The WONCA Europe Executive Board met in Rome from February 21-23, discussing key topics such as finances, research projects, WONCA leadership nominations for 2025-2027, and other updates from WONCA World. Nominations are open for several positions, including President-Elect, Members-at-Large, and Young Doctors' Representative.
WONCA's strategic goals were reviewed and adopted, emphasizing the advancement of family medicine, promotion of a unified voice, and assurance of organizational sustainability.
Discussions encompassed Special Interest Groups and proposed updates to the bylaws. Plans to enhance newsletter distribution and engagement strategies were also shared.
New collaborations with WHO Europe and European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) were explored, along with preparations for the 2025 WONCA conference in Lisbon.
The WONCA Europe 2025 Council meeting will take place in Lisbon on September 17, from 9:00 to 16:00, before the conference opening.
WONCA Europe Conference 2025: Regions are invited to organize open meetings. A proposed title for our meeting is: Building Knowledge by WONCA Europe – focusing on the research projects we are involved with.
WONCA Regions are encouraged to contribute by submitting abstracts, proposing session chairs, and recommending reviewers. The deadline for general abstract submissions is March 31, 2025. Networks and WESIGs are invited to participate in the review process.
WONCA Europe Member Organizations are invited to submit nominations for the WONCA Europe Executive Board 2025-2028 positions of President-Elect, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer, as well as for the Statutory Committees of WONCA Europe. The nomination deadline is May 31.
Upcoming webinars were announced:
World Obesity Day 2025 Enhancing Obesity Care: EASO & WONCA Europe Webinar for Family Doctors and Primary Care Physicians on March 3, 2025, from 18:00 to 19:30 CET, a session with Dror Dicker (EASO) and Ferdinando Petrazzuoli (WONCA Europe), featuring insights on obesity care and clinical applications.
Lifestyle Medicine & Social Prescribing Webinar on March 6, 2025, at 19:00 CET, experts Tehila Mazal, Muna Sharif, and Joyce Kenkre will discuss the Mediterranean Diet, smoking cessation, and the role of social prescribing.
WE is a partner in the POINT project, an EU-funded initiative that aims to improve outcomes for individuals who have experienced COVID-19 by researching its long-term effects. The project seeks to predict future health complications through advanced biomarkers and virtual twin model technologies and to develop standardized guidelines for healthcare professionals. The group held a productive meeting in Rome as part of the WONCA Europe EB meeting. Presentations were delivered by Claus Desler Madsen, the consortium leader, along with Helena Borland and May Sanderhoff, and included online contributions from Sigfried Dewitte and Florian Lange.