YEAP NEWS

Everyone knows that breastfeeding is the best option for newborns and infants. Unfortunately, there are situations when breastfeeding is not possible, due to various reasons and in those cases infant nutrition comes as a solution. Lately, a question has risen: are breastfeeding and a public – private partnership for infant nutrition compatible? To help elucidate that question, on September 9th EAP organized a discussion in European Parliament, that was hosted by MEPs Peter Liese and Manuel Pizzaro. All major stakeholders participated: from organizations that protect childrens interests (Martin Weber from WHO and Berthold Koletzko from EAP), over industry representatives (Udo Herz from Specialized Nutrition Europe) to NGOs that focus on children (Silke Mader from European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants).

Lively discussion resulted in key messages that breastfeeding is the best mode of infant feeding and must be actively promoted, protected and supported, having specially in mind that breastfeeding rates in Europe are rising but are still disappointingly low and that more efforts to improve the situation are needed. Improper marketing of breast milk substitutes, including the increasing digital marketing to families and the public, needs to be ended.

On the other side, when breastfeeding is not a feasible option, paediatricians and other health care professionals need current information on alternative options to provide competent counselling to families. Lastly, medical education should be provided by trusted independent bodies such as learned medical societies, professional associations, and public bodies and be strictly separated from commercial interests in products or services for healthcare.

YEAP, represented by its’ Chair Ivan Bambir, is happy to have been able to contribute to this discussion by putting special accent on importance of enabling the education on both breastfeeding and nutrition formulas to students, residents and young specialists.

This month, Young EAP and guests had the privilege to meet with EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, to discuss current health issues; challenges faced by young health professionals in Europe; and advocacy for child health. Amongst other things, the Commissioner has been responsible, over the past 5 years, for ensuring the European Commission is ready to support the EU’s capacity to deal with pandemics; build up knowledge on the performance of national health systems; help to address the challenge of increased calls on national health services; and launch  European Reference Networks. He will end his term by the end of next October.

In this inspirational event (and webinar), we asked Commissioner Andriukaitis about his views on the idea of founding European Institutes of Health (like the National Institutes of Health in the United States), including entities like a European Cancer Institute, to promote cross-border monitoring of health and facilitate research in Europe.

Read more about this session on the Young EAP/EAP September blog.

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Young EAP Webinar – EU Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis from Antonios Loizos on Vimeo.

On 28 May, the Young EAP hosted a webinar on the subject of the health of the migrant child. Our guest speaker was Professor Charles Oberg, Professor Emeritus in the Divison of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, and responsible for the implementation of the Budapest Declaration for the Rights, Health and Well-being of the children and young on the move, drawn up by the International Society of Social Paediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) in 2017. All paediatric trainees across Europe were invited to attend the webinar through the Young EAP website and twitter feed.

Professor Oberg delivered an engaging presentation on the context of migration today, its impact on health and access to healthcare, and the role of the paediatrician and paediatric trainee in helping families deal with the challenges brought by being on the move. He drew on decades of experience working with refugees and migrant families in many countries all over the world, and outlined the efforts that led up to the publication of the Budapest Declaration, and the work that is left to encourage global commitment to safeguard the health of the migrant child. A stimulating discussion was then held, centered around the ways the paediatric trainee can have a positive impact on both the individual patient, and migrant health policy at large.

Recognising the importance of involving patients in their own health, Young EAP hosted a webinar on how paediatric trainees can contribute to ensuring patient-centred health on 24 September. The webinar guest speakers included Prof. Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London; Jana Popova, a member of the youth section of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF); and a parent of a chronically ill child. All paediatric trainees across Europe were invited to attend the webinar through the Young EAP website. 

Each of the speakers shared their views no how to improve patient involvement. Jana Popova introduced us to the organization EPF that works with patient groups in public health and health advocacy across Europe. Their mission is to be a united influential patient voice in European health and related policies and to aid in advancing patient empowerment and equitable patient access to care in Europe. The parent speaker shared her personal experience and expressed her views on how doctors can make patients and their respective families feel more involved and supported especially in the setting of chronic illness. Prof. Modi explained the importance of engaging parents in their childs’ health, also by means of effective health services, and helping children and their parents understand research claims and methods. Involving patients and parents in health prevention is also essential to optimize health care. An interesting discussion followed and the paediatric trainees asked questions and gave their feedback on how they may empower parents and children.

The Young EAP would like to thank the guest speakers for sharing their experiences and knowledge by means of the webinar, so as to improve patient involvement in health care. 

