Happy New Year! We look forward to a wonderful 2018 for the WONCA family especially with this being a World conference year, – registrations are now open for Seoul, coming in October.

Young Doctors have been busy. The energetic Pratyush Kumar, leader of the Rural South Asia group (WoRSA) has produced a 2018 health calendar. Three Montegut scholars report – they have been so enriched by the opportunity that the scholarship has provided them to attend a WONCA regional conference, they are now enthused to change their own world of Family Medicine. What a difference these scholarships from the American Board of FM Foundation are making! Read more from Drs Sanam Shah, Veena Kumari, and Mya Win Hnit. The CEO tells you how to apply for 2018.

The Rural Round Up is written about the Society for Young Rural Surgeons. Find out more about another young doctor, Dr Katarzyna Nessler, of Poland who is organising the next Vasco da Gama preconference, in Krakow, just after World Family Doctor Day (FDD), which comes on May 19. This year the FDD theme will be “Family doctors – leading the way to better health” and the President seeks your examples of activities that demonstrate this theme. More here.

Dr Karen Flegg. WONCA Editor
Featured Stories

From the President: February 2018

Whether we speak of love, new opportunities, or traditions and festivals, we know that life with its annual cycle is both predictable and uncertain. For most of us, we look back on a year at its end and are grateful if no major griefs or losses have occurred; and we recognise the joys and sorrows of those around us. It is a poignant time to think of those without homes or hearths…

From the CEO’s desk: Scholarships for Seoul

This will, of course, be a busy year for us, with the World Council and conference scheduled for Seoul, Korea, in October. Plans are already well advanced, and I wanted to use this month’s column to promote a number of WONCA awards and bursaries which are available to assist attendance at the world conference.

Policy Bite: Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools

Amanda Howe writes about The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and the Training for Health Equity Network (‘THEnet’) recently published ‘Students’ Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools’. the ‘Students’ Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools’. Amanda writes “As family doctors, we have an important role to play in supporting the move towards delivering training for health professionals that improves social accountability.”

Registrations, Speakers, Abstracts for WONCA Seoul 2018

The WONCA World conference is coming to Seoul, Korea from October 17-21, 2018. Registrations are open, some keynote speakers are announced, and abstracts are still open for oral and poster presentations.

Scandinavian Delegation celebrates 30 years of conferences

Dr Allan Pelch of Denmark, long time organiser / coordinator of the Scandinavian Delegation of Family Physicians which dates back to 1988 and the World WONCA Conference in New Orleans, reflects on 30 years of activities. “WONCA conferences lead to opportunities to meet other family physicians and learn about their experiences, collaborate on research and to visit local practices.”

Pratyush Kumar on a Health Calendar for family doctors

Dr Pratyush Kumar, well known energetic leader of the WONCA South Asia Rural group (WoRSA) and Organising Secretary for the coming WONCA World Rural health conference in India has developed a health calendar for the new year. “I wanted to highlight gender equality out of the SDGs (January), as most of these diseases get lots of coverage, but gender equality as a health issue is much less discussed, although its vital to transform healthcare.”.