Today, after the opening ceremony of the WONCA World Pre-conference in Lisbon the EYFDM Council met for the election of 3 members of the executive. After a tight 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.
During this session the annual report was also approved.
The council will meet again tomorrow to discuss the financial report and budget, forum bids, exchanges, statements on important matters for council members and upcoming events.
Dr. Luis Alfonso Pena, from Spain, won the best urban exchange and received the Hippokrates Award. He was hosted by Dr. Hilal Ozkaya in Basaksehir, Turkey.
Dr. Isabel Loureiro, from Portugal, won the best rural exchange and received the Carosino Award. She was hosted by Dr. Rianne van Vilet & Dr. Maike Eppens in the Netherlands.
Congratulations to the winners and remember to check Exchanges Page if you are interested.
This exciting opportunity offers you the chance to experience UK primary care first-hand through placements in Primary Care, followed by attendance at the RCGP Annual Conference.
Event Dates: Tuesday 7th October – Friday 10th October 2025
Conference Exchange Details:
Tuesday 7th – Wednesday 8th October 2025
Two-day placement in a UK primary care setting.
Please note the placement will be based across the United Kingdom, not necessarily in South Wales.
Gain valuable insights into healthcare delivery across the United Kingdom.
Thursday 9th – Friday 10th October 2025
Attend the RCGP Annual Conference 2025, ICC Wales, Newport
A dynamic programme of keynote speakers, clinical sessions, and exhibitions.
Please see below for role descriptions. The deadline to submit applications for these positions is 20th August, and candidates will need to attend the council meeting on 16th-17th September either online or in person to present their application and receive questions from council.
Applicant Criteria and Process
The elections organisational policy can be found here.
Candidates should be a young doctor and a member of their NMO.
The required documents for election are as follows:
○ Curriculum Vitae
○ Motivational Letter
○ Proof of:
membership of their NMO
young doctor status
○ Essential letter of recommendation from their National Delegate (if the candidate is not themselves a National Delegate, or from their NEC if the candidate is a National Delegate themselves and their country has a NEC).
○ Up to three desirable letters of recommendation:
■ From their NMO
■ A maximum of two letters from other EYFDM members
Please contact secretary if you have any questions!
Dear EYFDM members, From Policy we are trying to create a policy on Accessibility for EYFDM events. Please, if you could complete this survey, we will understand more our beloved EYFDM members and how activities can be adapted to cover different needs. The survey takes about 5-10 minutes, and it is anonymous: https://forms.gle/xYBZ1TteLUwNTzRz7 And if you would like to add anything to the survey, any questions or comments, or interested to participate in this new adventure, please email policy officer. This survey will be available to answer for the next 6 weeks (20/07/2025)
Connecting doctors across the globe is key to maintaining educational and cultural exchanges whilst gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you.
Strengthening international relationships while sharing ideas is key to what European Young Family Doctors Movement (EYFDM) promotes. For this reason we are delighted to open the call for the EYFDM Hippokrates and Carosino Exchange Awards 2025
Requirements:
family doctor trainee or within five years of specialisation at the time of the participated Exchange
have fully completed a Hippokrates Exchange: obtained the Certificate of Completion.
be able to attend the WONCA World Conference in Lisbon, 16th-21st September 2025.
Awards
Winners will be invited to present their experiences during the workshop that will be held at the WONCA in Lisbon. Reimbursement of the registration fee for the WONCA World Conference 2025 and EYFDM Preconference (to a maximum value of 450€ per person onlyif the candidate presents her/his exchange experience during the EYFDM Exchange Workshop at the WONCA World Conference 2025).
Documents:
Completed Hippokrates Exchange Template
Your certificate of completion
Specify clearly which Exchange Award you are applying for – Hippokrates (urban) or Carosino (rural)
Send the documents for your NEC, deadline 8th JUNE.
Submission of candidates to the EYFDM Exchange Officer ->11th JUNE; Announcement of the winners -> 19th June Presentation of exchange experience in WONCA World 2025 held in Lisbon ->16-21st September 2025. Winner’s Announcement -> Closing Ceremony of WONCA World 2025 in Lisbon
Dear EYFDM members, We would like to invite you to participate in the Conference Exchange and 5th Symposium of Medical Doctors in Doboj. This year again we are proud to announce that family doctors in Doboj will open the doors of their practices to welcome you and allow you a glimpse into their daily work. The exchange is organised by Public Primary Healthcare Centre Doboj that is the host of 5th Symposium of Medical Doctors from 11th to 14th September 2025.
Conference-exchange information
Arrival: Arrival of participants is planned on 8th September and the nearest airports are in Belgrade,Zagreb, Sarajevo, Tuzla or Banja Luka. From there participants will have transportation organised probably by the host and the details will be announced later.
Primary care exchange: The visit of the GP practice is planned on 9th and 10th September, one day in urban and one day in rural practices.
