We are pleased to introduce Prof. Ferry Breedveld as the incoming President of FEAM (Federation of European Academies of Medicine). Prof. Breedveld is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2003, and was Head of the Department of Rheumatology in Leiden and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leiden University Medical Centre. With a strong focus on collaboration and strategic growth, Prof. Breedveld aims to enhance FEAM’s impact by promoting knowledge exchange and setting clear health priorities that align with the needs of its member academies and Forum partners.
As Prof. Breedveld explains, “The FEAM newsletter should further develop as a platform for high-level information exchange between academies.” His vision is to turn the newsletter into a valuable resource for sharing insights, research findings, and policy developments that drive informed discussions across Europe’s health landscape. By creating a more interactive forum for dialogue, he sees the newsletter as a way to bridge ideas between academies and strengthen the impact of FEAM’s collective expertise.
In addition to fostering communication, Prof. Breedveld is focused on creating a more inclusive and responsive agenda for FEAM’s work. “As incoming president, my priority is to increase the involvement of academy members in FEAM activities,” he says. “FEAM, as a network of academies, has great potential to produce evidence and advise on health matters.” His vision includes building a responsive and collaborative agenda, engaging member academies more deeply, and creating a balance between top-down and bottom-up project initiatives to ensure a diverse approach to health challenges across Europe.
Defining key topics in consultation with stakeholders will be a cornerstone of Prof. Breedveld’s approach. This collaborative approach ensures that FEAM’s agenda remains flexible and relevant to evolving health landscapes. By consulting with partners and regularly revisiting emerging health needs, Prof. Breedveld aims to position FEAM to address both traditional medical challenges and newer, systemic concerns such as resilience in healthcare systems—a particularly pressing need following the COVID-19 pandemic—and the harmonization of healthcare practices across Europe.
Prof. Breedveld also intends to initiate regular discussions with FEAM Forum members, seeking to align their needs with FEAM’s mission and create synergy between priorities and action. With this inclusive, collaborative outlook, Prof. Breedveld looks forward to guiding FEAM toward meaningful progress for the benefit of healthcare in Europe.
