WONCA Europe Newsletter
March 2026
Editor's Preface: Resilience, Advocacy, and the Road to Paris βοΈ
Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the WONCA Europe Newsletter. As the days grow longer, our community’s activity is reaching a fever pitch. This month, we balance a deep respect for our professional heritage with a bold look at the digital and political challenges of tomorrow. 
Leadership, Resilience, and Heritage 
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Our community continues to be defined by the strength of its individuals:
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A Living Legacy: We celebrate the announcement of the Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine at Western University, honoring a giant whose patient-centered philosophy remains our North Star.
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Scholarship Excellence: Dr. Ikbal Humay Arman reflects on a milestone year of leadership and academic growth supported by the WONCA Europe Scholarship.
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Care Under Fire: In a deeply moving interview, Dr. Anastasiya Spasibo—a keynote speaker for the upcoming EQuiP Conference 2026—shares the realities of delivering safe primary care in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
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Navigating the Future: AI and Advocacy 
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As the healthcare landscape evolves, WONCA Europe is ensuring our voice is the loudest in the room:
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Digital Ally or Burden? We sit down with Ulrik Bak Kirk (EQuiP 2026 Keynote) to explore how technology impacts physician wellness and the double-edged sword of AI.
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The Power of Advocacy: Explore a new study mapping policy advocacy across Europe, alongside a practical "Ten Tips" guide for the recognition of Family Medicine as a specialty.
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Inclusion in Care: We highlight the EFPC’s new position paper on migrant health, reinforcing our commitment to equitable care for all.
Public Health & Global Partnerships
Our collaboration with the WHO continues to yield vital clinical resources:
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EVID-ACTION Newsletter (Vol. 10): Bringing the latest alcohol evidence into clinical action.
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New Factsheet: "Let’s Talk About Alcohol": A joint WHO/WONCA Europe initiative providing evidence-based tools to support critical patient dialogues and tackle pressing public health challenges.
Finally, check out the latest EYFDM news as our junior doctors prepare for a busy spring! For a deeper look into our internal strategic progress and the "Road to Paris," please read Prof. Thomas Frese’s update below. 
Please keep updated visiting our web page and follow us on our X (@WoncaEurope), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky accounts.
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On behalf of WONCA Europe Executive Board, Ioanna Tsiligianni, President-elect |
President’s Corner
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Our community stands at a particularly exciting moment: in just a few short weeks, we will meet again—this time in Paris, for the WONCA Europe Conference 2026 (June 30 – July 3). If you have not yet registered, I warmly encourage you to do so now. Let us fill Paris with the vibrant spirit of general practice! 
In the meantime, our Networks and Special Interest Groups are maintaining impressive momentum. The recent EUROPREV conference was a success, and we now look forward to EURACT gathering in IaΘi, Romania, at the end of April. This meeting will be a crucial forum for advancing medical education, focusing on how we train the next generation of family doctors. 
In May, EGPRN will meet in Verona, Italy, to showcase the rich research tradition that underpins our discipline. I am also eagerly anticipating the EQuiP Conference 2026 in Krakow this May. Featuring inspiring speakers like Dr. Anastasiya Spasibo and Ulrik Bak Kirk, this meeting will be a vital milestone for quality, safety, and physician well-being across Europe. 
The WONCA Europe Executive Board is equally active behind the scenes. We are currently evaluating scholarship applications, reviewing future conference bids, and continuing our policy advocacy at the European level to ensure our voice remains influential. At the same time, we are participating in new EU project proposals to bring GP expertise directly into innovative health programmes and collaborative research. οΈ
As we move toward our Council meeting in Paris, I want to thank each of you for your continued engagement. Together, we continue to shape a strong, visible, and future-oriented family medicine in Europe.
