to our WONCA WorldRuralconferenceinCapeTown,South Africa,tohearabouttheworkinglivesofmy colleagues in other countries and the problems we share with our rurality. Called “Ubuntu”, it is a joint conference with the NetworkforUnityforHealth(TUFH)andour Working Party on Rural Practice It comes to one of the world's great tourist venues –CapeTown

Photo: A Golden Anniversary celebrated in 2012 in Cebu, when not only women but the men (here their past presidents) wore gold

There'salsoagreatfour-daypostconference tour visiting clinics, academic institutions and enjoying some great scenery. This will bring back memories of another WONCA Rural post conference tour in Tacloban, The Philippines OurSouthAfricancolleagueand past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice, Prof Ian Couper was caught oncamera,ingreatspirits

FRIENDSHIPS

In1998,IwenttomyfirstWONCAconference in Dublin, Ireland so this year’s WONCA Europe conference returning to Dublin, will bring back memories. That last conference was held in an unfinished conference centre (or was it a tent?), but I didn't notice the difficulties – for me it was such a fantastic experience

WONCA for me has been about meeting colleagues, making connections and enjoying friendships. At that 1998 conference,Imadefriendswithcolleaguesat who I still know today Sharifa Sorayya Mahmoud Jamalullail, from Malaysia was one of them In 1998 she was brave enough to stand next to a giant leprechaun for a photo!InSydney25yearslater,shecameto celebrate with me as I became WONCA President.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ireland’s National Holiday

17 March

Photo: Dr Ian Couper, then chair of ‘WONCA Rural’ enjoying the post conference tour in Tacloban, the Philippines in 2011.

Photo: Sorayya Mahmoud with leprechaun in 1998 and with the President in Sydney 2023

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Learning about culture is another part of WONCA conferences so we do wonder what our WONCA Africa conference in Nairobi, Kenya, will bring in June The theme is tantalising: “Drumming for change in Africa: Building Resilient Primary Healthcare Systems, A Focus on Innovations and Sustainability”

AnimageofourRuralleadersinAfricaisnot at WONCA Africa conference but it’s such an iconicimageIhavetoincludeit

NETWORKING IN OUR HOME REGIONS

Being from the Asia Pacific region, I have of course been to many of my own regional conferences, and it's certainly great seeing allmyfriendsfromourregionagain

WONCA Asia Pacific conference is in Singapore,inAugust Lastyear,backinJune I had the pleasure of sharing a meal when I passed through Singapore, with my friends leading the College of Family Physicians Singapore (CFPS) conference – they’ve done afantasticWONCAWorldconferencebefore, andthiswillbefantasticaswell!

This year is packed with WONCA region eventsforeveryone,whynottryoneout!

The full list of this year’s conferences are on thenextpage

And if you really want to plan ahead, don’t forget our next world conference coming in September2025inLisbon,Portugal

Photo: Rural WONCA leaders invested as honorary chiefs in Calabar, Nigeria 2008: Roger Strasser (then from Canada), Ndifreke Udonwa (host), Ian Couper (South Africa), Victor Inem (Nigeria), Bruce Chater (Australia)

Photo: Dinner with CFPS VIP group (front right around table to front left) LOW Lien Teng, HOC chair; Suraj KUMAR, Vice President CFPS; WONG Tien Hua, CFPS President ; myself; Scientific Committee co-chairs Darren SEAH and Grace CHAN; and Jennifer Lau CFPS manager

D A T E S WONCA Conferences 2024

03 - 05 MAY 2024

WONCA South Asia Region Conference 2024

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

05 - 08 JUNE 2024

8th WONCA Africa Region Conference 2024

NAIROBI, KENYA

21 - 24 AUGUST 2024

WONCA Asia Pacific Region Conference 2024

SINGAPORE

H

10 - 13 SEPTEMBER 2024

WONCA Rural - Ubuntu 2024

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

25 - 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

29th WONCA Europe Conference 2024

S A V E

DUBLIN, IRELAND

OCTOBER 2024

WONCA East Mediterranean Conference 2024

LOCATION TBC

24 - 26 OCTOBER 2024

WONCA Iberoamerican - CIMF Region Conference 2024

PAMANA CITY, PANAMA

TRANSFORMING FAMILY PRACTICE FOR A GREENER FUTURE

HEALTHY PLANET, HEALTHY PEOPLE.

