Today I gave my farewell speech as President of VdGM, The European Young Family Doctor’s of WONCA, The World Family Doctor’s Organisation.

Here you can read the transcript of my speech in full:

I have had the honour of being your president since January 2017 but for a moment I wish to speak to you as a not only as your president but new mother and a fellow young GP like you.

I work in a very multicultural area of south London and many of my patients could be considered complex, vulnerable and under privileged.

I’m frustrated trying to provide equitable care for my patients in a social system that robs them of equity of opportunity In other parts of their lives. Of prescribing advice and pills when what they really need is better housing, jobs and social support. I’m frustrated futility of trying to encourage physical and mentally and emotionally healthy lifestyles when outside my clinic they are inundated with messages that contradict this: you are only good enough if you look like this, eat this food, have this material possession or enough likes on social media. I worry for them and for my own daughter : how she will fare in this fast paced world of conflicting detrimental messages.

But I am also full of hope. I am part of a great community, a great family of family doctors. Within this beautiful cross cultural network I see drive for innovation, compassion for our patients and the passion for change. It’s a wonderful movement where we share, learn and grow together and because we do it together it acts as a catalyst and we are all stronger for it.

What a fascinating privileged and yet terrifyingly urgent time to be alive and a family doctor.

We are in the midst of a vast technological, cultural, environmental and economic revolution… the pace of change is rapid, the opportunities are endless and the evolving issues are increasingly urgent. We are richer and healthier than ever before and yet both locally and globally the inequities between us are widening and challenges we face can seem insurmountable.

I don’t have all the answers for you but I do have some suggestions of questions you should be asking:

How we will advocate for and develop the role of Family Doctors and Primary Care in progressing towards Universal Health Coverage and building resilient sustainable European Health Systems;

What must the family medicine leaders of the present and future prepare for?

What could/should be the role of WONCA Europe and others key actors in achieving this?

VdGM will be 15 years old this year and in those years we have grown from a small group of passionate young colleagues and their mentors, to a vast network across Europe conducting hundreds of exchanges and hosting events attended by colleagues from around the globe.

At our heart we are still united by a passion for Primary care, family medicine and achieving the best we can for our patients.

What insights have I learned from my time in from Vdgm and the world of Wonca?

We have to be leading innovations not chasing it nor fighting it.

We must become the coordinators of care, providers of the human side of medicine, masters in the art of communication and consultation, the interpreters of data, uncertainty and risk, the heart that gives reassurance to the worried well, offers hope in uncertainty and when necessary a hand to hold as we find acceptance and strength for the things that we cannot change. This is how we not only survive the coming technological revolution, but in fact become the central tenant ti it’s true success, the one specialist that can’t be replaced.

Family medicine must transform to meet these challenges whilst retaining its core values

When it comes to health for all and the health systems of the future We must lead and not follow anc Position our selves as the vital central element to a technologically advanced health system

How can we build movements in family medicine that are strong enough to withstand these pressures and flexible enough to adapt to the fast changing landscape?

As I come toward the end of my term of office I have been reflecting on what it is that creates a strong, vibrant and sustainable movement. I’ve identified 10 key elements: some of which were what excited me about Vdgm when I attended my first preconference in Vienna 2012, some that inspired me to run for President in Copenhagen 2016, some which I have tried to strengthen and cultivate during my term of office, and all of which I call on all of you to develop and uphold for the future:

A movement starts with a Community– the shared characteristics of passion for our profession and for internationalism. Find the things that bring you together, cultivate and celebrate them.

Common Vision: universal accessible primary care for all, delivered in multidisciplinary teams led by well trained, respected and supported Family Physicians. Say it loud and say it proud!

Communication: We need to continue to create and strengthen our platforms for sharing, networking and learning together so we can cultivate ideas and innovations – this relates our website, social media and events but also our relationships and voice within and beyond WONCA

Consultation: ask your members what they think, what they want, what they believe, what they value. We hope that our new Policy Officer role and the subsequent work being done to open up policy consultations within VdGM will begin to fulfill this important goal.

Collaboration: learning to work together productively across borders and organisations strengthens our knowledge & skills and broadens our attitudes & perspectives. The purpose of the movement is to find others who share your passion and catalyse that interest through mutual sharing and learning. Find and build the groups, projects and activities that interest you and that make life better for our colleagues and patients. And once you’ve begun share them with others.

Collegiality: we are building a democratic members organisation that takes shared responsibility for its decisions and actions and endeavours to raise the needs and voice of its members through policy and engagement.

our success will ultimately rely on our capacity to work together, to listen actively and carefully to those around us, to take responsibility for our actions, to inclusively and respectfully resolve our differences conduct ourselves with professionalism, empathy and compassion.

Culture: the Vdgm virus, the joyful social events, the traditions that emerge, the way we talk about our selves as friends and family… all this brings unity, common language and fun to what we do, which enables us to sustain this voluntary organisation on the power of internal motivation and connectedness.

Cultivate: Build a democratic infrastructure that allows fresh voices and ideas to be cultivated and heard. That mentors and nurtures its members to flourish, proactively investing in each next generation. Hold events that invite the latest topics – yes from experts but also from our members. We need to build movements where we can flourish as family doctors and leaders of our profession

Courage – the word evolved from the Latin word “cour” meaning heart… to have heart! Be brave speak up and speak out through policy and advocacy. The very notion of primary care has political connotations and we can not shy away from that. Being a GP/family physician gives us a unique insight into the needs of our patients and communities and with that a responsibility to advocate for them. We need to bring our voices together to advocate for :

training that will meet the needs of tomorrow

health system developments that centre primary care and family medicine at the heart

equity of access and universal health coverage for all our patients

And finally … Continuous Improvement : we will not get it right every time. We will make mistakes and miss opportunities. This is inevitable, this is life. What’s important is that we build a culture of open and transparent reflection, such that we can learn from our experiences. Be Flexible and adaptable as individuals, professionals and as an organisation! Don’t stagnate! Keep challenging yourselves and our organisation to reflect, learn, grow and innovate! We are the present and the future of Family Medicine and it’s fate is in our hands.

Thank you to all Vasco da Gamaians for everything you have done and will do for our organisation, our profession and your patients across Europe and beyond.