RoMeDi appeared, the first global medical community of Romanian doctors from the diaspora. “Every Romanian professional abroad can become a bridge”, announce the professionals involved in the project. Reconnection with the Romanian medical system, among the objectives.
Doctors from outside Romania have launched RoMeDi (romedi.org), the Romanian Diaspora Medical Society, a professional initiative dedicated to doctors and other healthcare professionals of Romanian origin who work outside the country’s borders.
“Over the past decades, doctors and medical professionals trained in Romania have contributed significantly to the development of health systems in Europe and around the world, building solid clinical and academic careers and facilitating valuable international collaborations. RoMeDi was established to create a collegial, structured and sustainable framework, which would encourage professional dialogue, exchange of knowledge and active connection between Romanian medical professionals in the diaspora and those in the country”, announced the doctors involved in the project, through a press release.
The differences between the health systems of the EU countries, the medical staff crisis, what makes doctors leave the country, how those who left can be attracted will be discussed in the “Healthcare Forum 2026: The Truth about Romania’s Health”, which will take place on March 24, in Bucharest.
The society was founded in 2025 by an independent group of Romanian doctors from the United States, Italy, Monaco, France and Germany. It currently has approximately 150 members, the initiative being open, RoMeDi representatives announce, “to doctors and all professionals who contribute directly or indirectly to the functioning and progress of health systems and who want to be part of a modern, collaborative and impact-oriented community”.
Collaboration between professionals from all over the world through the platform
Doctors who have built a solid career abroad aim to achieve three major goals through the Romanian Diaspora Medical Society.
The connection of Romanian medical professionals from the diaspora is the first stated, RoMeDi being thought to function as a living network of Romanian experts from all over the world: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, researchers, specialists in technology, education, design or health policies.
“The platform aims to transform professional isolation, often associated with emigration, into a real opportunity for collaboration and exchange of expertise”the founders say.
Another important objective pursued is that of health education in the Romanian communities in the countries of adoption. “Romanian communities abroad often face language barriers and cultural differences in accessing medical services”, show the founders, explaining that they aimed to provide support by providing reliable medical information, in Romanian, adapted to the local context.
Last but not least, RoMeDi was conceived as a tool to reconnect with the medical and educational system in Romania, partnerships with professional structures and universities in the country having already been initiated. The relationships that doctors from the diaspora have with other colleagues from the country will thus be able to be extended at the level of hospitals, universities and medical institutions in Romania and transformed into active professional bridges.
“The Romanian Diaspora Medical Society (RoMeDi.org) starts from the conviction that the Romanian medical diaspora is not a loss, but a strategic resource. Every Romanian professional abroad (doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, psychologist, administrative staff, etc.) can become a bridge between systems, institutions and ideas, for the benefit of patients, communities and the medical profession”the RoMeDi team also sent.
RoMeDi’s executive team consists of: Dr. Raluca I. Cascăval (Internal Medicine), Colorado, USA – president; Dr. Florin Puflea (ATI), Italy – vice president; Dr. Eugen Ionescu (ENT and NeuroENT), France – vice president; Dr. Constantin Turchina (Cardiology), Monaco – general secretary; Dr. Alina Osnaga (assistant professor, Family Medicine), Connecticut, USA – secretary.
The Board of Directors of RoMeDi includes: Dr. Elena Crisan (physician specialist in Neurology, assistant professor of Neurology – University of Illinois), USA; Dr. Simona Fourie (Doctor of Medical Sciences, Healthcare Researcher – Oxford University, Radcliffe Department of Medicine), Great Britain; Dr. Tudor Toma (consultant physician in respiratory medicine, doctor of philosophy, editor-in-chief of the Romanian Journal of Pneumology), London, Great Britain; Dr. Radu Lupescu (medical specialist in anesthesia and intensive care), Strasbourg, France; Dr. Sorin Lazăr (MD specialist in Cardiology, university professor Rush University Medical Center in Chicago), USA; Dr. Mihail Bădescu (Physician specialist in geriatric medicine, palliative care), France; Dr. Theo Trandafirescu (MD, FCCP, FACP Critical Pulmonary Therapy, associate professor), New York, USA.
In addition to those already mentioned are the members of the Advisory Board – internationally recognized clinicians, researchers, academics, public health experts, opinion leaders, policy advisors and innovators.
