As we welcome 2025, we have an exciting year ahead of us with the WONCA World Conference in Lisbon, regional conferences in Tangier, Busan, Bengaluru, and new opportunities like the Donald Li YDM Global Scholarship and the Montegut Global Scholars Program. You’ll also find details on an event we’re hosting to close the MDD Minds project, news on World Family Doctor Day, planetary health actions, upcoming webinars, and a featured doctor from Ghana. To keep you informed, the newsletter will arrive in your inbox every two weeks on Tuesdays—please share this email with colleagues who might be interested, and they can subscribe here. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of connection, collaboration, and progress for family medicine.
WONCA WORLD CONFERENCE 2025
246 DAYS: The countdown is on! The Lisbon Congress Centre will host the 25th WONCA World Conference, the largest gathering of Family Medicine specialists worldwide, from 17–21 September 2025. Thousands of family doctors from across our seven regions will come together to shape the future of primary health care under the theme: New Vision for Primary Health Care and Sustainable Development.
Lisbon, Portugal: A vibrant city where ancient history meets modern innovation. September offers mild weather, ideal for exploring its charming neighbourhoods, historic landmarks, and scenic waterfronts. From savouring pastel de nata in a local café to enjoying the lively Fado music scene, Lisbon is sure to provide an unforgettable experience for conference attendees and their families. Efforts are also underway to make this a family-friendly event, ensuring everyone feels welcome.
Abstract submissions: The call for abstracts will open very soon. Presenting at the WONCA World Conference is a prestigious opportunity to showcase your work to an international audience of thought leaders and decision-makers in family medicine. This year’s themes align with global priorities such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring your contributions resonate on a global stage.
Preconference: Kickstart the conference experience at the Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM) Preconference, held on 16–17 September 2025. With workshops, lectures, and networking under the theme Future-proofing Family Medicine, this event is tailored to inspire and empower the next generation of family doctors. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and connect in a collaborative environment.
WONCA EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION CONFERENCE 2025: We are delighted to announce that the WONCA East Mediterranean Region (EMR) Congress 2025 will take place in Tangier, Morocco, from 8 – 11 May, 2025, in collaboration with the 15th National Congress of General Medicine. This regional conference will gather family doctors and primary care professionals from across North Africa, the Middle East and beyond to share expertise and explore solutions to common healthcare challenges. Mark your calendars—further details, including the program and registration, will be released soon. Dates: 8 – 11 May 2025. Venue: Hilton Houara Hotel, Tangier. Host: National Collective of General Practitioners of Morocco (MG Maroc).
WONCA ASIA PACIFIC REGION CONFERENCE: The WONCA Asia Pacific Region Conference will take place in Busan, South Korea, from April 24–27, 2025. Renowned for its scenic beauty, vibrant culture, and modern infrastructure, Busan offers a safe and tranquil setting, making it an ideal location for this important gathering. As a peaceful port city, Busan ensures a welcoming and secure environment for all attendees. In addition, the WONCA Executive Committee will hold their in-person meeting during this event. We look forward to coming together in Busan to advance family medicine and primary care while experiencing the exceptional hospitality of South Korea.
All you got to do is just meet us at the APR: Fans of Korean pop music should check out the (first ever?) WONCA K-pop video, inviting you to the WONCA Asia Pacific Region (APR) Conference in Busan, South Korea. Our Korean colleagues have really done something special, parodying the global hit ‘APT’ by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars. For reference here is the original song. Judging by this teaser, you can already tell this is going to be a fun conference. Mark your calendars and meet us at APR! APR! APR! APR!
Friday Deadline: The last day for abstract, workshop and seminar submissions for the APR conference is 17 January. Don’t miss your chance to showcase your research, share your expertise and contribute to shaping the future of family medicine in the Asia Pacific Region. The conference dates are 24 – 27 April 2025. More information in the latest APR conference newsletter here.
WONCA SOUTH ASIA REGION CONFERENCE 2025: Bengaluru, known as the Silicon Valley of India, will host the WONCA South Asia Regional (SAR) Conference from 4–6 April 2025, bringing together family doctors and healthcare professionals from across South Asia. The region faces shared healthcare challenges, including rising non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, and limited rural healthcare access. This conference offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from regional experiences, and strengthen Family Medicine’s role in addressing these issues. Set in a city where tradition meets technology, the event will reflect the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family), fostering discussions on practical solutions to improve primary care across the region. We look forward to welcoming you to Bengaluru to collaborate on advancing healthcare in South Asia.
Global Rural Health Summit: Our rural colleagues will hold a special event on the first day of the WONCA South Asia Regional Conference on April 4, 2025. This event will bring together healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to address rural healthcare challenges in LMICs, with a focus on family medicine. Highlights include interdisciplinary sessions, keynote speeches, research presentations, networking opportunities, and immersive visits to rural health centres. Get involved.
