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Excellence Award 2025/26 edition winner speaks on their initiative
The recipient of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2025/26 edition shares an overview on the Swedish Board Examination in Psychiatry.
Dr Karl Lundblad, the recipient of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2025/26 edition, shares a few words on receiving the award and the Swedish Board Examination in Psychiatry he has been involved in.
It came as a pleasant — though slightly stressful — surprise when the Chair of the Swedish Psychiatric Association called to inform me that I had won a prize from the UEMS. At the time, I was cooking for my family and parents-in-law, as 7 April happened to be my 40th birthday. Jonas Eberhard, the Chair, then informed me that I would need to travel to Malta on 18 April to receive the award. Unfortunately, I had already planned a rather substantial birthday party with 80 guests on that exact date, which caused a noticeable spike in cortisol levels. Fortunately, it later turned out that the ceremony would take place via Zoom. Oh, the bliss of modern technology.
The prize motivation read as follows:
“The panel assessed the initiative as exceptionally strong across all scoring criteria. They highlighted its clear and direct alignment with the mission and objectives of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry, particularly in relation to the harmonisation of specialist training, standard‑setting, and competency‑based development across Europe. The panel also commended the initiative’s demonstrated capacity to contribute to a paradigm shift in national CPD structures, with credible potential for broader European applicability.
Although patient‑level outcomes were supported indirectly through evidence of improved training quality, the submission provided a well‑argued mechanism for clinical impact and was recognised as the initiative with the strongest overall strategic relevance to UEMS priorities.”
So what did I do?
In 2024, I initiated the Swedish Board Examination in Psychiatry: a 100-question multiple-choice examination aimed at psychiatry residents and specialists. In Sweden, examinations and formal testing have traditionally not been held in particularly high regard. Assessment of trainees and colleagues has instead largely relied on collegial evaluation — that is, workplace-based assessment conducted by senior colleagues. However, the Swedish Psychiatric Trainees’ Organisation has for many years advocated the introduction of some form of examination to complement the current system.
The examination is pitched at the level of “a highly proficient newly qualified specialist in general adult psychiatry”. Candidates range from junior and senior residents to fully qualified specialists wishing either to test themselves or use the examination for revision and continuing professional development. In that sense, the examination may also function as a form of progress test.
I have also been most fortunate to contribute to the European Board Examination in Psychiatry, a joint initiative between the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), the Psychiatry Section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS-PS), and the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT). Together, we work to develop the European Board Examination in Psychiatry (EBEP) — essentially the same concept, but on a broader European scale.
The process of identifying common ground across European psychiatric practice and constructing high-quality questions within agreed topic areas is both demanding and immensely rewarding.
As stated in the mission of the examination, the aim is not solely assessment, but also the strengthening of European collaboration in psychiatry through:
promoting the establishment of a strong foundation of essential psychiatric knowledge;
supporting the mobility of healthcare professionals throughout Europe; and
ensuring high-quality mental healthcare.
It has been a genuine pleasure to get to know the other question writers, and the journey has been guided by the most pleasant of sea captains in the form of Dr Andrew Brittlebank.
I look forward to continuing the work of improving assessment in psychiatry.
Attached you can see a picture of me right after receiving the prize at a Zoom-call (five minutes before my birthday party), and on the next picture a Maltese-glass-sculpture gifted from the UEMS.
UEMS Psychiatry Section President Dr Marisa Casanova Dias presenting the excellence award to Dr Karl Lundblad at the Spring 2026 section meeting
The Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section
The recipients of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2024/25 edition share an overview on the Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section initiative.
The recipients of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2024/25 edition share a few words on the Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section initiative.
The Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section was founded in 2005 as a part of the Croatian Psychiatric Association (HPD). Over the years, we have made substantial improvements in psychiatric training, following the recommendation from the Profile of a Psychiatrist and the European Framework for Competencies in Psychiatry (EFCP) of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry.
Through active cooperation with other sections of young physicians in Croatia and Europe, the Section promotes international communication and sharing of knowledge and experiences. It continuously collaborates with the Croatian Psychiatric Association and the Croatian Society for Clinical Psychiatry within the Croatian Medical Association and has been involved in developing numerous Croatian clinical and treatment guidelines. The Section actively promotes research among its members and annually awards the best publication in a scientific journal and the best doctoral thesis.
We conduct research to analyze trainees’ the satisfaction with the training program. The results have been published in several Croatian scientific journals, presented at national conferences, and used to advocate for improvements in the training program. They have also informed the Section of additional educational activities needed to enhance young psychiatrists’ competencies in line with the seven roles defined in the UEMS Profile of a psychiatrist and EU competencies.
In addition to organizing various educational seminars and workshops- both independently and during major Croatian psychiatric congresses - we recognized the need for a dedicated congress for young psychiatrists. Since 2022, the Forum of Young Psychiatrists has aimed to encourage young psychiatrists to submit topics that reflect the greatest challenges in their practice and to become informed about new developments in psychiatry. The goal is to offer continuous medical education through carefully selected topics that build psychiatric competencies. The fifth Forum is planned for spring 2026.
New activities, workshops and seminars include:
The Recovery Approach in Psychiatric Practice aimed at increasing psychiatrists’ competence in implementing recovery principles in everyday practices
Individual Treatment Plan for Psychiatric Patients, aimed at enhancing competencies in developing a biopsychosocial formulation and an individual treatment plan where the patient has an active role
Improvement of communication between experts, patients and family members, developed on the basis of the three-way EUFAMI Prospect Training
These activities, which also involve peer workers s valuable members of the team, will be held annually. Additional new seminars include Prevention of coercive measures and admission without consent and Development of a psychodynamic formulation in general psychiatry.
