MediPIET Alumni Network Meeting held in Warsaw during ESCAIDE 2025
On 21 November 2025, the MediPIET Alumni Network (MediAN) convened its annual meeting alongside the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) 2025 in Warsaw, Poland. The event brought together participants from across the MediPIET community, including graduating fellows from cohort 6, alumni from cohorts 1–5, supervisors, National Focal Points, and ECDC staff.
The meeting aimed to strengthen the growing alumni network by presenting its objectives, ongoing work, and future directions. Opening remarks and participant introductions were delivered by representatives from ECDC and MediAN, setting the stage for an afternoon of updates, technical presentations, and discussions.
A series of presentations followed, including an overview of the MediPIET Alumni Network, the updated Terms of Reference, the MediAN Statement, and general communication approaches, including the MediAN Bulletin. These sessions highlighted recent achievements and fostered discussion on the network’s evolving role.
The agenda also featured scientific contributions from fellows of MediPIET and the ECDC Fellowship, moderated by MediAN members, covering topics such as:
- Hepatitis B surveillance in Armenia (2023–2024)
- A large outbreak of Escherichia coli O26:H11 and O103:H2 in Latvia linked to dairy products (March–April 2025)
- Implementation of infection prevention and control of core components in Romanian public hospitals
- Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal in Kukës, Albania
The 2025 MediPIET Alumni Network meeting successfully reinforced collaboration among alumni members and partners and paved the way for future development of the MediAN community.
Next Steps
The MediPIET Alumni Network remains committed to strengthening regional public health capacity by fostering collaboration, supporting field epidemiology training initiatives, and integrating region-specific insights. Looking ahead, alumni will continue to serve as ambassadors for MediPIET, advancing health security within their home countries and professional networks.