Presenting the WONCA Working Party (WP) on Planetary Health, then established in 2007 as the Special Interest Group (SIG) on the Environment It has been an active SIG from the beginning and as a result was upgraded to the status of Working Party, in December,2011

An interesting email discussion among the members of the WP took place last July prompted by Alan, our provost and past chair The discussion revolved around an update of the name of the WP according to the current context The vision of the WP is ‘Healthy people, healthy communities and healthy ecosystems on a healthy planet’ Many members highlighted that the name WPonthe‘Environment’didnotsufficiently cover the areas highlighted in the vision statement It was a lively discussion where we saw a significant contribution from the members While the dialogue was flourishing, the concepts such as ‘planetary health’, ‘one health’ and ‘eco health’ also came into the conversation where their definitionsandprosandconswerecritically discussed The majority of the members felt that the word ‘planetary health’ is more appropriate

The concept of planetary health has been developed by The Rockefeller FoundationLancet Commission on planetary health Planetary Health is defined as the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends. It acknowledges the inter-dependability of the humans and the eco systems for their wellbeing

Going with the majority’s decision, the WP forwarded the proposal of name change to the WONCA Executive Committee and the new name, WONCA Working Party on Planetary Health was approved in August 2023

Despite the name change, we continue to keep the hummingbird in our logo unchanged which always reminds us of the obligation we have towards our planet and to do the best possible we can to mitigate climatechange!

Photo: A meeting of the the then SIG on Environment in Cancun, Mexico, 2010.

WONCA PLANETARY HEALTH EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE EVENTS POLICY

Among many achievements, compiling the ‘WONCA Planetary Health Equitable and Sustainable Event Policy’ was a major accomplishmentoftheWPinthelastyear Familydoctorsneedtominimisetheircarbon footprintintheirpersonallives,atwork,and across WONCA in order to address environmental sustainability Although WONCA could boast about having a long tradition of offering world-class events for family doctors, big events can have a significant carbon impact Nonetheless, it is essential to have opportunities to network and meet family doctors from across the world,whetherthroughvirtual,hybrid,orinperson gatherings It's critical to lessen the impactoftheseconferencesandmeetingson theenvironment,particularlywhentheytake place in person When it comes to social justice,high-incomecountrieshostingevents have a greater responsibility to ensure that they are conducted in an environmentally friendly manner This is due to the fact that wealthy nations have historically made higher contributions to climate change, profitedfromtheresultingeconomicgrowth,

and have had more resources to adopt sustainablepractices

Whencompilingtheabovepolicydocument, the team considered different aspects of carbon emissions that take place in conferences and meetings and referred to many documents to make the policy document a comprehensive guide. This policy includes recommendations for sustainable practices in the areas of venue, accommodation, transportation, food and beverage, waste, material use and merchandise related to an event It has also elaborated on the importance of carbon accounting and offsetting, monitoring the progress and reporting to the delegates/stakeholders and raising awareness on sustainability Its recommendationsaresimpleandbrief

To make it further user-friendly, a ‘Checklist for Planetary Health Equitable and Sustainable Conference and Event Planning’ hasbeenaddedattheendofthedocument The checklist has been prepared in such a way to make it equitable, where certain actions are expected to be undertaken in all settings (must do) with some optional items which are expected to be implemented especiallybyhigh-incomecountries WONCA has started encouraging the regions to consider implementation of the sustainable event policy in regional conferences and events.Itisintendedtomakeitapartofthe formalagreementofWONCAwiththeregions in organising the regional conferences from the year 2025 showing the commitment of WONCA to planetary health as a green organisation

Read the WONCA Planetary Health Equitable and Sustainable Event Policy

Photo: Dr Catherine Pendrey (Australia) and other delegates on ‘Green Day’ at the WONCA World conference in Sydney, October 2023

WORLD FAMILY DOCTOR DAY 2024: HEALTHY PLANET, HEALTHY PEOPLE.

