Dear Medsin Members,
For those of you who I haven't met yet, I'm Gemma, the Medsin President for 2007-08. I am a student at Queen's University Belfast, but I am currently on sabbatical leave following my intercalated year.
As president I have 3 main responsibilities:
- Firstly, supporting and motivating the National Committee to ensure that the team has a successful year and achieves as much for the entire Medsin Network as possible
- Secondly, representing the Medsin Network to external organisations such as the British Medical Association, Medact, the Lancet and Alma Mata to name a few.
- Thirdly, representing Medsin to the IFMSA and inputting into their working groups.
This year, the National Committee have chosen 4 priorities that we wish to focus on, for the benefit of the Network. Our priorities are:
The 10 year plan - Last year Medsin celebrated our 10th Anniversary. Now as Medsin embraces it's 11th year, it is a perfect time for reflection of our success to date, but also for looking towards the next 10 years and what we may hope to achieve. The 10 year plan lays the foundations for Medsin's future, to ensure that the Network continues to grow bigger and better!
Making GAs better - Feedback from the SGA07 highlighted that members wanted the National Committee to make GAs better. We carefully considered the feedback from the SGA07 when planning the AGA07, and made some big changes including parallel sessions, specialised training, an open forum debate and a welcome speaker. We will continue to make changes for the SGA08, so please let us know what further improvements you would like us to make.
Making Conference better - Medsin conferences are a great way for the network to meet, debate, educate and be educated on topical global health issues. It is also a perfect opportunity for Medsin to showcase our work to our external partners and patrons. Conferences are undoubtedly getting bigger and better, attracting more high profile speakers, more delegates and more action! We want to address how the Network can continue to make conferences better.
Reputation - Last but certainly not least, we want to focus on improving Medsin's reputation. Not only do we want to continue to make Medsin's external influence bigger, but we also want to improve our internal reputation, ensuring that the entire Network understands that the role of the National Committee is to facilitate the Network in deciding Medsin's future direction. Medsin is your network, and the National Committee is here to work for you!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Abi, the National Committee 2006-07 and most importantly YOU for all your hard work last year. Medsin had a highly successful year and none of it would have been possible without all of the individual efforts from members in each branch, project, campaign or conference team.
As we look forward to the next year, lets keep in mind Margaret Mead's quote, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has'. Medsin illustrates that we can and indeed we do, influence change.
Finally, if you have any questions with regards to the National Committee's role, our priorities, the IFMSA or our external partners, please do not hesitate to email me. Likewise, if you would like any advice/guidance or would just like to update us on local successes, please email Helen or the committee ....we would really love to hear from you.
All of the National Committee are passionate about working with branches and activities to make Medsin a vibrant network. We are here for you. Please do get in touch with your ideas, concerns and questions - we will act on them!
Looking forward to seeing you at the National Conference in Dundee (http://www.medsin07.org)
Gemma x
Last updated on Sunday 13 January 2008 at 17:51.
