The European Geriatric Medicine Society 2024 Annual Congress in Valencia, Spain

Abstract

We recently returned from the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) annual congress and are excited to share with you this vibrant opportunity for healthcare professionals working with older adults. This event is a valuable experience for trainees, clinicians, and researchers alike.

Founded in 2001, EuGMS recently celebrated its 20th year and has made remarkable progress during this time. Its membership now includes 39 national Geriatrics societies and two national societies with observer status (Table S1). The Society has a comprehensive website (https://www.eugms.org/home.html), and a very well-attended annual congress. The society is led by internationally recognized geriatricians from diverse countries, including Professors Mirko Petrovic (President) from Belgium, Nathalie van der Velde (Academic Director) from the Netherlands, and Graziano Onder (Research Director) from Italy. This year's local organizing chair was Professor Francisco Jose Tarazona Santabalbina from Spain. The EuGMS also has its own journal, European Geriatric Medicine (https://link.springer.com/journal/41999), with Professor Alfonso Cruz-Jentoft from Spain as the Editor-in-Chief. Among other highly relevant articles, this journal recently featured the third, revised version of the STOPP/START criteria [1], authored by Professor Denis O'Mahony from Ireland and many prestigious geriatricians. These criteria have become highly regarded in the field and nicely complement the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria [2].

Each EuGMS annual congress is hosted in a European city, with recent locations including Krakow, Poland; Athens, Greece; London, England; and Helsinki, Finland. This year, from September 18 to 20, 2024, Valencia, Spain, hosted the most widely attended congress in the EuGMS history, drawing over 2300 participants from 76 countries (15% outside Europe). The theme for this year's congress, “From Healthy Ageing to Complex Needs in Older Adults” provided a rich platform for exploring the latest advancements in geriatric care. The diversity of backgrounds allowed attendees to learn about healthy aging from different perspectives and hear about novel care approaches. While the official language was English, the atmosphere buzzed with multiple languages throughout the halls, reflecting a tapestry of cultural perspectives.

The EuGMS program was designed to engage all attendees, featuring poster sessions, symposiums, and keynote presentations. The symposia promoted international collaborations and gender equity. Specifically, symposium submissions needed to include three presentations submitted by authors and co-chairs from more than one country. A gender balance was expected among the panel members and chairs. For trainees, conferences like EuGMS offer invaluable experiences to connect with researchers, scientists, and clinicians. Engaging with leading experts and peers allowed for rich networking opportunities, essential for career development. The exposure to diverse perspectives on aging and geriatric care fosters a broader understanding of the field and encourages innovative thinking. The congress also featured several special interest groups convened for in-depth discussions, including a robust session on geriatric pharmacology. These special interest groups are also a valuable platform for trainees to connect with established investigators, allowing them to gain insights into ongoing projects and explore potential collaborations. EuGMS could consider establishing a trainee-focused group at future annual congress to support future young professionals in the field.

Beyond the scientific and educational sessions, attendees could immerse themselves in Valencia's rich local culture. It is a city renowned for its high quality of life, science, and culture, including the stunning City of Arts and Sciences (Figure 1A). Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, it is an impressive sculptural space with a complex of buildings, including the Museum of Science and a performance centre for the arts. The old city, with its 2000-year history, is home to landmarks such as the Catedral De Valencia, the Silk Exchange, and the San Nicolás Church (Figure 1B). We were inspired by Valencia's commitment to physical activity, evident by its network of walking and cycling paths along the former Turia riverbed. We experienced these paths on a sunny day, where locals walked, biked, or played sports in the many fields and courts. The Turia riverbed was transformed into a large green space after a historic flood in 1957. We were saddened to learn about the intense rainfalls and flash floods occurring shortly after our return in October 2024 which heavily affected the city and the region with more than 220 victims (Figure 1C).

Social interactions were also a highlight of the event. Networking with colleagues from around the world enriched the experience with face-to-face interactions, including a lively group reception and much-anticipated group dinner. This is an occasion best reserved early due to its popularity. There is also ample opportunity for informal congress over a cup of coffee or for groups to meet in a quiet room. The closing session was just amazing—featuring a local group performing a centuries old folk dance, fully clothed in dress from the period, and a drummer and piccolo player providing the music. (Figure 2).

We observed a notable absence of our colleagues from Canada and the United States. As representatives from these countries, we strongly encourage participation in future EuGMS congresses to gain insights into global approaches to geriatric medicine and the diversity of care. The timing is ideal given that the Canadian and American Geriatric Society congress' are in May and the EuGMS is typically in September, making it feasible to attend both.

Looking ahead, the 2025 EuGMS congress will take place in Reykjavik, Iceland—an excellent opportunity for North Americans due to its proximity. The theme will be “New landscapes in geriatric medicine.” We recommend planning early to prepare your submissions and secure your spot at a very worthwhile event. (See Figure S1).

Study concept: Paula A. Rochon, Darly Dash, Joseph G. Ouslander. Drafting of the manuscript: Paula A. Rochon. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Paula A. Rochon holds the RTOERO Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto. Darly Dash is supported by a doctoral scholarship through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Funding reference number #FBD-181577).

Dr. Paula A. Rochon is a Deputy Editor and Dr. Joseph G. Ouslander is the Executive Editor for the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.