Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, FAAFP, director of health equity and associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Duke and was selected as president-elect of the World Organization of Family Physicians (WONCA), after a successful campaign.
I am honored and deeply touched by this process, Martinez-Bianchi said. She delivered a passionate campaign speech emphasizing the importance of inclusion and overcoming adversity. She called for transparency and effective advocacy, as well as a future filled with hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
In her new role, Martinez-Bianchi aims to strengthen the practice of family medicine among WONCA member organizations, foster and promote health equity across the world, develop guidelines, and improve training for family physicians, increase WONCA’s research capacity, double its operating budget, and guide governments and health systemson how best to train family doctors. Additionally, she plans to transform WONCA into a leading primary health care policy authority that emphasizes the importance of supporting and caring for underserved communities in rural and urban areas.
Dr. Martinez-Bianchi is one of my heroes. Through her tireless service and dedication, she has made a very positive difference in the lives of so many people in our communities and across our state,” said Anthony Viera, MD, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
In her campaign video, she explains that her reach as president-elect will extend far beyond the walls of WONCA. Its mission is to shape the future of family medicine and build a sustainable health care model for generations to come through inclusion, collaboration and innovation.
Martinez-Bianchi will serve as president-elect from 2023 to 2025, then president from 2025 to 2027.
An exceptional educator and family medicine provider with over 30 years of experience, Martinez-Bianchi has extensive leadership experience. She previously served on the WONCA Executive Committee as a general member, and she was WONCA’s Liaison to the World Health Organization from 2016 to 2021 and Chair of WONCA’s Organizational Equity Committee. Martinez-Bianchi said working in these roles highlights the importance of having multiple perspectives in order to bridge gaps and uncover workable solutions.
Additionally, Martinez-Bianchi was selected to serve on President Joe Biden’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition earlier this year. She has held positions with the American Academy of Family Physicians and its Congress of Delegates, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and Family Medicine for Americas Health, and has served as a director of the Physicians Foundation of family from North Carolina. She was also instrumental in the development of LATIN-19, a multi-sector coalition that provided access to information, health care, testing and vaccines for marginalized communities in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19. At Duke, Martinez-Bianchi won several awards, including the Duke Presidential Award, and served the Family Medicine Residency Program for 14 years, first as associate program director and then as program director before to be named Director of Health Equity.
She attributes her success to her experiences as an educator, community activist, provider in multiple settings, and her Ibero-American heritage. His relentless pursuit of social justice and equality and his unceasing compassion have earned him the recognition and respect of his distinguished peers and colleagues.
There is no one I would rather have representing and leading family medicine around the world, Viera said. With this well-deserved opportunity, she will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.
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Image Source : fmch.duke.edu