Physician Writer - Worldwide Organizations

Worldwide Organizations

In 1955 a group of physician-writers created the International Federation of Societies of Physician-Writers (FISEM). One of the founders was Dr. André Soubiran, author of Hommes en blanc (The Doctors). Other founders included Italian Professors Nasi and Lombroso, Belgian Drs. Sévery and Thiriet, Swiss physicians Junod and René Kaech, and eminent French writers of the medical academy. Dr. Mirko Skoficz was a key figure at the first FISEM congress in San Remo, Italy, along with his wife, Italian film star Gina Lollobrigida.

In 1973 FISEM changed its name to UMEM—Union Mondiale des Écrivains Médécins, or World Union of Physician Writers. Its current president is Dr. Carlos Vieira Reis of Portugal. UMEM is an umbrella organization that subsumes physician-writer groups in:

• Belgium, Groupement Belge des Médecins-Écrivains
• Brazil, Sociedade Brasileira de Médicos Escritores SOBRAMES
• Bulgaria, Club des Écrivains Médecins en Bulgarie
• France, Groupement des Ecrivains – Médecins
• Germany, Bundesverband Deutscher Schriftstellerärzte
• Greece, Hellenic Society of Physician Writers
• Italy, A.M.S.I.
• Netherlands, Penaescula
• Poland, Unia Polskich Pisarzy Medyków
• Portugal, Sociedade Portuguesa dos Escritores Médicos
• Romania, Societaea Medicilor Scriitori şi Publicişti din România
• South America, Liga Sud-Americana de Médicos-Escritores LISAME
• Spain, Asociación Española de Médicos Escritores e Artistas
• Switzerland, Association Suisse des Écrivains Médecins