Medics worldwide: news and opportunities from the IFMSA
Emily Spry,
International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
Welcome to our world
Firstly, a warm welcome to all new medical students
from the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
(IFMSA). For those who don’t know, the IFMSA links medical students
in more than 90 countries through national medical student associations. If
you are interested in health and medicine around the world, the IFMSA
provides an international platform for exchanges, training, meetings, and
projects. Find out more at www.ifmsa.org.
War and peace
People across the world have recently been
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the nuclear blasts that devastated
the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The student section of
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) produces
a regular newsletter for medical students interested or involved in war,
peace, health, and human rights. African students are invited to the
upcoming African Regional Meeting of IPPNW (see below). IPPNW
Students’ Newsletter www.ippnw-students.org/epulse/index.html.
Global health: what’s that?
Do medical students really understand why people are
not as healthy as they could be or know what they can do about it? Global
health education provides students with the opportunity to learn about
healthcare delivery and the determinants of health. Students who study
global health will be better equipped to understand and tackle the causes
of ill health. Furthermore, the role of health professionals is changing
and health professionals are increasingly being expected to act as
advocates for health. IFMSA’s Think Global project seeks to provide
students with skills training to prepare them for their future role as
advocates. African students are invited to a workshop in Nigeria,
immediately after the IPPNW student meeting (see below). Email
thinkglobal@ifmsa.org.
Travel and educational opportunities
Nigeria—IPPNW
Students’ African Regional Meeting. 16-18 December; Jos, Nigeria.
www.ippnw-students.org/Jos; email jos2005@web.de
Nigeria—First
African Regional Scientific Conference on Global Health Education. 16-23
December; Jos, Nigeria. Open to all African medical students. For more
information contact Mansur Ramalan; email mansurfati@yahoo.com and
thinkglobal@ifmsa.org
Malta—Worldmaps, the
first global student conference for medical, pharmacy, and other healthcare
students. 7-12 November. Topics include patient centred care,
interdisciplinary work, education, and public health. Great social
programme on this beautiful island. Register online at
www.worldmaps2005.org; email worldmaps@mmsa.org.mt.
Belgrade, Serbia, and Montenegro—Students’ International Congress of Medical Sciences
2005; 13-16 October. Abstract deadline 25 September. For more information,
registration, and abstract submission visit www.sicoms.org.
Unite for Sight—Many
new volunteer opportunities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and eastern
Europe for autumn 2005, and Spring 2006. Opportunities are available in
rural villages, urban locations, and refugee camps (including in the
tsunami region). www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer.
studentBMJ 2005;13:309-352 September ISSN 0966-6494
