Empowering the next generation of family physicians in a changing healthcare landscape

It is with great honor and pleasure that we welcome you to the 101st EGPRN Meeting, taking place from 16–19 October 2025 in the ancient, multicultural, and modern city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This gathering is especially meaningful as it coincides with two significant milestones: the 80th anniversary of the Medical University of Plovdiv and the 10th anniversary of the Bulgarian General Practice Society for Research and Education.

The theme of this meeting, “Empowering the next generation of family physicians in a changing healthcare landscape,” invites us to reflect on how we equip, support, and inspire early-career general practitioners to become active contributors to research and innovation. As health systems across Europe evolve, family medicine stands at a crossroads - facing new demands, technological transformation, and the imperative to deliver care that is both person-centered and responsive to community needs.

This evolving landscape brings new opportunities. It calls for more interprofessional collaboration, with a focus on how to structure it effectively, and for deeper engagement with multicultural realities, including research into ethnic diversity, differential responses to treatment, and culturally sensitive care approaches.

The meeting is hosted by the Bulgarian General Practice Society for Research and Education, on behalf of the Medical University of Plovdiv, and is supported by the Bulgarian Medical Association – Plovdiv region. We are proud to bring together the European general practice research community to connect past experience with future vision - supporting research that is relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving realities of family medicine.

Scientific scope of the conference

This meeting highlights the complexities and potential of research focused on empowering the next generation of family physicians. General practitioners work in close partnership with patients, colleagues, and communities, and are uniquely positioned to generate practice-based research that reflects the realities of daily care. Navigating uncertainty, embracing diversity, and responding to systemic changes are central to our discipline - and also fertile ground for inquiry.

The scientific program will explore key topics such as:

• Interprofessional collaboration, with emphasis on effective team dynamics across local and international settings
• Healthcare in multicultural societies, including communication, treatment decisions, and equity in research
• The impact of digital transformation on research, education, and practice in primary care

By sharing evidence and lived experience, we aim to strengthen the research foundations of family medicine and inspire new perspectives for a changing world.

As usual, we also welcome research submissions on other topics relevant to family medicine.

Host Organising Committee

• Prof. Radost Asenova – EGPRN Coordinator
• Dr. Gergana Foreva, PhD – BGPSRE Coordinator
• Dr. Zornitsa Ambareva, PhD – Chair of BGPSRE
• Dr. Georgi Tsigarovski, PhD – Chair of Bulgarian Medical Association, Plovdiv region
• Dr. Daniela Mileva, PhD – Department of General Practice, Medical University Plovdiv
• Prof. Arman Postadjian – Department of General Practice, Medical University Sofia
• Assoc. Prof. Lubomir Kirov – Department of General Practice, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Chairman of National association of general practitioners in Bulgaria
• Assoc. Prof. Jeni Ruseva – Department of General Practice, Medical University Varna
• Prof. Valentina Madjova – Department of General Practice, Medical University Varna
• Prof. Tsvetelina Valentinova – Department of General Practice, Medical University Pleven
• Prof. Kiril Slavejkov – Department of General Practice, Trakia University – Stara Zagora
• Prof. Gospodinka Prakova – Department of General Practice, Trakia University – Stara Zagora