Programme
Scientific Programme
Fishing for facts: navigating the sea of information in family medicine
In family medicine, information and communication are fundamental pillars. Family doctors rely on a deep understanding of medical science to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. Over recent years, the information landscape for family doctors has undergone a significant transformation. The rise of electronic health records and online resources has made it easier for doctors to access patient data and stay current on medical developments. However, this also requires strong critical appraisal skills to navigate the vast amount of information available.
At the Forum, we aim to address the challenge of how to quickly and comprehensively acquire knowledge about patients without getting overwhelmed by today’s information overload. Key topics we would like to explore include:
- The Integration of Genetic Information: How genetic data is being integrated into clinical practice and its implications for family medicine.
- AI and IT Solutions: Exploring tools like the Estonian “data viewer,” decision support systems, and similar European solutions that help display and manage patient data.
- Continual Learning in Family Medicine: Strategies for staying updated, including where to find summary studies and how to leverage co-vision approaches.
- Managing Multimorbid Patients: Techniques for prioritising and considering multiple diseases when managing patients with complex health needs.
We also welcome discussions on other important topics for young family doctors. Our goal is for participants to leave the Forum not only with a wealth of information but also with the skills to navigate and apply it in their practice effectively.
Keynote speakers
Professor Ruth Kalda, MD, PhD, is Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tartu.
Her research focuses on the quality of care in family medicine, the development of primary health care systems, health information systems, and patient-centred care. She has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals and has authored several textbooks and handbooks for medical students and family doctors.
Professor Kalda has been instrumental in advancing family medicine education in Estonia: she has led the development of the family medicine curriculum at the University of Tartu, supervised numerous PhD and postgraduate students, and contributed to strengthening residency training. She has also served as President and board member of the Estonian Society of Family Doctors.
Through her leadership, academic work, and educational innovations, she has played a central role in shaping the discipline of family medicine in Estonia, making her contributions invaluable to both medical education and health care practice.
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Frese is President of WONCA Europe and Director of the Institute of General Practice at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg.
He is engaged in teaching medical students, tutoring doctoral candidates and conducting research projects in a postdoctoral position. Thomas Frese has held his professorship since 2016 and serves as Managing Director of a regional primary care centre. His research focuses on diabetes care, consultation reasons, assistive technologies, and interprofessional communication in primary care. He is also a practising GP in rural Saxony.
He is the current President of WONCA Europe, the regional branch of the World Family Doctors, representing 47 member organisations and more than 90,000 family doctors in Europe. EYFDM is part of the WONCA Europe network.
Professor Lili Milani, PhD, is a professor of Pharmacogenetics at the University of Tartu and Head of the Estonian Biobank — one of Europe’s leading population-based biobanks.
She holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from Uppsala University. Her work bridges genetic research and everyday healthcare in Estonia. The focus of her studies is on genetic differences that affect drug response and cause adverse reactions. Professor Milani has contributed to numerous national and international research projects on complex disease risks and personalised medicine.
In 2024, she oversaw the launch of MinuGeenivaramu, an online portal that enables biobank participants to access their own genetic information. The portal provides information on health risk score assessments and phenotypic traits, such as caffeine metabolism. Milani is part of the core team responsible for the design and implementation of Estonia’s national strategy for personalised medicine. As part of this initiative, hundreds of Estonian family doctors and nurses were trained in the fundamentals of genetics, personalised risk counselling, and pharmacogenetics.
Thanks to these efforts, genetic information is now accessible for a large portion of the Estonian population, supporting physicians in making more precise treatment decisions and bringing personalised medicine closer to people by enabling them to be more involved in the process.
Dr Alex Harding, MBBS, is a professor of Primary Care Education at the University of Exeter (UK) and Honorary Secretary of EURACT – European Academy of Primary Care Teachers.
He is a GP with over 30 years of experience, and academically, he is interested in evidence-based education policy and standards that strengthen primary care. He has worked with the UK Government to secure better support for Primary Care educators, developed and wrote the first UK curriculum and standards for undergraduate primary care education, was part of a team that drafted and published similar European standards and is now involved in the international curriculum development. He has published a free digital textbook on this curriculum and co-developed the first digital textbook of clinical cases based on it.
He is currently working with various European organisations and the European Commission to secure specialist status for European GPs and strengthen European standards for primary care education. Moreover, through the international courses on the Principles of Primary Care, he is also working with several countries in Africa and Asia to strengthen Primary Care teaching and system strengthening worldwide!
Panel discussion panellists
Anna Stavdal
Dr Anna Stavdal is a Family Doctor based in Oslo, Norway, where she has been providing care to patients since 1989. In addition to her clinical practice, she holds the position of Associate Professor at the University of Oslo, where she actively contributes to the education and training of future healthcare professionals. With primary areas of interest in health systems and the core values of family medicine, she is a passionate advocate for family medicine and primary care, actively engaging in public debates and sharing her expertise through columns and speaking engagements.
Anna Stavdal is a WONCA World Fellow, Honorary Fellow of The College of General Practice in Sri Lanka, and holds an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Oulu, Finland. She has received several other prizes for her professional development work in Family Medicine.
Anna Stavdal’s leadership roles within family medicine organisations since 1994 demonstrate her commitment to advancing the field on various levels. She has held influential positions in Norwegian, Nordic, European, and global family medicine organisations. She assumed the prestigious position of President of the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) in November 2021. Since November 2023, she has held the office of Past President. Her role as the head of this global organisation underscores her ability to shape and guide initiatives that promote family medicine worldwide. She is the lead of the WONCA Global Core Values Project, launched in 2023.
