title: [Polonia Medyczna: struktura, współczesność i przyszłość].
abstract: It is estimated that approximately 20-25 000 polish physicians practice medicine in different countries outside of Poland, enriching medical workforces in their newly elected countries. The composition of this group, known as "Medical Polonia", has been changing from post Second World War emigration, resulting from the war and its political consequences, thru the next large wave of physicians leaving the communist country in 1980's. The last large group of Polish physicians has taken advantage of training opportunities or have started practices in the European Union, having departed Poland permanently or temporarily, after the country joined the European Union in 2004. The first organizations of Polish physicians outside of Poland were founded almost immediately after WWII in London, Chicago, New York, Paris, Lille, and later in Stockholm. Decades later, re-invigorated by their native country gaining independence after 1989, they organized the first World Congress of Medical Polonia in 1991 (in collaboration with physicians' organization from Poland). The World Federation of Polish Medical Organization Abroad was then established in 1994. Subsequently, many organizations joined the Federation, including several from newly liberated countries of former Soviet Union. The Federation of Polish Medical Organizations and its member societies actively promotes medical education, collaboration between polish doctors all over the world, and the exchange of ideas-sharing experiences with significant emphasis on the quality of care and patient safety.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Advocate Healthcare, Chicago oraz Federacja Polonijnych Organizacji Medycznych, Advocate Healthcare (AIMMC) Department of Surgery, 836 W. Wellington Chicago, IL 60657, United States Tel. 773 296-7465, Fax 773 296 5570 Email: marek.rudnicki@advocatehealth.com.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudnicki
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011362:Professional Corporations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Medical Congress; Medical Polonia; Polonia Medyczna; emigrant physicians; immigrant physicians; medical organizations; medical sociaties; physicians work force; polish physicians