The Vasco da Gama Movement : reflections and experiences of an exchange programme

Abstract

The Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) defines itself as the Network for Young and Future Family Doctors of the European Regional Branch of the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA Europe). The early beginnings of this movement date back to 2002 during preparations for the Junior Doctor Programme initiated by Dr Alphonse Sips, a dedicated Dutch family doctor, as part of the 2003 WONCA Europe Amsterdam Conference. Together with a group of enthusiastic trainees from the Netherlands and support from the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice/Family Medicine (EURACT), Dr Sips went on to develop the first pre-conference meeting for six international groups, each involving trainees and EURACT teachers to serve as guides. This laid the foundations for the development of the VdGM (Vasco Da Gama Movement, 2012; Sloane, 2016)). The ideals of the movement were set out in 2005 during a meeting that took place in Lisbon, the home of Vasco da Gama, from where he set out on a similar voyage of discovery and thus the name was born. Successful pre-conferences preceding the WONCA Europe Conference have been held annually since. Furthermore, VdGM has continued to grow and expand from then on to include a vast range of other events and activities, all with the aim of improving general practitioner (GP) empowerment, connection and support.