10th EPH Conference in Stockholm | Euronet MRPH Point of View

 

With the “crazy” tempo of EuroNet in 2017, there is, in fact, not much time to relax and think about our participation at the 10th European Public Health (EPH) conference in Stockholm between November 1st and 4th. Therefore, we will try and use this brief report as an opportunity to 1) reflect on the Stockholm conference and 2) inform you on what happened during those 4 “action-packed” days.

To set the scene, we would like to introduce the main venues of the 10th EPH conference: Stockholsmässan, Stockholm City Hall and the wonderful “Casa EuroNet”. Stockholsmässan conference venue was where all the serious work took place. Lectures, seminars, workshops, meetings and presenting EuroNet in the conference’s exhibition area. A welcome reception at the famous Stockholm City Hall made us feel like Nobel prize winners; probably in economics - for managing to achieve such a successful conference participation with almost zero budget. In our communal living place - “Casa EuroNet” - we discussed work and life… and slept a bit. We even found a sauna and spent great time all together enjoying relaxing on comfortable sofas and armchairs, listening to music thanks to an amazing sound system and great EuroNet DJs.

The days were not boring at all. For example, one of us forgot his ID card in the airplane. After checking with the airport, we realized that they did not find it, but at least they knew that one day it was probably in Austria and the day after it would have gone somewhere in the world (Taiwan?). In any case, a piece of EuroNet was travelling around the world and this in some way made us proud of EuroNet potential.

Stockholm gave us the chance to once again meet “old” colleagues and friends and strengthen several collaborations with other young public health professionals’ networks, like ASPHER and EUPHAnxt. We also had the opportunity to meet fellow Young Gasteiners, to interact with EUPHA and other associations to talk about new potential internship positions.

 

Euronet had the fantastic opportunity to share a stand with ASPHER for the whole of the conference. This proved to be a great success. We distributed dozens of newsletters and made useful contacts that will, hopefully, end up in new countries joining the network (e.g. Cyprus and Romania) and new partnerships (e.g. New Zealand). One of the highlights of the EPH conference were our stickers, which were placed in every possible badge, chest or forehead by our passionate Euronetters.

As usual, Euronet didn’t take a passive role in the conference. On contrary, we were present in several sessions. Mariana and Damir presented their posters on migrants and perinatal health in Portugal as well as on politics and public health policies in Croatia during the ASPHER Young Researchers’ Forum, on the pre-conference day.

Francesco gave an interesting oral pitch about a systematic review on digital health interventions he carried out and Jo chaired one of the sessions on infectious diseases topic. But it was the last day when Euronet was most present in the conference programme. We had five EuroNet’ers presenting posters: Damir described EuroNet’s internships, Matej explained the results of the Slovenian satisfaction survey, Helene presented EuroNet Platform, Jo outlined the innovative and comprehensive Welsh public health strategy and Stefano talked about an Emergency and Preparedness project he carried out with international partners.

The Conference finished with Alberto chairing a workshop co-organised between Euronet, YFG, EUPHAnxt, in which Helene explained, very succesfully, her thesis to a non-scientific audience. And only in three minutes!

Our “flying” member from Malta - Stefan - was always around ready to stream the conference events live to the rest of the world.

It was really a great experience, we look forward for the next EPH and invite you to Ljubljana next year.  Join us to make the Euronet group larger than it was in Stockholm. In 2018 the main theme of the conference will be Winds of change: towards new ways of improving public health in Europe. Could there be an EPH conference theme more suited to EuroNetters? One of the most green and livable cities in Europe that should be on your travel itinerary next year!

Jo, Mariana, Helene, Francesco, Alberto, Matej, Luis, Stefano, Stefan and Damir

EPHA Professional Development Course for EuroNet MRPH Members: A brief summary

Approximately one month ago, EPHA prepared an exclusive advocacy course for Euronet MRPH members. In 28th and 29th September, 18 medical residents in Public Health from 8 Euronet MRPH member countries had the chance to attend EPHA Professional Development Course in Brussels.

Here you can find a summary of the most relevant contents, compiled by Rachel Thomson, from Euronet MRPH Scotland.

By the end of the workshop, it was anticipated participants would be able to:

  • Understand how the EU works in practice, from the perspective of a large public health umbrella NGO;
  • Better grasp the role of civil society in EU policymaking processes;
  • Gain knowledge about EPHA’s campaign areas and discuss key challenges and opportunities;
  • Comprehend different advocacy approaches deployed by EPHA;
  • Discuss how to make best use of public health expertise and scientific evidence to engage with policymakers and shape “health-friendly” EU policies;
  • Engage with public health stakeholder at EU level.

We hope you can attend future courses with our partners, to promote Public Health skills among european residents.