This month, Young EAP and guests had the privilege to meet with EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis to discuss current issues related to challenges faced by young health professionals in Europe and advocacy for child health. Amongst other things, Commissioner Andriukaitis has been responsible, over the past 5 years, for ensuring the European Commission is ready to support the EU’s capacity to deal with pandemics; build up knowledge on the performance of national health systems; and help to address the challenge of increased calls on national health services. He will end his term by the end of next month.

Some key areas to focus on, as suggested by Commissioner Andriukaitis, include the monitoring of the state of child health (including social and mental well-being as well as physical well-being); better collection of anthropometric data on children across Europe; focusing on non-communicable and communicable diseases; and extending the European Reference Networks (ERNs) to facilitate cross border research. He emphasised the importance of collaboration, and moving away from working in silos.

The Commissioner ended our Inspirational event by urging young doctors to raise their voices and

influence parliaments, friends, networks, and to be more socially oriented. He emphasised that we will improve child health by coming together. This was a truly inspiring event that Young EAP are proud to have been part of.

Do you want to learn more about our meeting with the Commissioner? Our September blog is now available, and find the link to the full webinar soon.

On Tuesday 28th May, Professor Charles Oberg will be delivering an online webinar to the members of the Young EAP on the subject of migrant child health. Professor Oberg is professor emeritus in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, and has worked closely with the International Society of Social Paediatrics in the field of migrant health. He will outline important developments within this area over the last few years, including the Budapest Declaration and the Global Compact, and explore how young paediatricians can contribute to improving the health of the migrant child.

Please find the e-invitation below & feel free to distribute this among your colleagues – they are welcome to join us!

Topic: Webinar Charles Oberg
Time: May 28, 2019 7:30 PM Brussels

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/272005598

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,272005598# US (New York)
+16699006833,,272005598# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 272 005 598
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/add1xGWsyR

On Tuesday 28th May, Professor Charles Oberg will be delivering an online webinar to the members of the Young EAP on the subject of migrant child health. Professor Oberg is professor emeritus in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, and has worked closely with the International Society of Social Paediatrics in the field of migrant health. He will outline important developments within this area over the last few years, including the Budapest Declaration and the Global Compact, and explore how young paediatricians can contribute to improving the health of the migrant child.

Please find the e-invitation below & feel free to distribute this among your colleagues – they are welcome to join us!

Topic: Webinar Charles Oberg
Time: May 28, 2019 7:30 PM Brussels

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/272005598

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,272005598# US (New York)
+16699006833,,272005598# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 272 005 598
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/add1xGWsyR

More children than ever are on the move – more than a third of the 1 million migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees who arrived in Europe in 2015 were children; of these, 90,000 were unaccompanied by an adult carer. Migrant children are vulnerable to disease, violence, malnutrition, and exploitation. They have often already experienced several forms of trauma, including war and displacement. What is the role of paediatriciand and paediatric trainees in protecting these children and acting as stewards of their health? How can we improve their wellbeing and contribute to a safe and healthy childhood?

On Tuesday 28th May, Professor Charles Oberg will be delivering an online webinar to the members of the Young EAP on the subject of migrant child health. Professor Oberg is professor emeritus in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, and has worked closely with the International Society of Social Paediatrics in the field of migrant health. He will outline important developments within this area over the last few years, including the Budapest Declaration and the Global Compact, and explore how young paediatricians can contribute to improving the health of the migrant child.

More information will be available soon on the Young EAP section of the EAP website.

Mentorship is a very important tool for professional development as has been linked to greater productivity, professional satisfaction and career advancement.

The Young EAP Mentorship Programme is an essential part of the Young EAP Leadership Programme and seeks to establish mentoring relationships between Young EAP members (mentees) and EAP members (mentors).It aims to promote EAP career and leadership development. Through a trusted and experience adviser, Young EAP have the opportunity to discuss challenges encountered while conducting (Young) EAP projects, and explore options to enhance career advancement. Meanwhile, EAP mentors have an opportunity to further develop leadership skills, support Young EAP mentees’ growth into leadership roles, and learn about emerging trends from the next generation of paediatricians.

The Young EAP Core Group is overseeing the matching process, which is based on information on education, training, sub-specialty interests, educational/advocacy/innovation/research interests, and time commitments from each participant. This programme is open to all Young EAP members, and all EAP members are invited to participate.

Examples of goals within Mentorship Program:

• Defining career trajectory, e.g. clinical vs. academic career paths;
• Dealing with conflicting professional and personal priorities;
• Professional network extension;
• Successful strategies to overcome barriers or challenges.

Are you interested in joining Young EAP? Please write an email to Lenneke Schrier (L.Schrier-2@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl).

