Wonca has had the word "World" in our title from its inception and even through a name change. We strived to be a "World" Organization of Family Doctors but many of us felt that the title was a bit of a misnomer since one entire continent, South America, including Central America, was missing. Finally we are complete!

Family Medicine has evolved independently in Latin America through an organization called originally the International Center of Family Medicine (CIMF) as a federation with the Iberian Peninsula countries. Today, the number of academic departments and residencies is approaching 200 in Central and South America.

Over the last several years, the leadership of CIMF worked with Dr. Reg Perkin, the former Wonca Vice President for the Americas, to negotiate the entry of Latin American countries into Wonca as full members. This was accomplished at the last Wonca Executive meeting when 11 new countries joined en bloc. There are another four countries with membership applications in various stages of preparation.

This means that Wonca now is truly a worldwide organization of family doctors with membership by countries from all continents, (except Antarctica). At it's last meeting the Wonca Executive created a new Region Iberoamericana-CIMF which will be finalized when ratified at the next Council meeting in Orlando in 2004. Dr. Javier Dominguez del Olmo
was named as Interim Vice President of the new region and is currently serving in this capacity. This also means we may have to rename our Region Americas at that time.

These are exciting times of growth for Wonca.

Warren Heffron M.D.
Wonca Vice President for the Americas Region
Chair of the Membership Committee of Wonca