The 101st Meeting of the European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) took place from 16–19 October 2025 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. #EGPRNPlovdiv. It was hosted by the Bulgarian General Practice Society for Research and Education (BGPSRE), with the support of the Medical University of Plovdiv.

The theme of the meeting, “Empowering the Next Generation of Family Physicians in a Changing Healthcare Landscape”, reflected EGPRN’s ongoing commitment to advancing research capacity, supporting early-career researchers, and strengthening primary care systems across Europe.

The meeting gathered 243 participants from 33 countries, demonstrating the continued expansion and growing influence of EGPRN as a European research community. A total of 106 abstracts were accepted for presentation, distributed across oral sessions, poster presentations, one-slide five-minute presentations, and the final evaluation presentations of participants in the EGPRN Web-Based Research Course. The program was marked by lively discussions, constructive methodological feedback, and a strong atmosphere of collaborative mentorship -particularly visible during the Blue Dot Coffee session which welcomed first-time attendees.

The international keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Paul van Royen (University of Antwerp, former EGPRN Chair), who presented “Primary Care at a Crossroads: Advancing Research on Interprofessional Collaboration and on Integrated, Equitable and Complex Care.” He highlighted the growing complexity of primary care and emphasized the need for future-ready research methodologies - longitudinal mixed methods, implementation and complexity science, pragmatic trials, realist evaluation, and network analysis - to better reflect real-world conditions and support equitable care, task-sharing, and mental - physical health integration.

The national keynote was given by Prof. Gergana Foreva (Medical University of Plovdiv), who delivered “Empowering the Next Generation of Family Physicians in an Ever-Changing Healthcare Landscape in Bulgaria.” Her lecture traced the evolution of family medicine in Bulgaria over nearly three decades, from the establishment of general practice as a specialty to the emerging needs of the new generation of GPs. She underscored priorities such as research capacity-building, interprofessional collaboration, digital health competencies, and leadership development.

Scientific sessions reflected the central theme, with presentations addressing interprofessional models of care, patient-centered innovations, healthcare access in multicultural and vulnerable contexts, and the role of digital tools in strengthening continuity and coordination. Poster and one slide 5 minutes presentations stimulated active exchange and highlighted emerging research from early-career clinicians and academic teams. The Poster Prize was awarded during the Closing Session.

The local host and EGPRN Coordinator, Prof. Radost Assenova, opened the meeting and chaired the national keynote session. Her leadership, together with the commitment of the organizing committee and the support of the Medical University of Plovdiv, ensured an exceptionally well-organized event.

Participants also experienced the cultural heritage of Plovdiv, widely regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, with its Roman theatre, Revival-era Old Town, and vibrant artistic atmosphere. The social programme - featuring local music, shared meals, and informal collegial exchanges - reinforced the sense of connection that characterizes EGPRN meetings.

This 101st meeting continued the half-century tradition of EGPRN as a dynamic scientific network rooted in collaboration, mentorship, and the shared mission of strengthening primary care across Europe. 

We look forward to the next gathering of our research community.

On behalf of Communications and Public Relations Committee

This article was published under the category News on 25/10/2025 06:00.