Young EAP has organised some educational workshops for junior doctors and now all trainees interested in watching them online can contact Lenneke Schrier in order to receive the log in credentials.

YEAP WORKSHOP – DESIGNING YOUR CHANGE STRATEGY

WINTER MEETING 2018

 Ivan Bambir, Lenneke Schrier

This year’s European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) Winter Meeting was held from 7^th to 9^th of December, traditionally as always in Brussels. More than 60 representatives of  31 national paediatric associations from all over Europe gathered. Councils and committees have presented what they have been doing during the last year (from EAPRAS successful vaccination survey, through MOCHA result and revisions of educational curriculum to continuous development of making European paediatric exam). Our two term serving EAP president, Tom Stiris, finished his devoted service to EAP and thus to the  paediatricians and children over whole Europe and we really thank him for that. Adamos Hadjipanayis, secretary general until now, is elected as his successor, what we all believe he will do on remarkably high level of quality. Also, Jernej Zavrsnik ended his second mandate as Chair of Primary Care Committee (PCC). Jernej’s service to the PCC significantly developed activities of PCC and we hope that his strength and wisdom will be used in future EAP’s work. As his successor Peter Altorjai was elected, whose current activity in PCC couldn’t have went unnoticed and thus was recognised with his election in position of new PCC Chair.

Except for before mentioned changes, this year’s Winter Meeting was also special because it was the first Young EAP’s  (YEAP) Winter Meeting after it was founded in 2017. Motivated and organised, YEAP used this Winter Meeting to its fullest by not only participating but also by having a pre-meeting Leadership programme for YEAP members. YEAP members gathered to listen and learn about Change Management (by Corry Den Rooyen) and instantly applied it to two (Young) EAP projects: Choosing Wisely Europe – Paediatrics and Children Migrant Health in PGT Education. The Strategic Communications Workshop by LOW Europe (Karen Clements and Ana Oliveira) about who is who in Brussels, and how to get our message heard by stakeholders gave us better insights on how to increase our impact in Brussels and beyond. It also changed YEAPS perception on how to communicate via social networks.The General Assembly’s (GA) reflection on the YEAP 2019 Strategic Plan was more than fruitful – personal  and professional experience and wisdom of EAP’s GA members, who supported the Strategic Plan, contributed to the further development of the Plan. With this Plan, we aim to make important changes in paediatric residents’ status and education, children’s health across Europe and the further development of European Paediatrics in the up-coming year and beyond.

Thus, this year’s EAP’s Winter Meeting was more than productive and positive. Ideas were exchanged during sessions and breaks, new goals were set, old friends met again, new friendships and collaborations were made and yet again it was shown that EAP and YEAP continue to work  on the further development of the paediatric profession in Europe in order to help the children who need our care. EAP and YEAP aim for much positive change in the following year so follow up on our activities and feel free to join us, because alone we will do a lot, but together with you we can do so much more, so much better.

Poor working conditions may jeopardise patient care and lead to shortage of doctors. As outlined by the European Junior Doctors, numerous doctors suffer from stress and burn out especially when in training positions; therefore, it is essential that all young doctors are provided with a healthy work environment.

With this study, we aim to achieve a better understanding of the similarities and differences in working and training conditions for paediatric residents across Europe.

In 2017, a pilot survey was distributed amongst national representatives within Young EAP. Based on these preliminary findings, a more detailed survey was composed.

We invite paediatric residents from around Europe to fill in the questionnaire below regarding current working conditions in their hospitals.  Your input will make a difference – help us to help you.

For any queries kindly contact Renske Cornelisse van Vugt (YEAP representative, Netherlands) on Young.EAP.1@gmail.com

Young EAP is the network of national junior paediatric representatives within the EAP, with a mission to support the work of EAP in the areas of education, innovation and advocacy. It was officially established during the General Assembly of the EAP Winter Meeting 2017; and currently has members representing 24 countries.

We are pleased to introduce 8 new members who have recently joined Young EAP:

• Miglė Trumpickaitė (1st year resident in general paediatrics and a member of Junior Doctors Association of Lithuania),
• Larisa Kragelj (4th year paediatric resident in Ljubljana and president of Slovenian Young Pediatricians Society, Slovenia),
• Miloš Simov (Final year of residency for general paediatrics, Slovenia),
• Lena Maizière (3rd year paediatric resident and Member of the German junior society, “Junge DGKJ”, Germany),
• Francisco Ribeiro Mourão (Portugal)
• Maria den Boer (3rd year PhD research on ethical aspects, Netherlands).
• Yevgeniy Grechukha (leader of the Ukrainian Young UAP section);
• Yaryna Lesnyak (Ukraine).