WONCA is getting ready to celebrate the World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) on 19th of May2024underthethemeof‘HealthyPeople -HealthyPlanet’ Thisthemefallsinlinewith WONCA President’s vision for the next two years,WONCAtobeseenasa“Greenleader” by our Member Organisations and other small international not-for-profit organisations – leading by example in green initiatives

The WP on Planetary Health is delighted to contributetotheWFDD2024withanarrayof activities to make family doctors more sensitise about climate change and our commitmentsinplanetaryhealthcare

Weinviteallfamilydoctorstojoinhandswith the WONCA WP on Planetary Health in this journeybybeingrolemodelsandthechange agents!

DIGITAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR FAMILY DOCTORS WORLDWIDE

A WONCA COLLABORATIVE FUND PROJECT

WONCA is excited to introduce the second Collaborative Fund project that aims to transform digital health training for general practitioners(GPs)andfamilydoctorsacross the globe As the demand on primary care services grows worldwide, the need for innovative solutions becomes more apparent. Digital health technologies stand at the forefront of these solutions, offering new ways to enhance care quality and sustainability

However, the effectiveness of digital health in everyday practice depends heavily on our family doctors' ability to use these technologies Current educational programs often lack comprehensive digital health training, leaving a noticeable gap in digital health literacy among practitioners Recognizingthis,WONCAhasembarkedona missiontobridgethisgapthroughourlatest project.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

We are at a critical juncture in the evolution ofprimarycare,andyoursupportcanmakea significant difference By contributing to our crowdfunding campaign, you are not just funding a project; you are investing in the future of healthcare. A future where digital health is an integral part of primary care, enhancing patient and doctor experiences alike

We urge all family doctors to join us in this endeavour Share our promotional material, spreadtheword,andlet'stogetherpavethe way for a digitally proficient healthcare future Your support is vital in making this visionareality

LIKE & SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

FIVE STAR DOCTOR AWARD

WONCA REGIONAL FIVE STAR AWARD 2024 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Wewouldliketoinviteyournominationsfor the WONCA Regional Five Star Award 2024. WONCA’sawardofExcellenceinHealthCare iscalledtheFiveStarDoctorAward

Anomineemusthavetheattributesofa 5-StarDoctor

A nominee should be a practising family doctor and may also be involved in academicwork.

A nominee must be a member of a WONCA Full Member Organisation/ Associate Member Organisation or Academic member or an Individual Directmemberintheirownright

A nominee may be acknowledged for innovativeornewservicesdeveloped/ A nominee may work outside his or her region.

It can be awarded annually by each region. Those who receive the Regional 5-Star Doctor will be considered automatically as candidates for the Global 5-Star Doctor Award,whichisawardedbiannuallyandwill be announced in 2025 at the WONCA World ConferenceinLisbon,Portugal,2025.

Deadlinefornominationsis Monday1April2024.

NominationsfortheAwardshouldbeonthe linkedNominationForm

Got someone in mind who embodies the heartandsouloffamilymedicine?Now'sthe timetoshineaspotlightontheirdedication! NominateyourherofortheWONCARegional Five Star Award 2024. Let's celebrate those makingarealdifferenceinourcommunities Don't miss the chance to give them the recognition they truly deserve Click, nominate,andlet'smakeheroesknown!

ATTRIBUTES OF A FIVE STAR DOCTOR:

1

2

3

A care provider who considers the patientasanintegralpartofafamily and the community and provides a high standard of clinical care (excluding or diagnosing serious illness and injury, managing chronic disease and disability and provides personalised preventive care whilst building a trusting patient-doctor relationship;

A decision maker who chooses whichtechnologiestoapplyethically and cost-effectively while enhancing thecarethatheorsheprovides;

A communicator who is able to promote healthy life-styles by emphatic explanation, thereby empowering individuals and groups toenhanceandprotecttheirhealth;

4 5

A community leader who has won thetrustofthepeopleamongwhom he or she works, who can reconcile individual and community health requirements and initiate action on behalfofthecommunity;

A team member who can work harmoniously with individuals and organisations, within and outside the health care system, to meet his or her patients and community's needs.