Daria Gheorghe
Dr Daria Gheorghe was born and grew up in Romania and did her speciality training in Family Medicine in Strasbourg (France).
She is currently working as a General Practitioner, and also at Family Planning, providing sexual health consultations, and at the French Office for Immigration and Integration, providing healthcare consultations for refugees and asylum seekers. Since this Spring, she has a teaching and research position as well at General Practice Department of the Medical University of Strasbourg.
Daria has been EYFDM President since January 2025 and is passionate about the opportunities EYFDM can create at an international level, fostering relations among young General Practitioners across Europe.
Gerhard Grents
Dr Gerhard Grents is a young family physician who graduated from the University of Tartu in 2024 and began working with his own patient list in Tallinn in 2025. He is currently pursuing a PhD in family medicine, focusing on how digital tools and data can be used intelligently to improve patient care pathways.
Gerhard has been an active member of the professional community, serving on the board of the Estonian Young Family Doctors’ Association (MTÜ Eesti Noored Perearstid) from 2020 to 2023, where he contributed significantly to supporting and representing young family doctors in Estonia.
His professional interests centre on improving the efficiency and sustainability of primary care and integrating digital health innovations into everyday clinical practice. He has contributed to national digital health projects, including the development of the health data viewer and the health management dashboard.
A passionate advocate for medical education and digital transformation in healthcare, Gerhard aims to bridge clinical practice, education, and technology to create smarter, more patient-centred care systems.
Programme schedule
FRIDAY
| Hall A | Hall B | Hall C | Hall D | Hall E | Hall F | Hall G | |
| 9-12 | EYFDM Council meeting | ||||||
| 12:30-… | Registration | ||||||
| 13-13:45 |  Coffee and light lunch  | ||||||
| 13:45-15:15 | Opening Ceremony & Keynote 1 | ||||||
| 15:30-16:30 | Lecture 1 | WS 1.1 | WS 1.2 | WS 1.3 | WS 1.4 | OP 1 | WS 1.5 |
| 16:30-17 | Coffee break | ||||||
| 17-18 | Lecture 2 | WS 2.1 | WS 2.2 | WS 2.3 | WS 2.4 | OP 2 | WS 2.5 |
| 19-23 |  Dinner and Social Programme | ||||||
SATURDAY
| Hall A | Hall B | Hall C | Hall D | Hall E | Hall F | Hall G | |
| 9-10:15 | Keynote 2 & 3 | ||||||
| 10:15-10:45 | Coffee break | ||||||
| 10:45-11:45 | Lecture 3 | WS 3.1 | WS 3.2 | WS 3.3 | WS 3.4 | OP 3 | WS 3.5 |
| 12-13 | Lecture 4 (spons.) | WS 4.1 | OP 4.1 | WS 4.2 | WS 4.3 | OP 4.2 | WS 4.4 |
| 13-14 | Lunch | ||||||
| 14-15 | Panel discussion | ||||||
| 15:15-16:15 | Lecture 5 | WS 5.1 | WS 5.2 | WS 5.3 | WS 5.4 | WS 5.5 | WS 5.6 |
| 16:15-16:45 | Coffee break | ||||||
| 16:45-17:45 | Closing Ceremony & Keynote 4 | ||||||
| 19-22 | Dinner party | ||||||
Social Programme
The 10th EYFDM Forum is not just about learning and collaboration—it is also a chance to connect, unwind, and experience the best of Tallinn. The social programme for the event includes a reception dinner for all participants on the first evening (Friday) and an optional dinner party on the second night (Saturday) for an additional fee. Additionally, there are optional fun activities available, such as a lantern-lit city hike to explore interesting locations in Tallinn on Thursday evening, orienteering in the Old Town on Friday morning, or ice skating in the Old Town at a time of your choice. Join us in making unforgettable memories alongside fellow young family doctors from across Europe!
Friday evening
Join us for the reception dinner of the 10th EYFDM Forum at the modern Arter building, conveniently located near the conference centre in the heart of Tallinn. All participants are invited to enjoy an evening of great food, a welcome drink, and an entertaining programme. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues and set the tone for an inspiring forum. The event is included in your conference ticket, so come and let’s celebrate the 10th anniversary of EYFDM Forums all together!
Address: Liivalaia 36, 10132, Tallinn, Estonia. See on Google Maps
Saturday evening
Olde Hansa is a renowned medieval restaurant in the heart of Tallinn’s Old Town. Inspired by the Hanseatic era, it offers authentic medieval cuisine served in a candlelit, historic setting. As part of the 10th EYFDM Forum, we invite you to join us for a unique dining experience on the final evening. This optional dinner will be a chance to immerse yourself in the flavours and atmosphere of medieval Tallinn. Step back in time and celebrate the forum’s conclusion in true Hanseatic style!
Address: Vana turg 1, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia. See on Google Maps
Other activities
In addition to the main social events, the 10th EYFDM Forum offers exciting optional activities for an extra fee. Join a lantern-lit walk through Tallinn’s most fascinating districts on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, explore the city with a fun Old Town orienteering challenge. You can also enjoy ice skating at the charming Old Town rink at a time that suits you. Choose your adventure and make the most of your time in Tallinn!
More information will be provided before the forum.
