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Dear IFMSA member,Welcome to the IFMSA’s monthly E-newsletter !On the behalf of the entire Publications Team, we would like to wish you all a happy 2013. We hope that this new year brings you the most joyous mo-ments and leaves you with the best memories. Please take the tme to enjoy this new issue of the newsletter with the latest updates from every corner of IFMSA. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did creating it.On the behalf of the entire team,Ismail El-Kharbotly - E-Newsletter Co-Editor

January 2013

Issue1st

In this Issue

President´s Message

News and updates from:• IFMSA’s President• NMOs Bulgaria Catalonia Colombia Dominican Republic Ecuador Italy Lithuania

Dear IFMSA members,

BeforeIwishyouaHappyNewYear,Iwouldlikeyourattentionforafewminutes,asIsharesomepersonalreflectionsand make a request of you.

As we began this next year, I am sure many of you are thinking about your personal resolutions and goals for the year. WhileIwishyouall thebest inaccomplishingthese,IwouldliketorequestafewminutesofyourtimetoreflectuponIFMSA.

Some questions for you to think about…

• HowdoesIFMSAinspireyou?

• WhatarestrengthensofIFMSAthatwecanbuildon?

• WhatareweaknessesofIFMSAthatneedtobeaddressed?

• WhatareopportunitiesthatIFMSAshouldexplore?

• WhatchallengesisIFMSAfacing?

• WhataretangiblecommitmentsIFMSAcanmake?

• Whatistheorganizationalculture&valuesthatshoulddefineIFMSA?

• WhatisthevisionofIFMSA?

• WhatroledoIhaveinIFMSA?(Continuesonnextpage)

Roopa DhattIFMSA President 2012/13

Check out the website for the 2013 European Regional

Meeting

Know more about the Doha Climate Change Conference Here

News of the 130th WHO Executive Board session

Here

Please use the Hyperlinks above for easy Navigation and Klick on Bar Flower to go back the 1st Page :)

News and updates from:• Training Support Division• Sponsors

(Continuesfrompage1)

As some of these questions might have already crossed your minds, it was these same questions that inspired me to become IFMSA’s President. However, as I think about these questions today, as we start this new year—I feel even more than I did a year ago, when I ran for President, that IFMSA needs change and reforms that focus on the strengths and address the weaknesses, but most importantly embrace the spirit of IFMSA that promotes collaboration.

Iranwithasimplemotto---Asknotwhatyourorganizationcandoforyou,butwhatyoucandoforyourorganization.I also told you that in this next year, inspired by the dedication, creativity and compassion of our members, I would like to work toward establishing IFMSA AS THE LEADINGPROFESSIONAL,STUDENTNETWORKANDVOICEONHEALTHRELATEDISSUESWORLDWIDE.Ibelieveeveryorganizationmusthaveavision,mission,andcommongoalsandobjectives—weinIFMSAareunitedbymanyofthese,eventhoughweareoneofthemostdiverseorganizationsinternationally.Alongthesamelinesofunity,IplantocontinuetotakeIFMSAtonextlevelandemphasizeourvisionforIFMSAtobeagloballeaderinhealth,ledbydedicated,compas-sionate members who aspire for a better world—at the local and global level.However, now that it is more than a year, as I read these words, I see the importance of making one major correction—I would like to change the word I to we.

• WeasaFederationhavetobeinspiredbythededication,creativityandcompassionofourmembers.

• WeshouldworktowardfurtherestablishingIFMSA(anddefiningwhichaspectstofurther).

• Weshouldbecommittedtocreatingandrevisingourorganizationsvision,mission,commongoalsandobjectives.

• WeshouldalsoaskourselvesandanswerwhichdirectionshouldIFMSAgo—andwhetherwewanttobeagloballeaderinhealth.

• WeshouldalsoaskourselvesinwhattangiblewaysdoesIFMSAwanttoimprovehealthatthelocalandgloballevel.