Important Visa Information for WONCA SAR: International delegates must complete a required approval process for Conference VISAs, as outlined by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Please complete this Google Form by 15 January 2025 to avoid delays.
Call for Abstracts: The call for oral presentations, poster presentations, symposiums and workshops is open until 15 February 2025. Guidelines and themes are available here.
Scholarships: Bursaries of up to $500 are available for young doctors in the South Asia Region to finance conference attendance. Registration for the conference and preconference is also included, but hurry, the deadline is tomorrow! Apply today!
Happy Makar Sankranti to all: May this festival bring joy, prosperity, and health!
IX CUMBRE IBEROAMERICANO: A summit bringing together family medicine leaders to address critical healthcare challenges and share innovative solutions for primary care across South America will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, 21 – 22 May 2025, in conjunction with the IX Congreso Sub-regional del Cono Sur, and XII Congreso Uruguayo de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria. Hosted by WONCA Iberoamericana CIMF and SUMEFAC. More information.
WONCA NEWS
DONALD LI YDM GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIP: We are excited to introduce the new Donald Li YDM Global Scholarship, supporting three young doctors from low- and middle-income countries to attend the WONCA World Conference 2025 in Lisbon. Each recipient will receive $2,500 USD to cover travel, visa, accommodation, and registration costs. Learn more and apply by 21 March.
Dr Donald Li: A renowned family medicine specialist and a former President of WONCA. Based in Hong Kong, he has dedicated his career to advancing primary care and strengthening healthcare systems globally, including extensive work in training family doctors in underserved regions. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Li for his generous support in establishing this scholarship, which will empower young doctors and help drive the future of family medicine worldwide.
MONTEGUT GLOBAL SCHOLAR PROGRAM: WONCA is also happy to announce that applications for the 2025 Montegut Global Scholars Program (MGSP) are now open! Since 2010, this program, funded by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F), has supported family doctors from underserved and underrepresented regions to participate in key WONCA conferences. In 2025, the program will fund one doctor from each of the seven WONCA regions with a $5,000 USD scholarship to attend the WONCA World Conference in Lisbon. This initiative aims to foster global education, collaboration, and innovation in family medicine. Apply 21 March 2025
Dr. Alain Montegut: A former board member of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) from 2005–2010, Dr. Montegut has dedicated his career to advancing high-quality family medicine practice globally, especially in underserved and developing countries. The program reflects this vision by enabling family doctors worldwide to share knowledge, build professional networks, and drive improvements in primary care in their regions. WONCA is grateful to the ABFM-F for their continued support in advancing family medicine education and collaboration worldwide.
MDD MINDS CLOSING EVENT: WONCA is delighted to announce the MDD Minds Closing Event, taking place on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. This event will bring together global leaders, experts, and change-makers to reflect on the transformative impact of the MDD Minds project and explore the next steps for advancing mental health care through primary care systems worldwide. Participants will celebrate the project’s successes while engaging in discussions about its long-term implications for family medicine and mental health integration. More information here.
About MDD Minds: The MDD Minds project, spearheaded by WONCA’s Working Party on Mental Health has empowered primary care professionals across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to better manage major depressive disorders (MDD). Supported by an unrestricted grant from Pfizer, the project emphasized the importance of making mental health an integral part of family medicine. It provided tailored training, toolkits, and resources, equipping physicians to address MDD with confidence and compassion. The event will highlight these achievements while sharing regional success stories and unveiling new resources to sustain and expand the project’s impact.
What to Expect: The program features the presentation of the Final Report, showcasing project outcomes and key insights. An online repository containing training materials, frameworks, and courses for global use will also be launched. As a key highlight, WONCA will kick off the World Family Doctor Day 2025 campaign, on the theme of Mental Wellness, inspired by the MDD Minds project. Panel discussions will address scaling mental health integration in primary care and the role of policy in driving sustainable change.
Livestream: For those unable to attend in person, there will be a livestream of the proceedings. More information to follow.
MENTAL WELLNESS STARTS WITH CARE: Mark your calendars for Monday 19 May 2025, as we celebrate World Family Doctor Day under the theme: Mental Wellness Starts With Care. This year’s campaign shines a spotlight on the critical role family doctors play in promoting mental wellness for patients, families, and communities, while also emphasising the importance of mental wellness among family doctors themselves. Guided by the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health, this year’s campaign will include resources, tools, and opportunities to engage and inspire. Stay tuned for more updates!
CONGRATULATIONS: Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith (New Zealand) was recently honoured with the Distinguished Research Mentor Award by the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). A prolific contributor to primary care, Felicity has edited four books in the WONCA book series. Read more here.
