We have the pleasure to announce an extension of the 4th edition of the Bridge Project to submit the form to April 15th.

The Bridge Project is an opportunity for young family doctors from across the world to work together on a project of their choice.
The aim of the Bridge Project is to connect young family doctors and encourage communication and collaboration.
The project gives you the opportunity to work on a research or quality improvement project in an area you are interested in and present the results at the WONCA conference.
Previous projects have investigated diverse areas, including family medicine exchanges, prescribing, appointments and comparing healthcare systems. Family medicine doctors
from many different countries have participated and worked together on projects. To get involved, you send an application explaining the area you are interested to complete your project in. This might be ‘elderly care’ or ‘safe prescribing’, it can be anything you are interested in!

The Bridge Project team will then match you to other family medicine doctors from around the world who are interested in a similar project. We will then send you details of your Bridge Project Group, and you can start working together. We suggest that you have online meetings about the project, but there is nothing stopping you meeting in person as a group to work on the project.
Ideas of what you could do might be comparing health care systems or prescribing processes, a quality improvement project in your clinics or even a literature review. You might even be able to publish the work in a journal!

The main thing is that getting involved with the Bridge Project will help you connect with new colleagues from all over the world, share learning and experiences.

• Start date -> 14 April 2025
• End (submit you work by)-> 1st September 2025, prior to the WONCA World Conference 2025, in Lisbon with the possibility of presenting your final works in English.

Meetings in fixed group sessions will take place from April to September.

Its advised to have at least 4-5 meetings during that period to aid discussion & come up with a project.

GREAT NEWS!

We have exciting news for all researchers and practitioners eager to share their work at WONCA World Conference 2025 and YDM Preconference 2025.

Due to high demand, we are extending the abstract submission deadline. This is your chance to contribute to the world’s leading conference in family medicine and showcase your research on an international stage.

A big thank you to all those who have already submitted their abstracts! We encourage you to motivate your colleagues to contribute as well and be part of this important global conversation.

Do not miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of primary care. Submit your abstract now and ensure your voice is heard!

The revised deadline for abstract submission is now 30 April 2025.

We are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the position of Treasurer on the Executive Committee! As Treasurer, you’ll play a key role in managing finances, ensuring transparency, and contributing to the success of our organisation. You can find all the details in the role description below.

The elections organisational policy can be found here.

Who Can Apply?
We are looking for a young doctor who is an active member of their National Medical Organisation (NMO). If you’re passionate, driven, and ready to take on responsibility, we want to hear from you!

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 

The deadline to submit applications for this position is 28th March 2025 – email to secretary

Election Day:
The election will be held on 25th April 2025, during the Council Meeting in Luxembourg (or online). As a candidate, you’ll deliver a 3-minute presentation and answer questions from the council before voting begins.

Update: there is no longer the requirement of being EU resident

Please contact secretary if you have any questions!

Recently WONCA shared a plea for support of the clinic that Dr. Suha Hamshari leads, read more below.

Dear WONCA family,

We are reaching out on behalf of Dr. Suha Hamshari, recipient of the 2023 WONCA Global Five-Star Doctor Award, who leads the Family Medicine Clinic at An-Najah National University in the West Bank. This clinic is a lifeline for thousands of patients and a vital training ground for future family doctors. However, it faces the risk of closure due to the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis in the region.

Patients are unable to afford healthcare, as many are struggling just to feed their families. Physicians and nurses are going unpaid, medications are in short supply, and dangerous travel conditions are putting lives at risk. Despite these immense challenges, the clinic is working tirelessly to keep its doors open and provide care for those in need.

Now, more than ever, they need 𝒐𝒖𝒓 help. The clinic is at a critical juncture, and without urgent donations, it may be forced to close its doors. As family doctors, we understand the essential role these clinics play in the health and well-being of communities. This is a call from one family doctor to our global community – let’s support our colleagues in the West Bank in their hour of need.

To support An-Najah Family Medicine Clinic, donate now via the Foundation for Family Medicine in Palestine.

You can see original post here, and can donate here.

We would like to reiterate our echo of the WONCA statement on health professionals working in areas of conflict. We stand in strong solidarity with all young family doctors working in conflict zones as they serve their communities in a time of crisis, and we wish for peace to come swiftly.

In the face of escalating tensions and violence around the world, WONCA seeks the global cessation of all violence as a solution to conflict and condemns both terrorism and oppression of vulnerable peoples everywhere. WONCA supports all health professionals working in areas of conflict and continues to call for particular attention to the protection of all patients and frontline health workers and any healthcare facility where persons go to seek aid for illness and injury.

WONCA Statement on Health Professionals Working in Areas of Conflict

See original post here.

Yesterday, the Council Meeting took place in the afternoon. In this packed meeting a new president and a new policy officer were elected, the location of the 10th forum was decided, amendments to the statutes, besides some regular administrative tasks (approving minutes, annual report and budget).

Daria Gheorghe will be joining the executive as president-elect and Helena Alonso will be taking the baton from Ana Cristina as Policy Officer.

An enormous thank you for all the work is due to Nick Mamo for the past 7 years of work on the executive and to Ana Cristina for advocating on topics relevant for young doctors, namely family-friendly events.

Regarding the 10th forum, the decision of the council was to host the 2026 forum in Tallinn, Estonia. We are looking forward to meet there.

We will have an opening in the executive, as Marika Svatošová is stepping down from the treasurer position. We thank her for the persistent efforts managing the work.