Idealism is what inspires our members, but idealism should not drive us or guide our decision-making. Similarly, conforming and not challenging the institutional and structural aspects of IFMSA that hinder our growth is as devastating for our Federation. However, all this should be comprehensive, analytical, inclusive of experts and carefullythoughtout—aswehaveseentoooftenhasty,speedydecisions,representingtheviewsofaminority,havesignificantlyimpactedourFederation.IFMSAcaneasilybefooledbycatchy,innovative,flashyideas(aswerecentlyexperienced)—butweshouldbeturningtoorganizationsorexpertsthathaveexperience,knowl-edge and the solutions we are seeking—to truly tap into the potential of IFMSA that we have all been talking about for generations.

It is time for us to work together on change and reform, to further IFMSA—create strategic priorities and sustainable solutions, while maintaining our equitable and collaborative values. We have to commit to this together and for the long-haul.

I encourage all of you, the new and the old, to take the time to carefully consider the needs of IFMSA, carefully review the information that is provided, focus on facts and using your own reasoning of the information that is provided to make guided, informed contributions and decisions in this year of 2013, when IFMSA truly needs you.

Happy 2013! A short video message for all of you to share how excited I am about CHANGE < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v93g14dUyOY>!

Sincerely Your President,

Roopa Dhatt

President´s Message

Setting Priorities: TOM 2 in SerbiaTheteamofofficials2012/13metinSerbiaduringtheTeamofOfficialsMeeting(TOM).Itwasaveryproductivemeeting—focusingonarangeoftopicsfromtheIFMSAStrategic Plan, addressing GA related issues, IFMSAwareness, and improving TOMS.

During one of the sessions, the TO of 2012/13 set their priorities for the year:

• Financial management - Fundraising -ClearingtheAM12financialsituation

• Institutionalempowermentsustainability -IFMSAproblemanalysisandassessment(GAs,RMs,TFs,SWGs) - Have IFMSA vision and mission by the end of the term - Have a long term strategic plan by the end of the term

• Focus on regional empowerment - IFMSA awareness - Capacity building

• IFMSA image and identity - Externally: promotional and media strategy, marketing, PR, WEBSITE - Internally: clearing IFMSA’s image after AM12

• Advocacy - Integrating Advocacy Support Division in the Team

• Team values - Integrity - Transparency - Respect -Efficiency

While these are a vast set of priorities—the TO of 2012/13 are committed to seeking solutions and working towards them.

NMOs

Bulgaria12th International Congress of Medical Sciences in Sofia, Bulgaria (ICMS 2013)TheInternationalCongressofMedicalSciences(ICMS),hostedbyAMSB–Sofia,willtake place from the 9th to the 12th of May. Medical students and young doctors from all over the world have the opportunity to present their research work in a number of specificoralandpostersessions.TheprofoundandleadingphilosophyofthecongressistostimulateandcontributetothedevelopmentofscienceinthefieldofMedicine,Dentistry, Medical Education and Public Health. Attending interesting workshops for surgicalstitching,FirstAidandtrafficincidents,etc.Participantsgainacertainadvan-tage for the practical work of the future medical profession. Apart from the academic atmosphere,thecongressoffersanunforgettablesocialprograminSofiathatmakesyou feel the spirit of Bulgaria!WeareeagertoseeingyouinSofiainMay!For further information visit our website: http://www.icmsbg.orgor do not hesitate to write to us at info@icmsbg.org

CataloniaTraining New Trainers, BarcelonaDear friends around the world, as the New Year kicked in, so did events in Catalonia relatedtotrainingsandforthethirdtimeinarow:AECS–CataloniawillbeorganizingaNationalTrainingNewTrainers(TNT)workshop!The TNT workshop is an event where students can acquire communications and group management skills. Those skills are essential in the context of transmitting knowledge to others and empowering them. They can be used both in order to better IFMSA ac-tivities as well as in the professional context. This training will be given by foreigner trainers and will be held in English. The cost should be of 100€. This cost will include the material for the workshop, accomodation, three meals per day, and also the T-shirt giventoallparticipants.SoastoapplyfortheTrainingNewTrainersinBarcelona(Feb-ruary21st-24th,2013)pleasesendanemailtojiglesies@gmail.com.Thedeadlineforapplication is: February 8th. We are open to accepting a limited number of international participants.Keep training keep rocking and warm regards from Catalonia!

