Medics launch global health website

Kunal Khanna, London

A global health website, Almamata (http://almamata.net), set up by medical students, is due to be launched this month. The site will give news and information on current events in international health and also offer message boards and discussion rooms for students and doctors.

A member profiling facility showing interests, previous work, and areas of expertise aims to promote future collaboration between students, junior doctors, and potential employers. Almamata will also host careers advice and postgraduate opportunities within the international arena through a quarterly bulletin exploring a particular aspect of international health.

The site was developed by graduates of the intercalated BSc in international health at University College London and the University of Leeds, and student members of the Medical Students International Network (Medsin).

Representatives of global health advocacy organisations, such as Medact and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, have readily endorsed the website. Mike Rowson, executive director of Medact, said, “National boundaries are becoming increasingly irrelevant in health, yet the teaching of public health is often quite parochial.”



studentBMJ 2005;13:89-132 March ISSN 0966-6494