The conference “Eastern Europe meets Western Europe in Family Medicine”, entitled: “Clinical Research and innovative methods in medical practice" held at the CRAFT Congress Center in Timișoara (Timişoara Regional Business Center), December 12-14, 2024, saw the proactive presence of the WONCA Europe Executive Board, who participated together with the Members of the Board of the Southeast European Association and the members of the Board of the Romanian National Society of Family Medicine, and have debated common topics related to the future of family medicine in Europe.
The conference was under the auspices of the Timiş Society of Family Medicine Association as an organizer coordinated by Dr. Mihai Iacob as the President of the Organizing and Scientific Committee of the European Conference East meets West, in partnership with the Romanian National Society of Family Medicine/General Medicine (SNMF), the "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, the Timis College of Doctors, and in collaboration with the South-East European Association of General Medicine.
This initiative aims to strengthen the cultural link between “The West and Eastern Part of Europe” with the support of WONCA Europe, and in this respect the professional organizations in Timisoara are meant to become a Medical Hub for the exchange of experience and continuous medical education between family doctors and those of other specialties from Eastern and Western Europe and a closer connection with the academic and University world from national and international levels.
Today, family medicine has become a specialty at the European level that solves most cases in medical offices through the judicious use of various modern, miniaturized medical devices, with lower costs alongside the classic clinical examination, for the rapid establishment of a most accurate diagnosis in the primary medicine segment. We are pursuing the expansion of high-performance services from hospitals to the community, through a real democratization of the medical system. The evidence-based medicine that we practice today also requires the development of clinical research in European primary medicine.
During the full three days, the members of WONCA Europe gave several keynote lectures:
Prof. Thomas Frese, WONCA Europe President-Elect, gave two lectures:
The first illustrates the organization of WONCA Europe and its Network and Special Interest Groups.
The second was titled “Innovations in Family Medicine - Present and Future”.
Ferdinando Petrazzuoli, member at large of Wonca Europe EB on behalf of EURIPA, gave two oral communications on: “Technologies for Vulnerable Patients in Rural Areas” and “Obstacles and Opportunities and Mental health in rural settings”.
Prof. Dr. Josep M. Vilaseca, a past member of WONCA EB, gave two oral presentations on “Screening research programs and early detection programs: the role of primary Care” and “Early detection of chronic Kidney disease: from research to Practice”.
Prof. Zalika Klemenc Ketis, WONCA EUROPE Treasurer—gave an oral presentation on “Assessing patient-reported experiences and outcomes at primary care.”
Prof. Zalika Klemenc - Ketis , along with Prof dr. Josep Maria Vilaseca, Prof Dr. Thomas Frese, and Doctor Ferdinando Petrazzuoli were all involved in a ROUND TABLE Invitations of the Southeast European Association of Family Medicine / GPs entitled: What kind of primary healthcare systems do you have? How the family doctor is paid for his work ? moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Univ. Busneag Carmen - Spiru Haret University Bucharest, Dr. Ljubin Sukriev - President of the SE European Association of General Medicine, and Dr. Mihai Iacob - VicePresident of the Romanian National Society of Family Medicine and National Keynote Speaker.
Dr. Mihai Iacob the National Keynote Speaker gave an oral presentation, presented several oral symposia, and organize one Workshop as the coordinator of both the Ultrasound Working Group of the Romanian National Society of Family Medicine and The European Ultrasound Working Group – EUVEKUS/EADUS entitled: „Training of trainers- ToT- in abdominal POCUS Applications” which aims to train trainers in the promotion and use of abdominal POCUS in family doctors' offices and the promotion of the POCUS Curriculum in frontline physicians at the Europena level, and „The role and contribution of the Rapid Cardiac Assessment to the symptomatic patient with high risk in the practice of family doctors” as a POCUS applications.
More than 150 national and international speakers participated from several European countries: Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Romania.
Leaders from the South East Association of Family Medicine / GPs, and EUVEKUS – The European Ultrasound Working Group in Family Medicine were also invited.
The conference was well attended by over 500 participants from all over Europe, especially from the Southeast Regions and Romania, who attended the 3 parallel sessions in Romanian and English.
More details on the conference website:
https://stmf.ro/conferinta-mf/#1700644250690-4bfcc89b-76e3
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