 

ColombiaMultidisciplinary Camp for Research and ServiceTheColombianAssociationofMedicalStudents’ScientificSocieties(ASCEMCOL)in-vites you to the fourth Universitary Multidisciplinary Camp for Research and Service –CUMIS.Thisyear,theCUMISwilltakeplaceinSamacá,Boyacá,Colombiaaplacefullofnatureandamazingviews.Boyacáistwohoursawayfromthecapital:Bogotá,DC, and is easily accessible. We expect to gather more than 100 medical and other-fieldstudentsandprofessionals fromalloverColombiaandabroad togiveahealthapproach to an in-need community. Educational activities, workshops, health-care and fun will be guaranteed for all attendees and community.Registration for foreign students is 35 USD and for professionals is FREE. Pack your tent and camp with us! Food and transportation during the Camp will be covered with the registration fee!Mark your calendar from the 22nd to 26th of March, 2013.Contact us: cumissamaca2013@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/groups/cumissamaca2013/ http://cumissamaca2013.blogspot.com/

Student Scientific Colombian Congress of Medical ResearchRegisterandparticipateintheStudentScientificColombianCongressofMedicalRe-search -CECIM, a one of a kind event in Colombia hosted by the Colombian Asso-ciationofMedicalStudents’ScientificSocieties -ASCEMCOLand itsLocalCommit-tee,theScientificAssociationofMedicalStudents’fromRisaralda-ACEMRISthathaspartnered with the Risaralda’s Consortium of Health Institutions -COODESURIS. The congress will be held at the heart of the coffee making region of Colombia: Pereira, Risaralda from the 15th to 18th of May, 2013.The CECIM gathers over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate health students and professionals around scientific medical research where attendees can present andcompetewith theirpeers through theirwork:scientificprojects,concluded research,case reports, medical photographs and videos. Several workshops and conferences to improve the quality of our research and to share experiences will be offered to at-tendees.More information can be obtained at: https://www.facebook.com/XxivCecimAscemcolICcCoodesuris secretariaacemris@hotmail.com ascemcol@gmail.com

Dominican RepublicIFMSA-Dominican Republic Celebrates Breast and Cervical Cancer AwarenessFranchesca Mirre González, NORA

DuringOctober2012,eighty-fivestudentsfromthreemedicalschoolsintheDominicanRepublicorganizedahealthcampaigntoraisetheawarenessofmorethan1,600stu-dentsand2,000citizensinfivecitiesandruralcommunitiesaboutbreastandcervicalcancer.Preparedactivitiesoccurredintheuniversity(breastself-examinationmodule,health lectures, dissemination of educational brochures, poster displays), local hos-pital (health lectures), rural communities (cancerwalk, dissemination of educationalbrochures)andglobalcommunities(disseminationofeducationalbrochuresandpost-ersthroughsocialnetworks)topromotebreastself-examinationandearlydetectionofbreast cancer as well as motivate adult females to regularly visit with their gynecologist. We also invited physician specialists to conduct medical seminars on related topics. Students enthusiastically wore pink shirts during the four Fridays in October. Promot-ing our ODEM’s “Together in Health” philosophy, this SCORA activity demonstrated successful collaborations between medical students and community members to edu-cate and raise awareness on breast and cervical cancer.

IFMSA-Dominican Republic Celebrates Breast and Cervical Cancer AwarenessHelena Chapman, MD, MPH, President ODEM

SixtymedicalstudentsfromfivemedicalschoolsintheDominicanRepublic(DR)or-ganized a two-week national health campaign to educatemore than 5,500 citizensabout cardiovascular health and healthy lifestyle habits in four cities. Using the theme, “Cardiovascular health: Make every heartbeat count,” our SCOME team organizedcost-effective health activitieswithin universities (educational brochures, poster dis-plays,healthseminars),multiple local (healthseminars, individualhealthcounselingsessions,healthwalk,basicsurveyregardinglifestyleanddietaryhabits)andglobal(socialmedia)communitiestoeducateaboutcardiovasculardisease,includingtheepi-demiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis and preventive methods. IFMSA medicalstudentsmayutilizethesehealtheducationalstrategiestofacilitatetheimple-mentation of their own national health interventions on cardiovascular disease.

