WONCA North America meets during the AAFP Assembly in Philadelphia

Participants of the meeting (left to right): Dr Perry Pugno, AAFP Vice President for Education, Dr Francine Lemire, CFPC Vice President (and Wonca Member at Large), and Dr Sandy Buchman, CFPC President.

Participants of the meeting (left to right): Dr Perry Pugno, AAFP Vice President for Education, Dr Francine Lemire, CFPC Vice President (and Wonca Member at Large), and Dr Sandy Buchman, CFPC President.

WONCA North America Region organizations – American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP) (full members), American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) (associate members) – got together for their annual meeting during the AAFP Scientific Assembly held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 17-21, 2012.

The meeting was moderated by Dr Dan Ostergaard, AAFP Vice President and WONCA North America President. The agenda included such items as President’s report to WONCA Executive, WONCA in transition, nominations for standing committees and WONCA awards (WONCA Fellowship, Honorary Direct Life Membership, Foundation Award and 5 Star Doctor) and preparation for the WONCA 2013 World Conference in Prague.

Dr Ostergaard announced that the CFPC had nominated Dr Ruth Wilson to be the next WONCA North America Regional President effective after the completion of the WONCA 2013 World Conference in Prague. In advance of the meeting in Philadelphia, Dr Ostergaard had communicated with the Canadian College to come up with the nomination. Dr Ruth Wilson is a former CFPC President. Dr Wilson’s nomination was accepted with no objections.

In concluding the meeting, each member organization reported on their recent and coming international projects and initiatives that covered such areas as ACGME-International programs in Singapore and plans to start similar programs in Omar, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (ABFM); a CFPC international meeting on Global Health to identify the specific needs of family medicine departments to build capacity in family medicine in and mid income countries; an annual CCFP meeting; collaboration between STFM and CFPC in developing an assessment process for residency programs; and AAFP’s facilitation efforts to assist members in their international experiences.

More from the AAFP assembly:

AAFP members discuss international issues in Philadelphia
AAFP Global Health Workshop gains more international interest