FIVE STAR DOCTOR AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

We are proud to spotlight Dr Suha Hamshariasthedistinguishedrecipientof the 2023 WONCA Global Five Star Doctor Award She graciously accepted her award through a heartfelt video message during the WONCA conference in Sydney, October2023

UNYIELDING DEDICATION AMIDST ADVERSITY

Dr.Hamshari'spathtobecomingafamily doctor is a story of remarkable perseverance. Graduating from the only Family Medicine residency in the Occupied Territories of Palestine in 2015, her medical school journey was punctuated by the challenges of the heightened violence in her region. On occasions, the city of Nablus's lockdown forced her to resort to riding a donkey to attend her classes, illustrating her unwavering commitment to her educationandfuturepatients

A VISIONARY IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PATIENT CARE

Dr Suha Hamshari's visionary leadership ledtotheestablishmentofthefirstfamily medicineclinicatAn-NajahNational

SUHA HAMSHARI

VISIONARY FAMILY DOCTOR AND EDUCATOR

Head of the Palestinian Association of Family Medicine.

Assistant Professor at An-Najah National University, Nablus.

University. This clinic serves as a model for comprehensive primary healthcare, offering a range of services to patients of all ages. By integrating family medicine into the curriculum and providing hands-on training, Dr Hamshari hascontributedtothegrowthandrecognitionof this vital field in Palestine Her efforts towards securing international medical education accreditation through TEPDAD highlight her commitment to elevating medical education standardsinPalestine

CHAMPIONING FAMILY MEDICINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

Dr Hamshari'scontributionsextendbeyondher roles in academia and clinic leadership After completing her residency, she joined the residencyfaculty,playingacrucialrolein

crafting the curriculum and coordinating a virtual tutoring program sponsored by the UK NGOs Foundation of Family Medicine for Palestine (FFMP) and Medical Aid to Palestinians (MAP) This initiative underscoresherdedicationtoenhancingthe educational resources available to family medicineresidents.

As a founding member of the Palestinian Association of Family Medicine (PAFM) in 2016, Dr Hamshari has been a driving force behind organizing three international conferences and developing a continuing education program for family physicians in Palestine, including those in Gaza. Her leadership as the first female head of the association in the Palestinian general medical society marks a historic milestone forwomeninhealthcareleadershiproles

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION FOR LOCAL IMPACT

Dr. Hamshari's work is also characterised by her international collaborations, which have significantlycontributedtothedevelopment of family medicine in Palestine Partnering with British doctors, she has co-organized numerous workshops for medical faculty, residents,andstudents.Herpartnershipwith a US Fulbright scholar from 2019 to 2022 facilitated faculty development and resulted in several published manuscripts on international collaboration in family medicine

Dr Hamshari represents the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) in WONCA's Organizational Equity Committee (OEC). Her role allows her to collaborate with international peers, sharing knowledge and advocating for the advancement of family medicine on a global scale Additionally, her active involvement in the WONCA Working Party on Women in Family Medicine underscoresherdedicationtothe

empowerment of women in healthcare By championingwomen'srightsandinclusionin the medical field, Dr. Hamshari inspires female doctors worldwide to break barriers andachieveexcellence

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION FOR LOCAL IMPACT

Dr. Hamshari's journey from navigating the challenges of medical education during a period of intense conflict to becoming a global advocate for family medicine is a testament to her resilience, expertise, and leadership Her pursuit of a Master's degree in Medical Education at Dundee University, supported by a scholarship, further exemplifies her commitment to lifelong learningandadvancementinherfield

WONCA proudly recognizes Dr Suha Hamshari for her exceptional contributions to family medicine, medical education, and healthcare advocacy. Her passion, leadership, and dedication continue to inspireandshapethefutureofhealthcarein Palestine and beyond, embodying the true spiritofaWONCAGlobalFiveStarDoctor

WATCH DR. HAMSHARI’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024

International Women's Day (IWD) is a day to celebrate and honour the achievements of women who have made a difference in the world through equity, justice, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence toward women Theyhavetrulyraisedawarenessof gender equity and significantly contributed tosociety.