LithuaniaIHSC 2013Join IHSC 2013:http://www.ihsconference.com/nodehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/IHSConference/115845281813643?fref=ts

EcuadorIFMSA ECUADOR SUPER UPDATEAneweraforIFMSAEcuadorhasbegun;ithasbeenanamazingyearforouraspira-tions.Wecanfinallysaywehavecompletedourmaingoal;acompleterestructuringof IFMSA-Ecuador. This took place with a new mission centered on a holistic medical education outlook.

IFMSA-Ecuador´s new two year strategic plan is based on: • Empoweringlocalorganizationsandrecruitingnewones.• Creating and improving original projects with high quality results and a better

feedback process. • We are proud to present one of our biggest projects yet: “Hampina: medical brigades”

– named after the quichua word for healing.We created a large scalemedicalbrigade base providing primary health care to various indigenous communities of our country. The results were AMAZING!

• Increasing the amount of trainings so our members are leaders.

We decided to create a whole new level of Support Division. We planned it in a way that it isdividedintoteams(InternalAffairs´TeamandExternalAffairs´Team);whichwillhelp us accomplish our strategic plan.

Expanding our NMO to new cities of our small, but beautiful, country was a priority for us.Soin2013,wehavethehonorofworkingwithtwoneworganizationslocatedinnewcities.Theyhavebeenworkingamazinglywell during these4monthsof candidatemembership with all of our support and guidance.

Last,butnotleast,oneofourmaingoalsinthepasthasfinallycomingtrue!WeareintheprocessofbecominganNGOlegallyrecognizedbyourcountry!Wereallyhopewewill have great news in a few months.

We hope all this important changes in our NMO will allow us to provide IFMSA with bigger and better contributions. THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY!

ItalyA Policy Statement Against Homophobia

A Policy Statement against homophobia, transphobia and gender\sexual orientation based discrimination was approved, by all the 37 Italian local committees, during the National Congress of SISM Italy.

Weaskedourselves:whatcanmedicalstudentsdoinordertofighthomophobia?First of all we stated that, as a medical students’ association, we want to promote the prevention of bad attitudes and acts which are detrimental towards LGBTQI community, in order to raise the awareness that the individual Health is a set of physical, mental and social health, and as that cannot happen if you take apart freedom of expression of sexuality.

Also, want to promote information to the public on the subject of sexual-orientated or gender identity-motivated discrimination, because we think that only through a better culture can destroy erroneous preconceived opinions and discriminations.

Therefore, SISM will encourage the implementation of training activities on the different types of audiences, including workshops, con-ferences or lectures for students, in universities, primary and secondary schools, on medical personnel, using, where possible, peer education techniques. We want to promote advocacy campaigns to raise awareness in the authorities, institutions and the general public on the need for debate on this subject.

SISMalsosupportstheneedtorecognizethecouplerelationshipinournation,preservingthefreedomofexpressionoftheirsexualori-entation in a climate of freedom and tolerance. We aim to promote and expand the celebration of the May 17 “International Day Against HomophobiaandTransphobia”(IDAHO)asanimportantstartingpointforreflectiononthattopic.

Students in Medicine of SISM, as future doctors and promoters of Health, require the dignity of people with different sexual orientations and different unions of life in order to carry a democracy respectful of diversity.

Training Support Division

Andres Marin, Training Support Division Director 12-13

Dear IFMSAians from around the world,

The IFMSA Training Support Division nowadays witnesses a huge revolution by the motivated trainers worldwide and with this small article; I’d like to share with you why!

Having said that, this year is particularly special since we are working on 4 international groups and the results we’ve started to have are awesome! The groups and evolutions are the following:

• Database group: an international spreadsheet was distributed on the Training servers, and more than 200 trainers all over the world havefilleditin.

• InternalOperatingGuidelines:we’reontheprocessoffinalizingtheeditingofourinternaloperatingguidelines.• Open Space: this 100% creative area allows motivated trainers to share their ideas about the training sessions and have input from the

training community. Up till now two/three very original ideas have originated there and are in the process of being developed. • Resources Center: this is the core of the trainings; it’s an area where we store all our knowledge in documents and, in the past few

monthswe’vebeencleaningitandmodernizingittoallowustoofferyouthebestpossibletrainings.

