Medics worldwide: news and opportunities from the IFMSA
Emily Spry, International Federation of Medical Students' Associations
The bombs that changed the world forever
Sixty years ago, the atomic bombs that were dropped on
the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the second world war.
About 220000 people died immediately, but the death toll eventually rose
to about 400000 as the radioactive effects of the weapons took effect in
the form of diseases like leukaemia. Global public fear of nuclear war has
receded over the decades, but the apocalyptic potential of these weapons
has not. Medical students in Hiroshima believe that it is important to
educate their peers around the world about the situation and are offering a
summer school. Their programme includes a unique opportunity to meet the
now elderly survivors of the attacks (see below for details).
How can medical students make history?
Last month saw the Make Poverty History campaign hit
television screens in the United Kingdom. A striking advert featured stars,
such as Kate Moss, clicking their fingers to represent child deaths due to
poverty. With a new click every three seconds, it makes for chilling
viewing. Medical Student International is an emagazine produced by the International
Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and read by
students in over 90 countries. The editors are asking for submissions on
the theme of the millennium development goals. These are the commitments
made by rich and poor countries to improve the lives of the world's
poorest people by 2015. Submissions should be short (maximum 1000 words)
and provide practical solutions on how medical students can and are
contributing to the goals. For more information, contact Akihito at
publications@ifmsa.org. For highly readable information on the goals visit
www.mdg.takingitglobal.org.
Travel and educational opportunities
Malta - Worldmaps,
the first global student conference for medical, pharmacy and other
healthcare students; 7-12 November; email worldmaps@mmsa.org.mt;
www.worldmaps2005.org. Includes patient centred care, interdisciplinary
work, and public health.
Indonesia - International
Tuberculosis Summer School, organised by the students of medicine at
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia; 4-30 July; Includes
lectures, discussions, case reports, research reports, clerkships, and
social programmes; fee of €320 includes food and hostel accommodation; email
itss2005@gmail.com or emailhelmi@yahoo.com.
Copenhagen, Denmark - Quality
Assurance in Medical Education; 6-10 July; topics for training and
discussion will include the Bologna process for higher education in Europe
and quality assurance; email sissel@studmed.au.dk.
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Amsterdam
International Medical Summer School; 10-23 July 2005; courses include
"addiction is a treatable disease" and "health
informatics"; in English; fee €750 including shared student room; www.amsu.edu; tel +31 20
6200225; email j.c.mulder@amc.uva.nl.
Cairo, Egypt - IFMSA
Health and Human Rights Workshop; 28-31 July 2005; deadline 1 July 2005;
fee €120;
www.am2005-eg.com/pre.htm; email scorad@ifmsa.org.
Hiroshima, Japan - 17-23
August 2005; Hiroshima Summer School; to learn about the damage that atomic
bombs do to the human body from a medical aspect; fee 30 150 yen; http://scorp.umin.jp/HSS/hiroshima_summerschool_eng.htm; email
HIROSHIMA-SS@yahoogroups.jp.
studentBMJ 2005;13:221-264 June ISSN 0966-6494