If women are good managers at home, they can also be excellent managers elsewhere The United Nations theme for this InternationalWomen'sDayis"CountHerIn: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress." This recognises the significant impact women can have on global progress. Have we realised the magnitude of a woman's contribution?Let’slookatsomeexamples:

Marie Curie, a Polish-French physicist and chemist, discovered polonium and radium, pioneeringthefieldofradioactivity.Shewas the first female professor at the Sorbonne UniversityinParis

Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmental activist, founded the Green Belt Movement andwasthefirstAfricanwomantoreceivea NobelPeacePrizein2004.

MalalaYousafzai(aPakistani)foughtforgirl’s educationinTaliban

Savitribai Phule was one of the first female teachersinIndiaandadvocatedforwomen’s education She is the mother of Indian Feminism, built a well for the untouchables, andtookcareofchildwidows.

Valentina Tereshkova (a Soviet Union astronaut) was the first woman to fly to space

Indra Nooyi (an Indian Business executive, and former CEO of PepsiCo) was among the first women to lead a global corporation of PepsiCo's size and influence, making significant contributions to its strategy, direction, and initiatives toward health and sustainability

Photos: Left, Marie Curie Right, Atai Omoruto, WONCA Global Five Star 2016

Mother Teresa (an Albanian) cared for the poorandwasthefounderoftheMissionaries ofCharity

Suha Hamshari (Palestine) is still catering to injured people in war zones and Atai Omoruto (Uganda) responded to the Ebola outbreakinLiberia

There are many more women who have significantly impacted the world All these womenhaveshowntheworldthatawoman can make a change in any field to improve the quality of life. Hence, gender equity in any field should be emphasised to have a safe and healthy environment This will improvethequalityoflifeandprogressinthe world

WONCA EVENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024

ThreeregionsoftheWONCAWorkingPartyof Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM) held webinars to celebrate International Women’sDay2024

TheAfricaregionconductedtheirwebinarat 16:00 UTC on the 8th of March with the theme:“Empower,educate,heal:envisioning a future with equitable health access for all women” The webinar was hosted by Dr Mercy Wanjala and featured an impressive lineup of inspiring speakers: Dr Jacqueline Kitulu, MD, MBA, OGW, FCMA, Dr Olajumoke Ibrahim, Consultant Family Physician, Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, WONCA President Elect, Prof Clara Ladi Ejembi, Professor of Public Health, Dr Patricia Elameyi Idoko, ConsultantFamilyPhysician

The Iberoamericana region held their webinar at 10:00 UTC on the 9th of March 2024,themed“Healthresearchwithagender perspective” or “investigación en salud con perspectivadegénero”

The South Asia Region hosted their webinar at09:30UTConthe9thofMarch2024,under the theme: “Do we maintain a work-life balance:aspractisingfamilyphysicians?”.

TheWomen'sHealthSpecialInterestGroup of the European Young Family Doctors' Movement alos produced a video to mark theday

LettheWONCAWorkingPartyofWomenand Family Medicine be an example of women that will create equality, innovation, and transparency through their actions and efforts I would like to take this opportunity tothankallfemalefamilydoctorsacrossthe world for their contribution and dedication towards their practice, teaching, mentoring, and research to improve the life of the people

DRELIZABETHREJI WWPWFMCHAIR

WONCAWPONRURALPRACTICE

UBUNTU 2024

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. 10 - 14 SEPTEMBER 2024.

As the chair of WONCA Rural, I'm thrilled to invite you to the Ubuntu 2024 Conference, a landmark event in the world of rural health Ubuntu, a Zulu philosophy meaning "I am because we are," perfectly encapsulates the spiritofourgathering.Thisprofoundbeliefin the interconnectedness of all people is the cornerstone of our conference, emphasising that our strength and well-being in the field of rural health come from our unity and sharedexperiences.

