During the WONCA World Conference, Prof. Shlomo Vinker concluded his term as President of WONCA Europe and officially handed over the role to Prof. Thomas Frese. On this occasion, he shared his reflections in a farewell interview — looking back on defining moments, key achievements, challenges, and his final message to the WONCA Europe community.
Click here to watch recording.
Q: Looking back, what moment of your presidency will you remember most?
A: “The most important moment was the moment of the elections. They said it should be exactly four, five minutes. So I made many rehearsals to stop just on time. I had ended my speech and then the gong clicked and I said, okay, when I have a task, I can do it. So this was the first moment. The second moment is, of course, when Covid was announced. In February 2020 we went to Thessaloniki for an executive board meeting. We saw some 'strange' people in the airport with masks and then in March, everything stopped. I came to become the president of WONCA Europe and now we are moving to survival mode, to have our budget, not to be bankrupt.”
Q: Which achievement are you most proud of?
A: “Now we are in a good financial state and everything is well organized. Our website, our mailing list, our newsletter, everything is working. So this is a good achievement not for itself, but as having an infrastructure to all other activities. Another achievement that I’m proud of is the team building. We worked in harmony for the last six. I decided when I started my presidency that, as much as possible, there will be no votes in the executive board meeting. We will discuss, we will argue, and we will come to a consensus. Harmony and stability—this is what was the best in my term.”
Q: What were the biggest challenges?
A: “Yes… There are many challenges, because we are a strong region. WONCA Europe is unique in how it works inside the organization, outside towards WONCA World and to its networks and SIGs, and member organizations. For example, if by chance all our member organizations decide to invite me to only one conference during all my term I would travel all the time. And it’s very difficult to decide where to go and where not to go. I decided that at least I will visit each network at least once during my presidency, and also all the young doctors meetings, because I think young doctors are the future of our profession.”
Q: Your final message to WONCA Europe members?
A: “First of all, it was my best years in my career. I think it was the peak of my career. People are asking me, what would you do next? And I say, I presume nothing. I achieved all the achievements I wanted. To be a WONCA Europe president, to run a World conference are huge achievements and I’m very satisfied with it. And I’m happy to give the place to those that will replace me, to Thomas, to Ioanna and to all the team.”