WAPO History
An annual Global Pituitary Advocacy Meeting in Zurich was organized for patient advocates from 2012 – 2014 by Novartis. Patient advocates from 25-30 countries joined and delegates discussed the most critical issues they were facing as national communities. The delegates met outstanding endocrinologists, nurses, and other professionals, and learned about the various diseases and most recent scientific findings in the area. The outcome of the very first meeting, was the ‘Declaration of Zurich’, prepared and signed by the delegates, including 10 aspects of patient life, which should be implemented in medical care!
In October 2014 at the 3rd Global Pituitary Advocacy Meeting, the delegates decided to create an independent, global organization named the ‘Worldwide Adrenal and Pituitary Organizations’. The Steering Committee held it’s first meeting on October 19, 2014.
The first official meeting and event was the WAPO Summit, in April 2016. The event was fully organized by the Steering committee, and we found three sponsors for it. It became the first formal meeting for WAPO incorporation.
At the AGM, included in the Summit, the first Board of Directors was elected and, on May 30th 2016, the World Alliance of Pituitary Organizations was registered as an association in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
Upon request of patient advocates in 2024, the WAPO name – World Alliance of Pituitary Organizations – was voted upon during the AGM’s of June and October 2025. Then also the new name was (s)elected: Worldwide Adrenal and Pituitary Organizations.
This name is active since January 1, 2026.
Other projects were:
- a general facebook page as well as a page for WAPO members only, the Facebook Forum Group;
- Social Media accounts, like Twitter and LinkedIn.
Note: Twitter has been closed per 1-1-2026.
- an International Travel Letter, in many languages, including supporting information to prepare for travelling;
- Bylaws;
- the Declaration of Zurich, original version in 2012, and reviewed in 2017 and 2019;
- the WAPO Code of Conduct, to be signed by all representing patient advocacy groups;
- a blog, which since 2020 is replacing the quarterly newsletter;
- organization of an annual WAPO Global Summit incl. AGM, since 2016.
- During the Covid-19 pandemics, virtual eSummits were organized in 2020 and 2021;
- organization of a webinar, which will find a follow-up in 2022, with a series of informative webinars;
- organization of an online series of meetings in the ‘Global Café’, to meet and share experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic incl. sessions in English, Spanish and Russian.
- Mapping Project I (2018/2019) and Mapping Project II (2021) to engage our members and to understand what is important in different countries – like medicine availability.
In 2025 Q4/2026 Q1, a Mapping III Project is active; outcomes will be shared during the 9th Global summit.
- Task Force, 2020 – 2023, where WAPO supports member organizations with projects, awareness campaigns or legal support;
- Medical Advisory Board, where healthcare professionals support the WAPO community where necessary, incl. projects, presentations, etc.
- Webinar Series in 2022 and 2023, with 8 webinars on important topics for the adrenal and pituitary community, and available in the Library, in English + Spanish;
- Blogs & Vlogs series in 2024 and 2025, where topics are combined in a blog and presented in a vlog.