This year, we're convening in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa, from September 10th to 14th, in proud collaboration with The Network: Towards UnityforHealth,aswedidinThunderBayin 2012 It's a momentous return to South Africa,27yearsafteroursecondruralhealth conference in Durban, where the Durban Declaration laid down our commitment to healthforallruralpeople

Rural health conferences are exceptional opportunities for family doctors from rural areas to come together, share their unique stories,andenjoyasenseofcommunityand camaraderie TheUbuntu2024Conferenceis shaping up to be an unforgettable event, featuringinsightfulkeynotesfromrenowned speakers like Malin Fors, the author of "Geographic Narcissism," and the inspiring John MacLeod oration by Dora Bernal, a dedicated rural doctor and academic from Colombia.

Moreover, we're excited to introduce a "Conference on the Move," allowing participants to engage in discussions and learning in a dynamic setting, and a postconference tour through the stunning "Garden Route," showcasing rural teaching sitesandthenaturalbeautyofSouthAfrica

With abstract submissions closing on March 31st, I encourage you to secure your spot at this pioneering conference by registering now at https://ubuntu2024com/ Early bird registration offers a discounted rate until March31st,2024,includingaccesstokeynote speeches, meals, social events, and the uniquefull-day"ConferenceontheMove."

Join us at Ubuntu 2024 to celebrate the essence of rural health, foster connections, and collectively enhance the future of rural healthcare globally. We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for an enriching experience that honours our commitmenttohealthforallruralpeople

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT OR READ MORE ABOUT UBUNTU 2024: www.ubuntu2024.com

IMPORTANT DATES

AbstractSubmissiondeadline: 31March2024

EarlyBirdRegistrationdeadline: 31March2024

PhysicalRegistrationdeadline: 31July2024

VirtualRegistrationdeadline: 18August2024

ConferenceDates: 10-13September2024

Photo: Keynote speaker at Ubuntu 2024 – Malin Fors. She was a great hit at Rural Medicine Australia last year

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR WONCA EUROPE CONFERENCE 2024

25 - 28 SEPTEMBER 2024. DUBLIN, IRELAND.

For more information visit: www.woncaeurope2024.org

CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE!

A HUNDRED THOUSAND WELCOMES!

The Irish College of General Practitioners invitesyoutojoinusinDublinfortheWONCA Europe 2024, an inspiring conference focusing on "The Changing Nature of Family Medicine-CultivatingtheFuture."

This event offers a unique platform to share expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm about the evolving landscape of general practiceandfamilymedicine

Together, let's shape the future by engaging in vibrant discussions, exploring innovative ideas,andnetworkingwithpeers.

Register now to secure your place among family doctors and medical professionals fromaroundtheglobe

Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to thefutureoffamilymedicine!

WONCA WEBINARS

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

WP ON PLANETARY HEALTH & LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE

To achieve good health and wellbeing we must address Climate Change. Primary healthcareisinauniquepositiontopromote knowledge about, and behaviour change to, tackle climate change to improve both individualandplanetaryhealth PrimaryCare alsoneedstodomoretosupporttheshiftto net zero by integrating sustainability into practice.

In this seminar, the Working Party on Planetary Health have collaborated with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Primary Health Care Interest Grouptoexaminethedifferentrolesprimary health care can and should play to protect the health of patients, communities and the planet

Date:Thursday14March2024

Time:12:45-13:45UTC

HUMAN FACTORS SCIENCE WEBINAR SERIES

The WONCA Working Party on Quality and Safety successfully held its second webinar, featuring Dr Christine Sinsky from the American Medical Association Dr Sinsky’s talk, "Creating a Manageable Cockpit for Clinicians - Fixing the Workplace, not the Worker, " focused on improving healthcare environments to enhance care quality and clinician well-being. The session offered valuable insights and strategies for healthcare improvement For those who misseditorwishtoreviewthediscussions,a recording is available We encourage the WONCA community to watch this insightful session.