Over the years, the Section has grown into a dynamic force and a central hub for connecting young psychiatrists and residents across Croatia through numerous impactful activities. It provides its members with opportunities to actively participate in and shape their own scientific and professional development.
Dina Bošnjak Kuharić and Sara Medved, The Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section
UEMS Psychiatry Section President Dr Marisa Casanova Dias and Swiss delegate Dr Ingo Butzke presenting the excellence award to Dr Sara Medved, president of Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Section, in Bern, Switzerland.
Upcoming Webinar: Understanding Stress, Burnout, and Resilience Among Nursing and Medical Professionals in Europe
EU Project KEEPCARING_1st webinar
📅 Date: 22nd May 2025
🕚 Time: 11:00 CET
📍 Online (Zoom Webinar)
We are pleased to announce the first webinar organized as part of the EU-funded KeepCaring project, in which the UEMS actively participates.
Webinar Title: Understanding stress, burnout, and resilience among nursing and medical professionals in Europe.
This webinar will highlight essential insights and achievements from the project's initial observational biobehavioural study, focusing on resilience among healthcare professionals experiencing work-related stressors.
School of Young Psychiatrists
The recipients of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence 2023/2024 Award share a few words on their School of Young Psychiatrists initiative.
The recipients of the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence 2023/2024 Award share a few words on the School of Young Psychiatrists initiative.
The School of Young Psychiatrists was established in February 2020, just before COVID-19 epidemy, in response to the existing gaps in the specialization program and the need to flexibly adapt it in lane with everchanging mental health-related needs of the population (pandemic, war in Ukraine).
It is based on 2-day interactive meetings, the program of which is built and shaped by the community of young psychiatrists in Poland: they choose the topics, the form of classes (e.g. case studies workshops), the city of the meeting, and the lecturers; this is one of the few bonding and networking opportunities across the country for young doctors. Thanks to obtaining different educational grants, last year the formula was extended to thematic meetings and scholarships were offered to participants from Ukraine.
The School of Young Psychiatrists is a cyclical event scheduled at least twice a year with a varied formula (virtual, hybrid, stationary) and various topics aimed at improving knowledge (including special thematic events, e.g. preparation for the national specialization exam with the participation of examiners and a Polish national consultant in the field of psychiatry) and clinical skills of young psychiatrists through active participation in clinical brainstorming sessions, lectures and workshops with the most important Polish experts in the field of clinical psychiatry and psychopharmacology invited.
All the topics covered during every singular event are decided in a participatory process through participants and members of the wider network created around the project: from psychiatric treatment of patients with somatic comorbidities or pharmacotherapy of anxiety, through addiction disorders, diagnosing ADHD in adults, changes introduced in the ICD-11 classification, sexual disfunctions assessment in the psychiatrist’s office, mental health care for pregnant people, antipsychotics’ combinations in the treatment of psychoses (to list some of the topics).
Participation fee, accommodation and meals are always fully covered for all participants as we understand the need to align the chances of participation also for doctors from smaller centers and rural areas. For this reason, the venue of the event is variable and is decided by the participants themselves.
The School of Young Psychiatrists is organized as a part of the voluntary work of members of the Section on Specialization Training of the Polish Psychiatric Association. The quality of the event and its reputation, which has had 10 editions so far, can be proven by the speed of the registration process. Recently it takes a couple of hours from the announcement of the event to the closing of the reserve list.
We believe that in this way we can provide the highest standard of care for people affected by mental health problems through training and medical education tailored to the needs that arise here and now, going beyond the basic requirements for trainees.
Anna Rewekant and Anna Szczegielniak, Section on Specialization Training of the Polish Psychiatric Association
UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2023/2024 Presented at the School of Young Psychiatrists in Warsaw
The prestigious UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award 2023/2024 was presented to the School of Young Psychiatrists during its opening ceremony in Warsaw. This recognition highlights the outstanding contributions of the School to psychiatric education and professional development.
The award was presented by Prof. Krzysztof Krysta, who emphasized the School’s crucial role in shaping the future generation of psychiatrists across Europe. The ceremony was a key moment in the program of the Szkoła Młodych Psychiatrów (School of Young Psychiatrists) meeting, drawing attention to the school’s continuous commitment to excellence in specialized training.
In addition to Prof. Krysta, the event was attended by prominent figures from the Polish Psychiatric Association and the Section of Specialised Training, including:
• Anna Rewekant, MD – Chair of the Section of Specialised Training of the Polish Psychiatric Association
• Anna Szczegielniak, MD – Previous Chair of the Section
• Anna Malec, MD – Member of the Board of the Section
• Karolina Olas-Dróżdż, MD – Member of the Board of the Section
• Prof. Dominika Dudek – President of the Polish Psychiatric Association
• Prof. Jerzy Samochowiec – Previous President of the Polish Psychiatric Association
• Prof. Przemysław Bieńkowski – Originator and Supervisor of the School of Young Psychiatrists
The UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award celebrates organizations and individuals who contribute significantly to advancing psychiatric education, research, and practice in Europe. The School of Young Psychiatrists has been recognized for its impactful work in enhancing the training and development of young professionals in the field.
For more information on the UEMS Section of Psychiatry Excellence Award and our initiatives, visit our News and Press Releases page
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