Main WHOCC Events – Our Director’s Travel Impact Journal
From March to May 2025
Written by Mona Kuroiwa and Celine Tabche
The Geneva Conference on Person-Centred Medicine
31/03-03/04/2025 in Geneva
The Geneva Conference on Person-Centred Medicine has been held annually for the past 17 years, typically lasting three days. It attracts participants from across the globe who are united by a common interest in transforming healthcare. The conference focuses on how signs, symbols, and the arts can be mobilised to shift medical practice from a primarily physical focus to a more holistic, person-centred approach. The event is organised by the International College of Person-Centred Medicine (ICPCM), which is based in New York. The ICPCM is led by an international board of experts committed to advancing patient-focused, humane healthcare systems.
During his time in Geneva, Professor Salman Rawaf, who is a Board Member of ICPCM, delivered two insightful presentations:
- "Healthy Ageing Starts at Birth" – emphasising the lifelong impact of early-life health determinants.
- "From Research Findings to Application: Some Successful Stories."
A particularly enriching feature of these conferences is the opportunity to engage with a wide range of colleagues from all over the world. They and their institutions are instrumental in advancing the person-centred care movement and add significant depth to the conference dialogue.
07-11 April in Baghdad for Training Course - Innovative Applications in Medical Education – Imperial WHO Collaborating Centre
The training course on "Innovative Applications in Medical Education", delivered by Celine Tabche, Dr David Rawaf, and Professor Salman Rawaf with the help from the collaborators of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Education and Training at Imperial College London in Baghdad, focuses on advancing teaching practices among medical educators and clinicians in Iraq. This course was sponsored by Al Sadi Foundation, which brought together the leadership of five Iraqi medical colleges, including heads of departments and deans from each institution. Designed for faculty members and health professionals, the course introduces modern pedagogical approaches, including e-learning, blended learning, artificial intelligence, simulation, and curriculum design rooted in competency-based education. It also covers the integration of educational technologies and effective assessment methods. Through interactive workshops and practical sessions, the course aims to strengthen local capacity in medical education and foster a culture of innovation in teaching and learning, especially using artificial intelligence and simulation exercises. On the final day of the course, the closing ceremony was honoured by the presence of the Head of the World Health Organization’s Iraq Office Dr Jameela Raabi and Dr Amer Bebany, and Dr Majd Al Sadi, a key donor and supporter of the training course.
Iraqi Paediatric Society Conference
10-11 April in Basrah Conference
Professor Salman Rawaf attended the 9th Annual International Conference of the Iraqi Paediatric Society. He discussed "Healthy Ageing Starts at Birth: The role of Primary Care" emphasising the lifelong impact of early-life health determinants with specific insights from Iraq's Global Burden of Disease data. He highlighted the role of primary care, paediatricians and child health specialists in improving health at the start of life.
University of Baghdad - 12 April 2025
Professor Baha Ansaf President of the University of Baghdad welcomed Professor Rawaf at the Headquarters of the University. Professor Ameen Al-Alwany, Dean of the Baghdad College of Medicine and Dr Riad Al-Hilfi, Director General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health attended the meeting. The discussion focuses on collaboration in research, medical education and training.
Port Said University and Faculty of Medicine
14-19 April Port Said
Professor Salman Rawaf recently visited Egypt in his capacity as an external examiner and to deliver a series of talks focused on medical education and healthcare development. During his visit, he engaged with faculty members, students, and medical professionals to discuss contemporary challenges and innovations in medical training and public health. A highlight of the trip was his meeting with many students and faculty members. It was a superb opportunity also to meet Professor Ayman Mohamed Ebrahim, President of Port Said University, where they explored opportunities for academic collaboration and the strengthening of medical education frameworks in Egypt.
Kuwait 3rd International Conference on Family Medicine
April 24–26, 2025, Hotel Waldorf Astoria - Kuwait
Professor Salman Rawaf participated in the 3rd International Conference on Family Medicine, held in Kuwait from 24–26 April 2025 at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel. His visit, which spanned 23–29 April, included several professional engagements in addition to the main conference activities. At the event, Professor Rawaf delivered a keynote presentation titled "Closing the Gap Between Public Health and Primary Care", emphasising the urgent need for greater integration between these two essential pillars of health systems. He highlighted international best practices, challenges in coordination, and strategies for improving collaboration to enhance population health outcomes. The conference gathered healthcare professionals, academics, and policymakers from across the region and beyond, offering a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and future partnerships.
During this visit, Professor Rawaf signed a memorandum of collaboration between the Arab Public Health Association (ArPHA) and the Gulf Family Medicine Society.
22 May – Back in London at Imperial’s South Kensington Campus
The Imperial Institute of Extended Learning invited Professor Salman Rawaf and Celine Tabche to deliver a session on executive hospital management. ICL hosted another group of global hospital CEOs for a short course who are learning about quality and value in hospital care from May 19-22nd.
Executives also presented their learning reflections in the session that followed, which involved feedback to candidates, in which the WHO Collaborating Centre’s team input to this session was essential. Professor Salman Rawaf also distributed the certificates with Dr Alex Carter and the ICL Extended Learning team.
Bahrain International Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare The Gulf Hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain
29/05/2025 till 30/05/2025
Professor Salman Rawaf attended the conference's opening Ceremony on Thursday, 29 May 2025, held in the presence of His Excellency Lieutenant General Doctor Shaikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Professor Salman’s lecture, given under the Keynote Session on “Patient mistrust of the health system and physicians: Can primary care change this?” was very well received by the primary care professionals and participants.
Dr Fakhria Al Rashdi, one of our brilliant Omani Family Physicians enrolled in our Clinical Public Health Fellowship programme, presented her WHOCC collaborative research: A Systematic Review on the Management of Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in the GCC Countries.
Additionally, Professor delivered a workshop on Friday, 30 May 2025. The symposium, attended by leaders in the field from the Eastern Mediterranean region, was on “Leadership in Primary Care: Steering the agenda for change”, which lasted for 2 hours.