Concerningthemostrecentupdates,2weeksago,weparticipatedintheARMheldinArusha,TanzaniabyorganizingtwoTNTs!Themeritcomes down to the six motivated trainers from different NMOs from Africa, the EMR and Europe who managed to handle forty-one partici-pants in total and have produced outstanding results! Feedback was tremendous and, due to this massive capacity building event, we are nowcountingonanewrevolutionoftheAfricanSharks!;-)

To avoid losing the international touch, the Americas Meeting also had something to celebrate: it witnessed the end of a perfectly conducted TNT that hopefully will show its fruitful results in a couple of weeks/months.

Andfinally,astheEMRRMisapproaching,weareproudtoannouncethatwewillalsobethereinthepre-RegionalMeetingtoorganizeTNTand,forthefirsttimeinaRegionalMeeting,aTOTfortheEMRians!Itwillbeginin2weeks,soweareexpectingsplendidworkshopsand highly effective, motivated and experienced trainers!

Onthatnote,Iwouldliketofinishmyarticlebythetrainers’mostfamousquote(TrainingistheIFMSABackbone);)

See you all in the next MM, in US 2013! Yours Sincerely,

Andres MarinTraining Support Division Director 12-13 Email: training@ifmsa.orgMobile: +34 697 748 069

Training Support Division Update

E-newsletter Team

Join us on

Co-Editors of the E-newsletter:• Ismail El-Kharbotly• Khalid Hamid

Layout and Designing:• Ibrahim Mousa• Airin Aldiani• Hassan Aboul-Nour• EricMelendez

IFMSA Publications Support D.D:• Bronwyn Jones

Kaplan Medical, the proven leader in USMLE preparation, is proud to announce a new partnership with IFMSA.

As a result of this new partnership IFMSA members receive the following: • A10%discountonallKaplanonlineandUSbasedUSMLEpreparationcourses• AccesstofreeonlineeventsdesignedtohelpyounavigatetheprocessforattainingaUSresidency• FreeoneononeadvisingsessionswithaKaplanmedicaladvisor• CustomizedeventsforyourlocalchapterorNMO,tolearnmoreemailjeffrey.weil@kaplan.com

To learn more about post graduate training opportunities and this exciting partnership visit www.kaplanmedical.com/imfsa.

Belowisthefirst inaseriesofnewsletterarticlesfromKaplandesignedtoeducateyouontheUSmedicalsystemandtheprocessforattainingaresidencyandlicensure.

Did you know? Current studies indicate that the US will experience a doctor shortage of over of 90,000 physicians within the next decade*. In order to obtain a license to practice medicineintheUnitedStates,physiciansmustcompletearesidency(specialisttraining)withintheUnitedStates.

Securing a Residency Most hospitals select residency candidates from applicants who participate in the “Match.” This system of matching candidates to residency training positions allows you to interview and rank preferences, while simultaneously allowing the hospitals to rank those they have interviewed. The preference lists are merged by computer attheNationalResidentMatchingProgram(NRMP,www.nrmp.org).ResultsareannouncedannuallyinMarch.

Generally, programs look for USMLE scores well above 200, the results of Kaplan’s post Match survey in 2012 indicated those who successfully matched had an average Step 1 score of 224 and an average Step 2 CK score of 234.

Programs also prefer U.S. hospital experience and letters of recommendation from physicians with whom you have worked. A personal statement outlining goals, reasons for entering the profession, and special interests is also required. Plan ahead to ensure that you are able to meet the various Match deadlines.

Licensing ExamsTheUnitedStatesMedicalLicensingExamination(USMLE®)consistsofthreestepswithfourexamsdesignedtoassessaphysician’sabilitytoapplyabroadspectrumof knowledge, concepts, and principles to evaluate the physician’s basic patient-centered skills.

Pathway to Medical Licensure in the U.S.

The following exams may be taken in any order:

Step 1 4-9 months to prepare Step 2 CK 4-9 months to prepare Step 2 CS 1-2 months to prepare

Requirements •Medicaldegree•Medicalschooltranscript•Step1,Step2CK,Step2CS

Residency Match •ECFMG®Certification•EnrollinNRMP•ApplyusingERAS•Interviewingatresidencyprograms •Rankprograms•Ifnomatch,“scramble”orreapply following year

Step 3 Taken during residency or during the Match application season.USA Residency Training •3-8yearsrequireddependingon specialty chosen

*Source: AAMC.org

SponsorsKaplan Medical