Medics worldwide: news from the IFMSA

Medical Students in Africa

Last month saw an important meeting of African medical student leaders hosted by students from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. The theme of the meeting was "Consolidating our efforts for a better African medical student movement." Participants considered the major challenges that African medical student organisations face in their work to represent, educate, and empower their peers. Plans are now under way for a congress to bring together medical student representatives of all African countries in December 2004. To lend your support to the first ever large scale IFMSA meeting for Africa, contact Jo (emailrcafrica@ifmsa.org).

Big changes for medical education in Europe

The Bologna process is moving to harmonise higher education across Europe, increasing student mobility for Europeans and non-Europeans. But hardly anyone has considered the effect that the reforms could have on medical education. This July, a meeting coordinated by the IFMSA and the European Medical Students' Association will work towards a statement on the issue, to make sure that the relevant powers are informed about the issues for medical education. The basics of the Bologna process are explained by the National Unions of Students in Europe (www.esib.org/BPC/intro/introbologna.html), and you can contact our director of medical education, Hans Jacob Westbye, for more specific information or to attend the workshop in July (emailscomed@ifmsa.org).

Why stay at home?

A trip to a medical student congress or event in another country can broaden your knowledge of people and cultures as well as science and medicine. There are many events to choose from. Send a blank message to ifmsa-general-subscribe@yahoogroups.com for regular emails.

In Romania, the 8th International Congress for Medical Students and Young Doctors (MEDIS 2004) is 13-16 May 2004. The deadline for applications is 26th April 2004 (www.umft.ro/ssmt/medis2004; email med@umft.ro).

In Bulgaria, medical students invite you to participate in the 3rd International Congress of Medical Sciences (ICMS) for students and young doctors, which will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, 13-16 May 2004. The congress includes posters, oral sessions, workshops, and lectures on preclinical and clinical sciences. The official language is English. The deadline for applications is 9 April 2004 (www.icmsbg.com; email info@icmsbg.com).

In Egypt, the 7th SCMSA Summer School on Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine is 13-27 July 2004. The deadline for applications is 25 May 2004. The working language is English (www.scmsa.net/activity/summerschool; emailsummerschool@scmsa.net).

In Moscow, Russia, you can attend the Summer School of Space Medicine and Biology from 21 June to 4 July 2004. For more information about the school, visit www.cep.ru or contact Mikhail Grafov (emailgrafov@cep.ru).

The International Physicans for the Prevention of Nuclear War are offering their International Medical Student Exchange Program, MedEx. Programmes include four weeks devoted to clinical work and four weeks with an social service project. Opportunities include Canada, Kenya, Philippines, Egypt, and Zambia. Please note that students must find their own funding. For more information, visit www.ippnw-students.org. Please direct all inquires and applications to the central office medical student coordinator, Molly Goggin (emailmgoggin@ippnw.org).