From the President: Warm Welcomes and Future Leaders

My host, CTAFM President, Dr HUANG Cheng-Kuo welcomed me at the very impressive and artistic new premises for the Association with a cup of oolong tea (pictured on the left).

Ms Judy Li is to be thanked for her impressive organisation of my visit and various activities.

Minister of Health, Prof CHIU Tai-Yuan is a Family Doctor and was the Asia Pacific 5 Star Doctor in 2017 (picture on the right). I first met him when Taiwan hosted the WONCA Asia-Pacific regional conference in 1999. He certainly understood why Primary Care is important and that Family Medicine is an essential and key part of Primary Care.

Clinic visit

Dr SHIH Chin-Chuan, superintendent of Lian An Clinic and Chief Supervisor of CTAFM welcomed me to Lian An Clinic of the United Safety Medical Group Clinic. The clinic motto greeting arriving patients says they are “A good neighbour who cares for your whole family's health.”

Photo: Young doctor Ian LIU, Dr SHIH, WONCA President, Young doctor Joyce CHOU and clinic nurse manager in front of the motto

This clinic is another well designed premises with clever use of the space to give maximum consulting space and capacities. It reminded me how important a pleasant and functional work environment is. As well as the usual service of family doctors including preventative care, the clinic offers some specialty services including colonoscopy, endoscopy, eye checks with retinal photography.

Meet the residents

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) is the largest site for Family Medicine training with 30-40 residents.

NTUH has just celebrated 130 years and family doctor, Professor CHENG Shao-Yi must be congratulated on her playing of Chopin waltzes on piano during the celebrations. (pictured)

I was hosted by Prof Jeff JAN Chyi-Feng, Director, Division of Community Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, NTUH.

The staff physicians of Family Medicine at NTUH, such as Prof Jan and Prof Cheng provide teaching, research, and clinical skills training to the residents in their department.

Photo: WONCA President centre front with host Prof Jeff JAN (left) and the residents of NTUH

The residents do their postgraduate speciality training for three years just like many other countries. After the training program, the trainee could go for board certification as a family doctor. In addition, the NTUH can provide a fourth or even fifth year program for other of sub-specialty tracks, geriatrics or palliative care. This year, they added a new program, international health.

I met about 20 young doctors at NTUH on the day of my visit and I spoke to the group about my leadership journey and my thoughts about leadership, some of which I repeat further down in this article.

During the conference, I also participated in a discussion session on “Leadership for Young Doctors” hosted by past local leaders - APR region president Prof LEE Meng-Chih, Prof CHENG Shao-Yi, and our current APR region president Dr Brian CHANG (pictured). A large and enthusiastic group turned up and I felt we could have talked all day. (Pictured further down) 

Young Doctors – leaders of the future

I spent my days in the care of various young doctors which enabled me to get to know them and find out more about their work and training. I honour them for showing their leadership by volunteering to host an international visitor and thank them for their warm hospitality:

• Joyce CHOU Tzu-Jung
• Ian LIU Jen-Hsuan
• Jason CHOU Ching-En (pictured)
• Carrie LIN Kai-Jung (pictured)
• Anna LIU Ya-An
• CHUANG Pei-Ni
• CHEN Jau-Yuan and wife Sandy
• and the young at heart, CHANG Hsien-Cheng

Photo: Young doctors Carrie Lin and Jason Chou

You’ve probably heard the expression “born leader.” The phrase implies you’re either born with the skills it takes to be a leader, or you’re not. Research has found that only 30% leadership qualities are associated with heredity. Many key leadership qualities can be learned and improved upon over time.

What makes a leader – is it choice or chance? Some is chance – where we come from, who we come from and in our early years we have little choice about who we learn from. I believe that situation changes, and one does have choice. My message to the Young Doctors in Taiwan was that when an opportunity arises, whether it’s at work, or in an association or committee – say yes! Just do it!

Then, work out what you need to do the role well. It may be just like clinical practice – do your research to learn more about the issues and skills needed, do professional development, get a mentor, network with like-minded colleagues.

Photo: Young doctors’ discussion session at CTAFM conference

Networking for Young Doctors in Lisbon

Coming up just before our world conference in Lisbon you WONCA Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM) will have its preconference, as usual. Scheduled for September 16 and the morning of September 17, it promises to be an engaging event for young doctors. There will also be a preconference exchange program on 15th September.

Keynote lectures will be delivered by prominent colleagues, including our WONCA president-elect, Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, who will focus on how family doctors can be impactful through organisations such as WONCA. Dr João Sequeira Carlos (pictured), from Portugal, the first president of the European Young Family Doctor Movement (formerly known as the Vasco da Gama Movement), will reflect on where the Young Doctor Movement started and how far we have come in advancing young doctors’ roles in family medicine.

The YDM preconference workshops will cover a diverse range of topics, within four key sub-themes of the preconference which include sustainable health systems; wellbeing; planetary health and impactful organisations. Registration for the YDM preconference is open until 5 September 2025 here.

Young Doctors and the young at heart – I hope to see you in Lisbon, in September. Why not come along – Say YES!