JOINTHEWEBINAR(NOREGISTRATION)

Photo: Christine Sinsky MD Vice-President, Professional Satisfaction, American Medical Association

MENTAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE FROM A COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

WONCA SIG ON COMPLEXITIES IN HEALTH

This webinar will discuss integrating mental health care into primary care, emphasizing patient-centered approaches in the US and the challenges faced in Europe, particularly Slovenia, due to the COVID-19 pandemic It highlights the evolution from first-order (patient as the focus of care adaptations) to second-order (patient as a full partner in healthcare design) patient-centered care. Speakers include experts in psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy, discussing their experiences and the importance of community-based multidisciplinary mental healthservices

MiranMožina

PsychiatristandPsychotherapist

Director and lecturer at the Sigmund Freud UniversityBranchinLjubljana

FrancescoTramonti(Moderator)

Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Istituto di PsicoterapiaRelazionale,Pisa

AlexanderBlount

PsychologistandPsychotherapist

ProfessorEmeritusofFamilyMedicineatthe UniversityofMassachusetsMedicalSchool

Date:Monday25March2024

Time:21:00UTC Registertoattendthismeeting

The WHO has recently released the "Guidance on scheduled child and adolescent wellcare visits," a resource now accessible on their website This guidance, a product of collaborationbetweenWHO,UNICEF,andvariousregions,offersadetailedframeworkfor routine well-care visits It's designed to assist healthcare providers in supporting the healthy growth and development of children and adolescents, while also aiding primary caregivers and families in fostering an environment conducive to their health and wellbeing.

Thedocumentoutlinesthenecessityandgoalsofthesevisits,recommendingaminimum of 17 scheduled interactions It details the tasks to be performed during each visit, agespecificconsiderations,andstrategiestoleverageandaugmentcurrentopportunitiesand resources

A MESSAGE FROM WONCA'S WHO LIAISON, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT ANNA STAVDAL

VIRTUAL EVENT - UNPAID & UNSAFE: THE REALITY OF FEMALE FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS

Organized by CARE, the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, the Community Health Impact Coalition, and Women in Global Health, this session aims to bridge the gap betweenglobalpoliticalcommitments and actual implementation at the country level With an impressive lineupofspeakers,theeventpromises to be an insightful and inspiring discussion on how we can collectively support and protect female health workerseverywhere

THURSDAY 14 MARCH 2024

12:00 TO 13:30 UTC

REGISTER

THE BRIDGE PROJECT: CONNECTING YOUNG FAMILY DOCTORS ACROSS THE WORLD

The European Young Family Doctors Movement (EYFDM) Bridge Project is now in its 3rd year! The Bridge Project is an opportunity for young family doctors from across the world to work together on a projectoftheirchoice

The Bridge Project aims to connect young family doctors and encourage communicationandcollaboration

Theprojectallowsyoutoworkonaresearch or quality improvement project in an area you are interested in and present the results attheWONCAconference

Previous projects have investigated diverse areas, including family medicine exchanges, prescribing, appointments, and comparing healthcaresystems Familymedicinedoctors from many different countries have participated and worked together on projects

To get involved, you send an application explaining the area you are interested in completing your project in This might be ‘elderly care’ or ‘safe prescribing’, it can be anythingyouareinterestedin!

TheBridgeProjectteamwillthenmatchyou tootherfamilymedicinedoctorsfromaround the world who are interested in a similar project Wewillthensendyoudetailsofyour Bridge Project Group, and you can start working together We suggest that you have online meetings about the project, but nothing is stopping you from meeting in personasagrouptoworkontheproject

Ideas of what you could do might be comparinghealthcaresystemsorprescribing processes, a quality improvement project in your clinics, or even a literature review You might even be able to publish the work in a journal!

The main thing is that getting involved with theBridgeProjectwillhelpyouconnectwith new colleagues from all over the world, and sharelearningandexperiences

Let’sbuildthatbridge!

TIMELINE

Deadlineforapplications:15thMarch2024

Groupformation:BeginningApril

GroupWork:April–August

Deadlineforsubmissionofwork:7thSeptember2024