EuroNet MRPH and the European Forum for Primary Care sign a Partnership Agreement

A brief, but motivating, encounter at the conference in Porto this September was all that it took for a Portuguese EuroNet member to initiate cooperation talks between EuroNet MRPH and the EuropeanForum for Primary Care (EFPC).
During these conversations, both networks recognised a strong need for cooperation and collaboration between young Public Health and Primary Care professionals, especially EFPC’s Working Group for Young Primary Care Experts (You&EFPC).

A month later, we have the Partnership Agreement signed and collaboration and cooperation talks in the pipeline.
We will keep you updated on future talks, collaborations and results. Stay tuned.

EPHA/EuroNet MRPH workshop on Advocacy in Public Health

EPHA (The European Public Health Alliance) is kindly hosting a two-day workshop for EuroNet MRPH members on the topic of Advocacy in Public Health.

The workshop will take place on September 28th and 29th, 2017, in Brussels, at the EPHA headquarters. EuroNet MRPH has always been committed to facilitate exchanges and provide education opportunities to Public Health residents all over Europe and is then extremely grateful to EPHA for this one and happy to announce the ouverture of the enrollment.

Please, check out the (draft) agenda of the workshop:

Day 1, module 1: Steps and players involved in implementing a successful campaign

  • Welcome (Sascha Marschang, EPHA Director of Operations and Membership)
  • Introduction to EPHA – Organisation, ways of working, advocacy, campaigns (Sascha Marschang)
  • Focus on an EPHA campaign – Universal access to affordable medicines (Yannis Natsis, EPHA Policy Manager)
  • Focus on an EPHA campaign – Food, drink and agriculture (Nikolai Pushkarev, EPHA Policy Coordinator)
  • Focus on an EPHA campaign – Antimicrobial resistance (Sascha Marschang, Nina Renshaw)
  • EU advocacy undertaken by EPHA members and partner organisations

Day 2, module 2: Communication with the European Union

  • How does the European Commission engage with the civil society (Zoltan Massay-Kosubek, EPHA Policy Manager)
  • Working with EU and national media & role of social media (Giulia Vettore, Communications Manager)

Day 2, module 3: Working with EU Institution & mobilising the membership

  • The importance of scientific evidence for advocacy (Dr Eleanor Brooks, Scientific Advisor on Economics and Health Governance)
  • Mobilising EPHA’s membership (Sascha Marschang)

Due to limited availability, the workshop application is now open only to EuroNet MRPH members (board, lead, national commission, individual members).
It will soon be open to active members and Public Health residents in Euronet member countries (membership page).
Please, check out social networks (Facebook and Twitter) as well as our website regularly to learn about application ouverture.

For any further information, please send an email to president @ euronetmrph.org or you national commission.

Summer Meeting 2017 Agenda

EuroNet MRPH Summer Meeting 2017 will take place in Motovun, Croatia from July 6th to 8th. Morning sessions will be dedicated to the association assembly (“the house-keeping”) and we will participate to the conferences and debates of the Summer School of the Croatian Public Health Association on Thursday and Friday afternoon.
Three days filled with new ideas, projects and ambitions. We’ll talk Public Health but we won’t forget the jovial spirit of every EuroNet Meeting! You’re still on time to join us!

Please find the full Meeting Agenda here.

If you have any question, do not hesitate to contat us at meeting @ euronetmrph.org or euronetmrphcroatia @ gmail.com.

EuroNet MRPH Summer Meeting 2017 – Registration Form

Here you are the registration form for the Summer meeting to be held in a small and beautiful city of Motovun in the region of Istria, Croatia.
Dates are 6th and 7th of July. Ideally you should arrive on 5th and leave on the 8th.
This meeting will be coupled with Croatian National PH conference, an excellent opportunity for exchanges, to create new connections and have new ideas.
Did we mention this conference is a bit “unique”? Official dress code is “shorts”. Strictly no ties allowed. There is a man with scissors going around the city and cutting ties. We kid you not. Oh yeah, the place is really beautiful, food and wine are amazing and the weather will be perfect.
Other info (travel, accommodation, meals, draft programme) will be available soon on this page!

Do not hesitate to contact your national team or to send an email to meeting @ euronetmrph.org and to fill in the registration form and join our Facebook Event! Can’t wait to see you in Motovun!

New connections, new ideas

 

The idea of a network of residents in Public Health raised in 2008, in Rennes. Almost ten years passed by and the Network has incredibly evolved, faced new challenges and expanded its boundaries – or, more likely, proved to have no actual boundaries.

The construction of a network like EuroNet is not a simple task and constitutes a real, though necessary, challenge for young Public Health professional. Despite current, hopefully transient, political trends against internationalization and openness, the  future is open, international and interconnected. The vast majority of Public Health issues do not respect (national) boundaries – neither should our professional work. This is the reason why EuroNet members deeply value the idea of networking with other fellow residents and trainees as well as with Public Health specialists around Europe.

