Thinking global

Becoming part of a worldwide community is not as difficult as you think, say Victoria Wykes and Michael Moneypenny

Have you ever wanted to travel the world, have fun doing things that you believe in, and still get a medical degree? The Medical Students International Network may be the opportunity you've been looking for.

What is MedSIN-UK?

MedSIN is an independent organisation run by medical students for medical students. Our aim is to increase awareness of humanitarian issues and health inequalities nationally and internationally. Since its foundation in 1997, MedSIN has grown rapidly. There are 18 MedSIN groups in UK medical schools. Our slogan is "Think globally act locally!"

Local activities make a difference

A medical school committee runs each MedSIN group. They have different types of projects, depending on the talents and experiences of the members and what they think are the important issues in their community. From facilitating performing arts in hospitals to being part of the team in a Burmese refugee camp, MedSIN offers lots of possibilities. If you have an idea about a project, want to find out more about a particular issue, or even tell fellow medical students about something that you think is important, contact MedSIN. Here are just a few projects that are common to many of the groups.

Sexual health

SEDUCE, MedSEX, SHAG! These are the names of some of the MedSIN peer-led sex education groups in London, Newcastle, and Sheffield. Students are trained to peer educate on aspects of sexual health. This service is provided to young people at local schools, youth groups, and to other university students. Training and educating involve playing games, leading role plays and discussions, and enabling trainers to develop the skills needed to communicate often sensitive issues to young people.

1 December is World AIDS Day and each university has been involved in raising awareness in different ways. These range from traditional academic seminars to red ribbon fundraising concerts and "put the condom on the courgette races" in student unions.

Helping the bone marrow trust

Medical students in Nottingham, Leicester, and Sheffield organise screening sessions around their cities in conjunction with the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. They also help with the recruitment, counselling, and collecting of blood samples to add to the national register.

Homeless and refugee projects

Many MedSIN groups collaborate with local organisations to provide additional services. Some have worked with general practitioners who operate schemes for homeless people or refugees, and many also volunteer at soup kitchens and shelters, such as Crisis at Christmas. Others have befriended refugees to help them orientate themselves in their new environment.

The power to change

It is essential that future doctors are able to think globally. Our next national conference will be hosted by the Edinburgh MedSIN branch on 28 and 29 October. This year's theme is "Globalisation - a challenge to health equality?" MedSIN is working closely with Medact (the non-governmental organisation for health professionals) to expand the UK's medical education curriculum to cover international health issues.

MedSIN provides a network of information and training. We provide regular updates on summer schools, electives, and vacation projects for preclinical or clinical students in the UK and overseas. Regular conferences, workshops, and meetings allow us to share and learn from our experiences. In the past academic year we collaborated with MedACT and Jubilee 2000 to campaign for debt relief for the world's poorest countries. All the MedSIN groups got involved and signed over 4000 hospital wristbands which represented the chains of debt.¹

The world is our oyster

MedSIN is the UK member of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations. The federation was founded in 1951 and now has groups in over 65 countries. It has student representatives in the World Health Organization, the World Medical Association, and United Nations agencies. The federation provides an opportunity to meet people from all over the world, make friends, and take part in exciting projects.

The federation has established many international projects, summer schools, and workshops. Students are currently working on projects in Romanian orphanages,² friendship clubs in the former Yugoslavia, the China Health Initiative,³ a village project in Rwanda and Calcutta,⁴ and on electives with the International Organisation for Migration in Cambodia, Croatia, Russia, and Vietnam. Some projects are ideal for preclinical students wanting do something medically related in their summer holidays, while others are medically focused and more suitable for elective experiences. Check out the website www.ifmsa.org for more details.

Through the federation over 5000 students go on exchanges for part of their medical course. This year Nottingham and Sheffield arranged for 50 students to exchange with students from Malta, Israel, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. If you would like to set up an exchange in your university then contact us (www.medsin.org) to find out more.

Michael Moneypenny
Email: medsin@dundee.ac.uk

Victoria Wykes, MedSIN national coordinators
Email: medsin@ucl.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2000;08:303-346 September ISSN 0966-6494

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4. Das-Munshi J. Health promotion in Calcutta. studentBMJ 2000;8:202.