Young Doctors' Movements
A Young Doctor is defined in the WONCA Bylaws “as those in family medicine training or in the first five years of family medicine practice”. Over the past 10 years, WONCA has supported the development of Young Doctors’ Movements (YDMs) in all regions. The first group formed, in 2005, was the Vasco da Gama Movement in Europe (which is now the European Young Family Doctors’ Movement - EYFDM). This was followed by Asia Pacific's Rajakumar Movement (formed in 2009) and the Iberoamericana-CMIF region's Waynakay Movement (formed in 2010). In 2012, The Spice Route was formed for young doctors in the South Asia region; in 2013 two groups were formed - AfriWon Renaissance in the WONCA Africa region and, the Al Razi movement the East Mediterranean region. The final region to form a young doctor group was North America and their group, Polaris, in 2014.
In September 2018 WONCA Executive endorsed the Young Doctors' Movement Operational Guidelines and it was fully revised in 2023.
YDM Operational Guidelines (April 2023)
Young Doctors' on WONCA World Executive
Since 2013, the Young Doctors have had a representative on the WONCA World Executive committee. The representative for 2023 - 2025 is Dr Chan Yuen Ching (Cheryl) from Hong Kong.
Contact : [email protected]
Past Young Doctors' Representatives
• Dr Sankha Randenikumara (Sri Lanka) - 2021-2023
• Dr Ana Nunes Barata (Portugal) - 2016-2021
• Dr Raman Kumar (India) - 2013-2016
Current leaders of regional Young Doctors' Movements
Young Doctor Liaisons in the WONCA Working Parties/Special Interest Groups
In 2022, WONCA YDM requested the interested WPs and SIGs to have young doctor liaisons in their executive boards which is in line with WONCA organisational policies. As a response following WPs & SIGs now have young doctor liaisons, carefully selected after an open application process. The main objectives of having liaisons are to increase collaborations of young doctors with the WPs/ SIGs and creating more opportunities to the young doctors to engage in activities important in personal and professional development. Young doctor liaisons in the WPs/ SIGs report to the WONCA YDM Council about their activities and support in mediating collaborative activities.
WP on Education
1) Dr Bola Fatusin (Nigeria)
2) Dr Brunee Dorset (Bahamas)
WP on Research
Dr. Stephen Tetteh Engmann (Ghana)
Dr. Anthony Sunjaya (Australia)
WP on eHealth
Pablo Emanuel (Puerto Rico)
WP on Mental Health
Dr Ana Bertha Perez Villalva (Mexico)
WP on Women & Family Medicine
Eloho Hambolu (Nigeria)
WP on Planetary Health
Dr Nathaly Velasquez (Peru)
WP on Ethics and Professionalism
Dr Avni Patel (Malaysia)
SIG on Emergency Medicine
1) Dr Roshan Parajuli (Nepal)
2) Dr Mirian Lourdes Villca (Bolivia)
SIG on Health Equity
1) Naseem Amin Dhedhi (Pakistan)
2) Olga Magdalena Padron Lopez (Mexico/USA)
SIG on Family Violence
Eliana Vesga Caspedes (Argentina)
WP on Rural Practice
'Rural Seeds' is the group which represents young doctors of the WP of the Rural Practice and it reports to the YDM Council.
Discover the latest webinar on our Youtube Playlist.
YDM Global Projects
The YDM supports several global projects, overseen by dedicated Global Project Leads who report directly to the YDM committee and serve as integral members of the YDM Council.
YDM Global Mentorship Project
The YDM Global Mentorship Project is a pilot initiative designed to connect young doctors from Africa, Iberoamerica, and South Asia with experienced mentors. The program aims to support professional development, foster a supportive network, and strengthen primary care worldwide.
For more details, please visit our project page.
FM360 Exchange Program
Family Medicine 360º (FM360º) is a global exchange program for young doctors which enables participants to spend up to four weeks in a country of their choice to learn about primary care in that setting. A WONCA statement on the value of exchanges was developed by the YDM and endorsed by WONCA Executive in September 2018.
Project Lead: Dr Rabee Kazan
[email protected]
More on the FM360o Global Exchange program
ASPIRE Program
ASPIRE Program was launched to enhance the young family doctors' connections with global family medicine community by means of educational workshops, conferences, research, thereby increasing involvement in the national and regional organizations, as well as WONCA World which will allow them to make connections with the global community.
Project Lead: Dr Beesam Maraqa
[email protected]
More on ASPIRE program
Join WONCA's Young Doctors
Are you in your first five years' of practice as a family doctor OR in training as a family doctor OR a medical student? Join your region's Young Doctor Movement