Public Health is about networking and networks and its future is open, international and interconnected. Summing everything up, one of the reasons why to be involved in this network is: new connections mean new ideas and better knowledge. The analysis of the education of Public Health specialists has always been one of the main purpose of the Network.

The yearly meetings, the internship exchange program, and the cross-country research are the main tools EuroNet is using to take on the monitor function of the training programs throughout Europe.

Our effort highlights that, although every country tries to answer to Public Health issues by a different organization both in Public Health political and scientific infrastructure, and in its education pathway, the main issues are the same across the continent. Finding new and sustainable ways of delivering healthcare, tackling the non-communicable disease epidemics of the 21st century, like obesity or diabetes, and working on new communicable disease challenges, such as the rise of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, are all common issues in Europe. These challenges come along with the development of cities and the new needs that this development brings in terms of health, the demand for less polluted air and new spaces fitted out for physical activity.

The extent of these challenges shows how a « only national » answer is not an option and underlines the need to deploy all the tools and the multi-sectoral skills that Public Health has to offer us. Freedom of movement, trade and goods means that Public Health opportunities and threats also move freely across the continent. For this reason, Public Health in the European context will also mean further collaboration and integration of national associations and organisations.

Public Health in Europe is shifting from a traditional medical model to a multidisciplinary model characterized by remote work, out-of-the-box and forward thinking, advocacy, managerial skills.

We now know that the health of the population is mainly determined by the « social determinants of health ». This means that tools usually reserved for other disciplines are already a must in Public Health on a high level – meaning to produce change. Delineation between disciplines is disappearing and in the very near future we will have Public Health economists, architects, veterinarians and lawyers but also informaticists, mathematicians, philosophers and artists.

Taking all this into consideration, we are developing a heterogeneous network of collaborations. We closely and continuously cooperate with key young Public Health professionals associations in Europe like Young Forum Gastein (part of the European Forum Gastein) and EUPHAnxt (part of EUPHA). We cooperate with the central Public Health education association in Europe – ASPHER, with the idea in mind to better represent European resident in their educational choices. But we also cooperate with some non-core Public Health institutions like IEDC Bled School of Management in Slovenia. EuroNet is also a member of European Public Health Alliance (EPHA); with their help we plan to work on the advocacy skills of our members in the near future.

Public Health is a never-boring, perpetually-changing field to work in. The extent of this discipline, along with the pace of the changes, makes essential to work and learn together, facing the differences and crossing the borders. Through sharing information, facilitating exchanges and developing research, this is just what EuroNet MRPH aims to do. And it does it with enthusiasm and curiosity.

 

Damir Ivanković – President
Alberto Mateo – Vice-President
Lilian van der Ven – Secretary
Damiano Cerasuolo – Treasurer

Photo: EuroNet MRPH Spring Meeting 2017 – European Parliament
Published on 26/04/2017 on 32nd CliSP “Bulletin”

ASPHER, EuroNet MRPH. Joint Statement on Public Health Workforce Development and Professionalisation

EuroNet MRPH, the European Network of Medical Residents (and Trainees) in Public Health, is happy to announce that it signed the Joint Statement on Public Health Workforce Development and Professionalisation: Call for a collaborative and consensus-building action.
ASPHER, the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region, led on the development of this Joint Statement in collaboration with various organisations and members of the EU Health Policy Platform.

ASPHER, EuroNet MRPH and other signatory organisations call for a collaborative and consensus-building action on the continuing development and professionalisation of the public health workforce in Europe.
This call takes into account the critical momentum in the relevant policy contexts (Action Plan for the EU Health Workforce and the European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services of the WHO Regional Office for Europe), the different perspectives and initiatives with regard to strengthening the public health workforce and aims to underline the need of an interdisciplinary and inter-professional action.

Please, download here the Joint Statement on Public Health Workforce Development and Professionalisation document.

 

 

 

Strasbourg Meeting – Registration form and Media Center

The Spring Meeting is in one month and we are so excited to meet in Strasbourg, the home of the European Parliament.

If you’re joining us, please take a few minutes to fill in the REGISTRATION FORM [closed] and to join the Facebook event. Thank you!
If you have any question, don’t hesitate to email us at meeting @ euronetmrph.org.

Here you are a few media items made for sharing!

Image courtesy of Robert Glod.

EuroNet Platform crowdfunding campaign

The crowdfunding campaign to support the Platform Project is online and it will last until the end of the month of March.

The Platform is a unique network for European medical residents who have an interest in Public Health and want to create or participate to research projects.
By the means of the Platform, medical residents and trainees will be able to find or create work teams to develop their ideas. It is a great opportunity to let ideas come out and grow and to give free voice to young scientists.

You do not need to be a Public Health specialist or resident physician to want to get involved and support the campaign!
Even a little help means a lot for us and for this project!

Please, donate here: Wellfundr page.

Thank you!