WONCA Winning Group The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) has been awarded the 2025 Incredible Impacts Award, presented by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in collaboration with the BestCities Global Alliance. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 64th ICCA Congress in Porto, Portugal.
WONCA was recognised for its 2022 World Rural Health Conference in Limerick, Ireland, which brought together clinicians, researchers and policymakers to address rural healthcare challenges. Hosted by the University of Limerick, alongside the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and the Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors of Ireland (RIDDI), the event prioritised long-term community outcomes over short-term economic impact.
Professor Liam Glynn, Conference Ambassador and Professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick, stated: “We are delighted to accept the Incredible Impacts Award, but really it is a story of a fantastic collaboration… making Rural WONCA 2022 such an impactful conference with an outstanding social legacy which continues to this day in transforming rural healthcare.”
The Incredible Impacts Programme celebrates international association meetings that deliver meaningful, enduring legacies. WONCA will receive USD 20,000 to support further initiatives.
ICCA CEO Dr Senthil Gopinath commented: “WONCA has demonstrated outstanding creativity and purpose in connecting people, knowledge, and community impact.”
Loren Christie, Managing Director of BestCities, added: “This year’s record-breaking submissions prove how purpose-driven events can reach far beyond the conference room.”
Other finalists included the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA) and the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). Autism-Europe received the Seed Fund grant of USD 5,000.