The Southeast European Medical Forum (SEEMF) held its annual Board Meeting in Ohrid, North Macedonia in May of 2023.  This meeting was held in conjunction with the 5th International Congress of Gynecologists and Obstetricians that was organized by the Macedonia Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. 

Dr. Alex Levin, Chairman of Community Division Association of Physicians, Deputy Chair of IMA and SEEMF Board Member, attended the meeting on behalf of the Israeli Medical Association.

Prior to the meeting, Dr Levin visited Bulgaria and met with Prof. Andrey Kehayov, SEEMF President, and other leading Bulgarian doctors to further cooperation and relations between Bulgarian doctors and the Israeli Medical Association.

Prof. Andrey Kehayov then accompanied Dr. Alex Levin on the long drive from Bulgaria to the city of Ohrid, located in the western part North Macedonia, finally arriving at the shores of Lake Ohrid, one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.

Upon arrival in Ohrid, Dr. Levin met members of the SEEMF Secretariat and participated in the opening of 5th International Congress of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. The next day, the SEEMF Congress meeting was held with the participation of representatives from 16 member states of the organization.

The meeting covered several important topics, among them: organization of an annual SEEMF conference in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, distribution of a SEEMF newsletter and organizational plans for 2024.

The representative from Greece gave an overview of the preparation of the conference in Thessaloniki, the agenda, and the motivations for setting up the conference.

The first issue of the SEEMF organization newsletter, which includes both professional and organizational content, was presented.

Monte Negro proposed to hold the next SEEMF Congress in 2024 and this proposal was appreciated by members of the secretariat. The secretariat also decided to conditionally accept the state of Croatia as a member of the Organization until a final decision is made at the Thessaloniki conference.

In the evening, the participants were invited to a dinner where they talked about the importance of cooperation between member states in the organization and where the members expressed their appreciation to the State of Israel and to the level of medicine in our country.