Conference:Conference dates are from 11th to 14th September. Official languages are Serbian and English. Participants are expected to participate in a workshop on 13th September where they will present the health care system of their countries and discuss with local young GPs/FM.
Social program: It is planned that during free time participants have organised touristic visits to local features. Opening ceremony is on Thursday 11th September and gala dinner is planned for Friday 12th September.
Accommodation: Participants will be accommodated in Hotel Park Doboj. And the accommodation is organised by the Host.
What is included: Conference fee; Accommodation for all the days (the exchange and Conference); Touristic sightseeing
What is not included: Travel costs; Visa costs; There are 10 places available for this exchange.
Selection will be:The candidate has a well understanding and speaking of the English or hosting country language.
The candidate has not joined the conference before.
The candidate must play an active role in the exchange program and is active to spread the experiences in their working country.
We prefer candidates who have not yet joined an exchange before.
You can send a motivation letter and curriculum vitae to your National Exchange Coordinator.
WEBINAR SERIES: In the lead-up to World Family Doctor Day, Monday 19 May 2025, WONCA’s Working Party on Mental Health is proud to present a global webinar series exploring the central role of family doctors in mental health care. These sessions reflect our campaign’s theme Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World and reinforce the message that primary health care is uniquely positioned to foster mental wellness. The series will explore how family doctors care not only for their patients, but also for themselves and one another.
Topics range from culturally sensitive approaches to mental health, to collaboration between doctors and patients, to core concepts that help clinicians and communities navigate adversity—such as coherence, suffering and hope, and the pursuit of meaningful well-being. A special session will spotlight the MDD Minds project, which has empowered thousands of primary care professionals to better manage depression and prioritize their own resilience. Join us and discover how family doctors, when supported and connected, are catalysts for healing across communities.
Self-Care for Family Doctors
Resilience Building and Mental Awareness (with WONCA Young Doctors’ Movement) Date: Sunday, 18 May. Time: 14:00 UTC.
Working Together for Change
How Family Doctors and Patients Can Improve Mental Health (with World Patients Alliance) Date: Monday, 19 May. Time: 12:00 UTC.
Key Concepts for Mental Resilience
Suffering and Hope; Coherence and Engagement; Eudaemonia and Ataraxia Date: Monday, 19 May. Time: 16:00 UTC.
Cultural Approaches to Mental Health
Tailoring Solutions to Local Communities (with International Federation of Medical Student Associations) Date: Tuesday, 20 May. Time: 10:00 UTC.
Addressing Depression in Primary Health Care
Lessons from the MDD Minds Project Date: Wednesday, 21 May. Time: 13:00 UTC.
FEATURED DOCTOR: This special World Family Doctor Day edition features Dr Sunil Abraham, a family doctor and faculty member at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. In this interview, recorded at the WONCA South Asia Regional Conference 2025, he shares personal insights from working with underserved communities in India and Australia, and reflects on the emotional challenges of a career in medicine, and the importance of self-care, spiritual grounding, and mental resilience for family doctors.
Check the WONCA Playlist including President’s message and a performance of Three Little Birds, from Bob Marley and the Wailers performed by family doctors from across the globe:
RUN WITH WONCA: As we count down to World Family Doctor Day 2025, we’re inviting the global WONCA community to lace up and get moving together. Physical activity is one of the simplest, most powerful tools we have to support our mental wellness – and it’s even better when we do it as a community. That’s why we’ve launched the WONCA Running Club on Strava.
Join our Running Club: Strava is a mobile app that lets you track your runs, walks, or bike rides using your phone or smartwatch. It’s also a social platform where you can join clubs, follow friends, and cheer each other on. This year’s campaign theme is Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World. Our WONCA running club is a fun, low-pressure way to care for your own mental health, connect with colleagues, and feel part of a shared global movement. Join us here.
We are pleased to open calls for applications to the position of Treasurer on the Executive from Monday 5th May! Please find the role description here. Note that we have removed the requirement for EU/EEA residency.
This will be an online election:
the deadline to submit applications (see documents list below) to secretary is 2nd June 2025
these will be vetted and circulated to council on 3rd June 2025, who will have 1 week to submit questions
questions will be circulated to the candidates on 9th June 2025, with 1 week to submit responses
these responses will be shared with council and the vote opened on 16th, closing on 23rd June with the outcome announced.
Candidates should be a young doctor and a member of their NMO. The required documents for election are as follows: ○ Curriculum Vitae ○ Motivational Letter ○ Proof of membership of their NMO ○ Proof of young doctor status ○ An essential letter of recommendation from their National Delegate if the candidate is not themselves a National Delegate, or from their NEC if the candidate is a National Delegate themselves and their country has a NEC.
○ Up to three desirable letters of recommendation: ■ From their NMO ■ A maximum of two letters from other EYFDM members
Candidates will also need to submit a 3 minute video presentation to accompany their application.
Please contact secretary if you have any questions!