CALL FOR IMAGES: Are you an artist or photographer? WONCA is seeking compelling images related to global health, primary care, or family medicine to feature on the cover of our 2024 Annual Report. Get creative, showcase your work to a global audience. Send us your image by email before 31 January.
WPs & SIGs NEWS
WONCA PROJECT LABS: Last December, WONCA announced the launch of Project Labs, a new initiative designed to support Working Parties (WPs) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in transforming innovative ideas into fundable project proposals. The submission deadline is 14 March 2025, and an information session for WP and SIG chairs will be held soon to provide further guidance.
New Opportunity for WPs and SIGs: Project Labs focus on empowering WONCA’s WPs and SIGs to address pressing global health issues by turning innovative ideas into actionable projects. By providing expert guidance on creating structured frameworks, realistic budgets, and scalable solutions, the initiative fosters collaboration and supports efforts to improve primary care and family medicine worldwide. This program encourages fresh thinking, prioritizes equity, and equips participants with the tools needed to secure funding and achieve sustainable impact.
Thank You: The WONCA Project Labs initiative is generously supported by the American Board of Family Medicine.
BJGP ARTICLE ON PLANETARY HEALTH SURVEY: Last year, WONCA conducted a survey among its member organizations to understand their actions addressing climate change and planetary health. The survey results, highlighted in recent articles from the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), reveal critical insights into how family doctors and their organizations are engaging with this urgent global issue. Read here.
Findings: The survey found that while some member organizations are taking steps to recognize climate change as a health crisis, educate members, and implement sustainable practices, there is still much progress to be made. Notably, response rates and actions were lower among organizations in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the need for more equitable support and resource sharing.
Stay tuned: WONCA’s Working Party on Planetary Health will provide a more comprehensive update in a future newsletter, including actionable next steps to support member organizations in this vital work.
STATEMENT ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: WONCA issued a statement authored by the Special Interest Group on Family Violence (SIGFV) marking the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in December. It reaffirms our commitment to condemning all violence against women, including female healthcare workers, highlighting these acts as public health threats that undermine equality and justice in society. Full statement.
Webinar: In line with this commitment, you can watch the recording of the webinar “Violence Against Female Doctors” on YouTube. Hosted by EYFDM and WONCA’s Working Party on Women and Family Medicine, it explores the impact of violence on female healthcare workers and discusses ways to foster safer, more equitable environments in medicine. Watch now.
Apply: Young Doctor Liaison role in WONCA’s SIG on Family Violence. Deadline: 24 January 2025. Details online.
E-TRAINING IN GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS: Following its success in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, the internationally acclaimed IAGG e-TRIGGER course is coming to the Asia-Oceania region in January 2025. This 12-month program, a collaboration between WONCA and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, offers cutting-edge training in gerontology and geriatrics designed to address regional challenges.
Discounts: WONCA is pleased to offer exclusive discounts and scholarships for the upcoming Asia-Oceania e-TRIGGER course:
90% Discount: Available to the first 10 WONCA direct members who register. To qualify, participants must also join the Special Interest Group on Ageing & Health (SIG)—membership is free.
LMIC Scholarships: Participants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and trainees are encouraged to apply for scholarships, reducing fees to as low as 50–150 CHF, depending on their country.
Global Rural Health Summit: The topics of the second webinar as part of the Global Rural Health Summit taking place in Bengaluru, India is Global Health: A Local Lens on Challenges & Solutions. Date: 15 January, 2025 (Wednesday) Time: 15:00 UTC. Register here.
Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine: Explore key topics in family medicine, including international medicine in China, transforming primary care in Malaysia, and systemic approaches to family-focused healthcare in Mexico, at an upcoming webinar hosted by WONCA’s Special Interest Group on Emerging Practice Models for Family Medicine and the Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM). Join global experts Pu Zhou, Wong Ping Foo, Ana Bertha Perez Villalva and special guests. Date: 19 January, 2025 (Sunday). Time: 13:00-14:30 UTC. With English to Spanish interpretation. Register here.
A Climate Change Curriculum: Join the WONCA Working Party for Women and Family Medicine North American Region for an interactive webinar on planetary health. Learn how to integrate essential strategies into your practice from a panel of global leaders, including Prof Tatiana Souza de Camargo, A/Prof Özden Gökdemir, Dr Tariq Jagnarine, and Prof Enrique Falceto de Barros. Date: 18 January, 2025 (Saturday) Time: 20:00 UTC. Register here.
FEATURED DOCTOR
DR NANA KWAME AYISI-BOATENG – GHANA: In this inspiring interview, Dr Ayisi-Boateng shares his journey from medical training to becoming the Director of University Health Services at KNUST, Ghana. He discusses his passion for patient-centred care, his extensive research on infectious diseases, and his leadership within WONCA. Read the full interview here to discover his remarkable achievements and dedication to primary care.
