The warmth and beauty of spring has finally arrived, along with good news. I would like to thank all EFPTians who actively cooperated at the EPA Congress 2017 for their contributions to EFPT’s numerous scientific sessions and networking activities. With their help we were able to raise awareness on training related issues and to introduce EFPT’s vision to colleagues from several different countries including Iceland and Brazil. We had fruitful meetings with EFPT Working Group Chairs and General Managers, aiming to support higher achievements of EFPT projects. In the past few months, we have received many outstanding projects led by psychiatric trainees submitted for the EFPT Porto Research Award. It has been a challenging selection process as each of them deserves to be distinguished. It is my great pleasure to hereby announce that the winner of the EFPT Porto Research Award 2017 is Iryna Frankova from Ukraine with her project ‘SSRI's vs BNZ in “Golden hours” after exposure to traumatic event’. Many congratulations for her dedication and persistent efforts! She will be sharing her study with us at the 25th EFPT Forum in Istanbul.
EFPT’s long standing success in organizing the Exchange Programme has now become an example for other branches of post-graduate medical education. I’m proud to share with you that for the first time, EFPT was able to support one candidate with a scholarship. The winner of the first Exchange Scholarship is Eralda Myslimi. She is also the first Exchange participant from Albania and will do her exchange in Italy this spring/summer.
Last, but not the least, the final round of preparations of the 25th EFPT Forum has been set forth. We have worked on a program with the hopes to present a memorable EFPT Forum as well as to demonstrate the richness and diversity of psychiatry in Turkey. We will be discussing “Gateways to Hope” in psychiatry in each participating country, from in and beyond Europe. Moreover, all junior scientists are invited to submit their scientific presentations, which will be reviewed by our scientific advisory committee and selected applicants will have the opportunity to present their work to an international audience. If you are up for “Crossing the Bridge”s, then 25th EFPT Forum would be the right destination for you. The registrations will be open May 1st, please follow our website for updates. All in all, the Local Organizing Committee will be delighted to welcome you between June 30th-July 4th! See you in Istanbul!
Ekin Sönmez EFPT President 2016-17