Several national representatives are also involved in national junior paediatric societies and sections. They bridge the distance between paediatric trainees in their country and Young EAP, and provide valuable input to discussions regarding issues that need to be addressed, as well as provide positive energy and ideas for EAP.

We are looking for more new members  from  Finland, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Slovakia, in order to achieve a truly pan-European representation scope.  This is an opportunity to voice your thoughts and ideas, and to join us in improving child health and help paediatricians across Europe.

More information on Young EAP membership here.

Interested paediatric trainees may contact Ivan Bambir (Vice Chair of Young EAP, Croatia).

Young EAP is happy to receive input and suggestions on our draft Strategic Plan for 2019. The plan is a result of months of thinking on Young EAP’s role and performance, and its draft objectives for 2019 are based on an extensive internal SWOT analysis.

We are open for further ideas and suggestions and appreciate any feedback.

This draft will be finalized before December 31, 2018. You can access the full document here.

Please direct your suggestions and comments to Lenneke Schrier, Chair of Young EAP,  while including your name, position and contact details.

In addition to their participation in the EAP Winter Meeting, Young EAP members had the opportunity to take part in a full afternoon of training sessions. The first part, presented by Motivation’s Corry den Rooyen and Young EAP’s Chair, Lenneke Schrier, focused on Change Management and sought to provide Young EAP with organisation change tools.

The second part, presented by LOW’s Karen Clements and Ana Oliveira, trained participants on EU advocacy and digital communications as tools to increase the scope and visibility of Young EAP messages and goals.

Are you interested in joining Young EAP? Please write an email to Lenneke Schrier.

“HOW CAN I HELP YOU TO SUCCEED?”: THE YOUNG EAP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION 

The EAP recognizes that mentorship is critical in helping to nurture and grow future leaders and that a mentorship program is a great opportunity to engage new and existing young members. Mentorship has been shown to be a very important tool for professional development as it has been linked to greater productivity, professional satisfaction and career advancement. 

The Young EAP Mentorship Program is an essential part of the Young EAP Leadership Program and seeks to establish mentoring relationships between Young EAP members (mentees) and EAP members (mentors). 

WHAT ARE THE GOALS? 

The Young EAP Mentorship Program aims to promote EAP career and leadership development. Mentors and mentees will form professional partnerships and share educational, advocacy, innovation, and/or research interests. Young EAP mentees will gain a trusted and experienced advisor, have an opportunity to consult about challenges encountered while conducting (Young) EAP projects and explore options to enhance career advancement. EAP mentors will have opportunities to further develop leadership skills, support Young EAP mentees in growing into leadership roles, and learn about emerging trends from the next generation of paediatricians. 

HOW DOES IT WORK? 

To facilitate the matching process, mentors and mentees will prepare a short biography (200 words), which will be displayed on the website, and complete an online mentor/mentee profile form, which will be only visible for participants. The profile form collects information on education, training, subspecialty interests, educational/advocacy/innovation/research interests, and the amount of time the participant is willing to commit. 

The Young EAP Core Group will take care of the matching process. Mentor/mentee pairs will have the ability to meet in person (locally, if they choose a local match and/or during EAP meetings) and to meet virtually. 

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT? 

Mentors are asked to commit at least one full academic year, which can be extended to a period of 3 years (duration of Young EAP membership).
Mentors/mentees are encouraged to set regular phone meetings (at least every 2 months) and meet in person during the EAP Spring and Winter Meetings to discuss mentee goals, questions, challenges and progress. Mentors/mentees are expected to answer all communications in a timely manner. Mutual confidentiality of all communication is agreed upon to enable an open exchange on all aspects that may arise. 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? 

This program is open to all Young EAP members. All EAP members in good standing are invited to participate. 

EXAMPLE GOALS/ISSUES TO DISCUSS: 

• Setting professional a/o change goals;
  • Defining career trajectory, e.g. clinical vs. academic career paths;
• • Dealing with conflicting professional and personal priorities;
  • Professional network extension;
  • Successful strategies to overcome barriers or challenges.

TIMELINE: 

1 year pilot with 5 mentor-mentee pairs which will be evaluated during the EAP Winter Meeting 2019: what have we learned?
After pilot: development of “train the mentors-program” (led by EAP mentors)

Young EAP is happy to receive input and suggestions on our draft Strategic Plan for 2019. The draft objectives for 2019 are based on an extensive internal SWOT analysis. Young EAP is now searching for input of stakeholders.

This draft will be finalized before December 31, 2018.

Please direct your suggestions and comments to l.schrier@lumc.nl while including your name, position and contact details.

Young EAP draft Strategic Plan 2019