From the Editor: Meet Wonca's Working Parties, Task Forces and
SIGs in Orlando!

If Wonca's member organizations and regions represent the permanent and stately trunk and branches of our organizational tree, then Wonca's Working Parties, Task Forces and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) represent its leaves and flowers which contribute to our
appearance and character.

Today, these Working Parties (WP), Task Forces (TF) and SIGs address key areas fundamental to our role as family doctors:
- International Classification (WP) ----------------------------------------------- Research (TF)

- Rural Practice (WP) -----------------------------------------------Website Development (TF)
- Quality (WP) -------------------------------------------------------------Tobacco Cessation (TF)
- Informatics (WP) ------------------------------------------------ Health Behavior Change (TF)
- Woman in Family Medicine (WP) --------------------------------------- Ethical Issues (SIG)
- Environment (WP) --------------------------------------------Psychiatry and Neurology (SIG)
- Respiratory Diseases (WP) ------------------------------------------------ Men's Health (SIG)

This June issue of Wonca News features the work and plans of our newest and oldest working groups. Wonca's International Classification Committee (WICC), our oldest, was reported as being established at the convening of Wonca's first Executive Meeting in 1973. This issue's Resources section describes two of WICC's recently available products for family doctors - - - the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2E) and the Dictionary of
General/Family Practice.

This issue also features the work of Wonca's Working Party of Women in Family Medicine, established during the 2001 Wonca World Conference in Durban, South Africa. Finally, this issue features Wonca's newest group, the Special Interest Group in Travel Medicine, which will be convening for the first time during the October 2004 Wonca World Conference in Orlando. The other Wonca Working Parties, SIGs and Task Forces are most welcome to email me for publication in the next issue of Wonca News any reports, updates and announcements to share prior to the 2004 Wonca World Conference.

The 2004 Wonca World Conference in Orlando presents a unique opportunity for family doctors to learn about, join and contribute to the important work of all the above groups.

You may learn more about Wonca's work groups and their plans during the upcoming Wonca World Conference and by visiting the Wonca web at www.GlobalFamilyDoctor.com

In addition, Wonca's FP/GP Editors (or their designees) who are planning to attend the Wonca World Conference are invited to a special workshop for FP/GP Editors on Tuesday, October 12th at 2PM. Please contact me if you are interested in attending.

The opportunity to learn about all of our magnificent Working Parties, Task Forces and SIGs are even another reason to make plans as soon as possible to join what may be the largest gathering of family doctors in history for the Wonca World Conference in Orlando,
October 13-17, 2004.

Marc L. Rivo, MD, MPH
Editor, Wonca News
marcrivo@aol.com
4566 Prairie Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33140 USA
1-305-674-8839 (fax)