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Warm regards, Thomas Frese |
News
Executive Board Update: Key Outcomes from the March 2026 MeetingThe WONCA Europe Executive Board convened for its monthly online meeting on March 2, 2026, to advance key initiatives aimed at strengthening family medicine across the continent. From digital transformation to long-term conference planning, the... |
Strengthening the Voice of Family Medicine: New Study Maps Policy Advocacy Across EuropeA landmark study published in the European Journal of General Practice provides a comprehensive evaluation of how Family Medicine (FM) associations are influencing healthcare policy across the continent. The research, titled "Primary... |
A Year of Leadership and Academic Excellence: WONCA Europe Scholar Dr. Ikbal Humay Arman Reflects on a Milestone YearWONCA Europe is proud to share the progress of our Scholar, Dr. Ikbal Humay Arman, whose 2025 journey highlights the vital link between international support and local academic leadership. From completing advanced research training to being... |
WHO/WONCA Europe: Let’s Talk About Alcohol – New Factsheet ReleasedWONCA Europe, in collaboration with WHO/Europe, is proud to announce the publication of our new factsheet on alcohol screening and brief interventions (SBI). Launched on 26 March 2026 during the European Forum on Prevention and Primary Care in... |
WONCA Europe and WHO Partner to Bring Alcohol Evidence into Action: EVID-ACTION Newsletter Vol. 10 (March 2026)We are pleased to share the March 2026 (Vol. 10) edition of the WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol (EVID-ACTION) project newsletter. This milestone edition highlights the deep-seated collaboration between WHO/Europe and WONCA Europe in equipping... |
Ten Tips for Advocacy for the recognition of the Family Medicine specialtyKey Tips for Advocating for Family Medicine (FM) recognition: 1. Economic Efficiency: Present robust economic data showing that FM reduces healthcare costs by minimizing unnecessary specialistreferrals and hospital admissions. Tip: Promote... |
π©Ί Digital Ally or Digital Burden? Exploring the Role of AI in Physician Well-being An interview with Ulrik Bak KirkAn interview with Ulrik Bak Kirk, Chief Consultant and PhD Faculty Fellow at Aarhus University. As we prepare for the 68th EQuiP Conference in Krakow (May 2026), we sat down with keynote speaker Ulrik Bak Kirk to discuss the double-edged... |
EFPC Releases New Position Paper on Primary Care for Migrant PopulationsA new European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC) position paper has been published, providing a comprehensive framework for delivering high-quality care to migrant populations. Published in Primary Health Care Research & Development, the paper... |
Delivering Safe Care in Extraordinary Times. A Conversation with Dr. Anastasiya Spasibo (Kharkiv, Ukraine)As we prepare for the EQuiP 2026 Conference in Kraków, we are honoured to feature a deep dive into the clinical resilience of our keynote speaker, Dr. Anastasiya Spasibo. As a practice head in Kharkiv and a trainer for the Academy of Family... |
EYFDM News and Opportunities! 20/03/2026INTERNATI... |
Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine position at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western UniversityWe are pleased to share that the Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine position at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, is now officially posted. This prestigious Chair honours the legacy of Dr. Ian McWhinney... |
WONCA Europe Newsletter, February 2026WONCA Europe Newsletter February 2026 Editor's Preface: Strengthening the Heart of Primary Care βοΈ We are pleased to share with you the February 2026 edition of the WONCA Europe Newsletter, bringing you the latest updates from... |
Keynote Spotlight: Dr. Iona Heath on the "Medical Industrial Complex" and the Future of PreventionAs the EUROPREV Forum 2026 approaches in Madrid, one of primary care’s most provocative voices prepares to challenge the status quo of industrialized medicine. The EUROPREV Forum 2026 (Madrid, March 26–27) is honored to welcome... |
Upcoming Events
 4th EURACT Medical Education Conference 23-25 April 2026, Iasi, Romania |
 3rd CaReMeLO Conference 8-9 May 2026, Munich, Germany & Online |
 102nd EGPRN Meeting 14-17 May 2026, Verona, Italy |
 68th EQuiP Conference 21-23 May 2026, Kraków, Poland |
 13th IPCRG World Conference 11-14 June 2026, |
 30th WONCA Europe Conference 30 June - 3 July 2026, Paris, France |
 35th Janko Kersnik International EURACT Bled Course 23-26 September 2026, Bled, Slovenia |
 15th EURIPA Rural Health Forum 1-3 October 2026, Cartagena, Spain |
 PEACHD Final Dissemination Conference 14-16 October 2026, Prague |
 EURACT Leonardo Level 1 Course for Teachers in Family Medicine 22-24 October 2026, Dubrovnik, Croatia |
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