By Dr Charlotte Morris, EYFDM Liaison Officer to the WONCA Europe Executive Board.
The Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM) preconference at WONCA World Lisbon 2025 was a vibrant and impactful gathering, setting an inspiring tone for the main conference to come. Held in the beautiful and historic city of Lisbon (Portugal), the event brought together a global community of young family medicine professionals under the main theme of 'Future-proofing family medicine.' The atmosphere was one of collaboration and shared purpose, as over 300 attendees from 58 countries to discuss the pressing issues shaping the future of our speciality.
Prior to the conference, a conference exchange took place, 22 yearly-career GPs from all over the world (22 different countries!) took part in observing family medicine clinics in Lisbon. This hugely successful exchange set the scene for the pre-conference, promoting collaboration, shared learning, and international friendships.
At the YDM preconference the EYFDM council elections were held, with the election of 3 new members to the executive. After a very close election with 2 amazing candidates, Charlotte Morris and Jan Lubomski, following 2 ties in a row, Charlotte Morris was elected as WONCA Europe Liaison. Catarina Gomes Madeira was elected as Events Officer and Paula Sala Ivars as President-elect. A huge thanks to Aaron Poppleton (WE Liasion), İkbal Hümay Arman (Events officer) and Stuart Holmes (Past President) for their amazing contributions to the executive and help shaping EYFDM.
The pre-conference program was anchored by four compelling keynote lectures that addressed topics as diverse as they were critical: Dr. João Sequeira Carlos (Portugal)'s keynote on ‘Back to the Future - The History is You! shared the history of Young Doctors’ Movements, and inspired us with what had been achieved by those young family doctors who went before us. He emphasized the importance of mentorship and mutual support among young doctors. Dr. Viviana Martinez Bianchi (USA, WONCA World President-elect)’s keynote “Lift as You Climb: A Call to Action for Family Medicine and Health Justice” shared her thoughts on how we should ‘Lift as we climb’, a beautiful concept that makes us think about the importance of supporting our colleagues and helping each other to be the best family doctors we can be, and achieve our potential. Dr. Muna Chowdury (Canada)’s keynote “Holding on to Why We Began: Restoring Wellness and Purpose in Medicine” provided practical insights into 'wellness in medicine' focusing on doctor's health and work-life balance. Dr. Mayara Floss (Brazil)’s final keynote “Fireflies and Family Medicine: Planetary Health, Hope and Future”, highlighted the critical link between human well-being and the health of the planet. These lectures wove together the conference’s sub-themes: sustainable health systems, wellbeing, planetary health, and impactful organisations.
Beyond the main lectures, the days were filled with over 20 dynamic workshops that allowed for deeper dives into specific areas of interest. The sessions were led by speakers from a vast array of countries, offering truly global perspectives on topics such as community engagement, gender identity, ethics, leadership, and non-violent communication. These workshops were a testament to the conference's commitment to equipping young family doctors with a comprehensive skill set, ranging from clinical knowledge to essential soft skills for effective leadership, and advocacy within their communities. The interactive format of the workshops fostered a spirit of open dialogue and learning, allowing for meaningful connections and the respectful sharing of best practices across different cultures and healthcare systems.
The formal proceedings of day one concluded with a memorable social event at the Jardim Botânico da Ajuda. The beautiful Portuguese weather provided a stunning backdrop as attendees enjoyed cocktails and finger food in the historic garden, which offered a breathtaking view of the Tagus River. The evening was a perfect opportunity for networking and informal bonding, as the setting sun cast a warm glow over the garden and the lifelong friendships being forged. This special reception not only reflected the conference's themes of sustainability, wellbeing, and collaboration, but also provided the ideal atmosphere for delegates to connect, celebrate, and reflect on a day of inspiring learning.