MediPIET Alumni Network meeting concludes with renewed commitment to sustainable collaboration
The Mediterranean and Black Sea Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (MediPIET) Alumni Network – MediAN – held a two-day event at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.
Held on 26 and 27 June 2025 under the theme ‘’, the event brought together public health professionals and institutional representatives from across the alumni of the MediPIET programme to strengthen collaboration, refine the network’s structure, and plan future joint activities.
MediPIET is part of the EU Initiative on HealthSecurity, which supports stronger regional health security and cross-border preparedness.
Over the two days, the meeting featured interactive sessions, plenary discussions, and group work focused on building a cohesive and enduring alumni community. The agenda addressed issues such as sustainability, governance, communication, and opportunities for enhanced collaboration with ECDC, the EPIET Alumni Network (EAN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA).
Participants engaged in productive dialogue on the future roles and responsibilities of the MediAN committee, drawing on experiences from other professional associations to inform strategic planning.
Breakout sessions explored contributions to upcoming events such as ESCAIDE 2025 and the European Public Health Conference. These discussions placed particular emphasis on shared responsibilities and inclusive coordination.
Further discussions focused on improving internal collaboration through knowledge exchange, joint projects, and structured working groups. Key outcomes included the identification of initial task teams and agreement on a more formalised structure for committee operations. The committee outlined key functions and responsibilities and decided to collect expressions of interest for particular functions, subject to voting at the consecutive meeting. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of visibility, coordinated action, and peer-led initiatives in supporting field epidemiology capacity in the MediPIET partner countries.
The meeting was a hybrid of in-person and remote participation. It marked an important milestone in the continued development of the MediPIET Alumni Network as a dynamic and sustainable platform for professional exchange and regional collaboration.
