Faculty development for teachers of family medicine in Europe: reflections on 16 years' experience with the international Bled course.

Background: Instruction in principles and methods of medical education is a core component of the training of medical teachers. Curricula for new medical teachers have developed across Europe, but few European courses have had the success of the EURACT Bled course for teachers of family medicine. The course focuses on practical issues in medicine and the professional development of physicians.

General practice east of Eden: an overview of general practice in Eastern Europe.

Aim: To review the status of family medicine in Eastern European countries, specifically the position of the discipline within the health care system, its academic status, and expected trends in the development of the discipline.

Methods: We used available data in the literature and information gathered from personal contacts with members of European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine (ESGP/FM) expert groups, European Academy of Teachers in General Practice (EURACT), and European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN). Personal interviews with key informants from countries that do not have members in these organizations were used.