After 18 months of discussion, the studentBMJ and the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) have united. Anna Ellis, former editor of the studentBMJ, and Kristina Oegaard, president of IFMSA, explain the situation

The studentBMJ and the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) have united. We are two important bodies for international medical students with interests in global health and studying medicine. We have the same outlook and similar visions, and we want to work together to make the most of what we have.

Anna Ellis (left) and Kristina Oegaard (right) agreeing the contract

The studentBMJ is a widely read publication for medical students, written mostly by medical students. Our mission is to deliver a product that is entertaining, educational, and interactive, to meet the demands, views, and needs of medical students of all levels worldwide. The paper journal is widely distributed in the United Kingdom, and many international readers visit studentbmj.com You might be surprised to learn that we have over 100 000 hits per month on studentbmj.com, and four in five are from outside the United Kingdom. Over the past 12 months we have increased the number of international authors, publishing double the number of articles by authors outside the United Kingdom in June 2003 compared with June 2002. And our student advisers around the world have been invaluable in giving the studentBMJ a more international outlook.

The IFMSA is a global network and is the largest recognised international body of medical students, uniting more than 90 member countries. The federation was founded in 1951 in a postwar spirit of friendship to enable medical students across the world to learn from each other and work together. The federation runs projects, many of them humanitarian, including sex education in schools, helping refugees, and AIDS awareness. The federation is also interested in research and professional exchange as well as medical education. The IFMSA also provides its members with leadership training and technology resources and represents its members to the main actors in the global health arena-it holds official relations with many organisations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the Global Health Council.

So why collaborate? In collaborating we will be reaching each other's audiences. Members of the federation who come to know the studentBMJ might write articles-not necessarily about the IFMSA's activities but about anything they feel their international colleagues would find interesting. The studentBMJ's readers might be encouraged to find out more about the federation and get involved. In that, we both become more diverse and improve ourselves for the benefit of everyone.

Furthermore, the future really is global. Globalisation and world politics already affect health care everywhere.1 To ignore this would be foolish.

The sum of two such large groups of medical students must be greater than its parts. The IFMSA can seem bureaucratic on the outside, but it has lots of success at a grass roots level. The studentBMJ is trying to become more international, we've made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, both the studentBMJ and the IFMSA have different strengths, and, in unity, we are stronger.

The potential is huge. Our collaboration will develop and grow in time. We believe we are making an important step forward for medical students all over the world. You can read more about the IFMSA at www.ifmsa.org

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