Attachments

SGA 2007 Elections

On this page you will find the applications the national committee have received from those wishing to run for election for national committee positions, campaigns coordinator positions and the Global Health Education Project coordinator.

A number of the positions are still open as we have received no applications. You may apply for these positions by sending a 500 word statement to the national committeeby Saturday 21st April at 10am. Please do not send applications for positions which already have applicants.

We have received one application for the position of treasurer. However, due to the way the electoral process works, this candidate may be elected for the position of VP Branches (as she has also applied for this post). In this case, she will withdraw her candidature for Treasurer. Therefore, we will accept further applications for the position of treasurer, but these will only be considered by the GA if the candidate withdraws her application.

Please read this page for information about job descriptions for National Committee positions. If you are interested in one of the Campaigns Coordinators positions - please contact Pete

NATIONAL COMMITTEE POSITIONS

  • President - Gemma Owens
  • VP Branches - Helen Preston, Raphael Rogans-Watson, Mori Mansouri
  • VP Externals - Selina Rodrigues, Neha Jain
  • VP Projects - No applications received
  • Secretary - No applications received
  • Treasurer - Helen Preston (Applications may reopen after category B elections)
  • Publicity Director - James Chan
  • Training Director - No applications received
  • Campaigns Director - Partho Roy, Raphael Rogans-Watson, Pete Baker&Jenny Jones
  • Technology and Communications Director - Matthew Brandwood

Category A

President – Gemma Owens

Motivation

I believe that Medsin is in a unique position now as one of the foremost exponents of global health in the UK. As such, it is important now more than ever for us to continue the good work we have started over the past ten years. Medsin is an organisation with tremendous potential and I believe we need to push forward with great momentum to continue to grow from strength to strength. I firmly believe that as future professionals in the world it is vital for us to be globally aware and I think every student in the UK should have the opportunity to be a member of Medsin. It is vital that we continue to develop as a network and I would very much like to make our network even more successful. I believe I have the skills, the determination and the passion to lead the national committee for the year ahead.

Experience

I have been involved with Medsin since first year when I became part of the team responsible for reviving Medsin Queen’s. Locally I helped initiate CPRiS, am a member of Marrow, have continued to work with the FPA and the faculty to initiate Sexpression and have coordinated 2 successful WADs. This year I’ve coordinated branch activities with the support of Gerard, and organised the NI regional conference. Nationally, I have been involved since November 2004, first as national Sexpression treasurer, then Medsin stop AIDS coordinator and this year as Medsin Treasurer. I have attended TNT and since delivered training sessions at local, national and international events. I have utilised these skills well so far as co-president of Medsin QUB. Additionally, I have attended 3 IFMSA meetings and EuRegMeIV which have given me a valuable insight into the workings of the IFMSA.

I think the Medsin president should have a good working knowledge of every part of the network. I believe my experiences on a local, national and international level, within branches, projects and campaigns affords me this knowledge.

As a member of the NC this year, I appreciate the work that Abi has undertaken on behalf of Medsin. I feel that to follow in her footsteps and do all the things I wish would not be possible as a fourth year student. My Dean has offered his full support - I have been given next year off. I plan to move to England to be more accessible to the network.

Plans if elected

  • Continuing the work of this year’s NC
  • Emphasising Medsin as a grass-roots organisation
  • Allowing the network choose the priorities for the NC
  • Ensuring that the NC are accessible to all members
  • Supporting the conference coordinators
  • Fully utilise Medsin’s charity status through effective fundraising for the network
  • Maximising the opportunities offered by the IFMSA & other external partners
  • Supporting the NC in their roles
  • Strengthening existing relationships & initiating others with appropriate organisations
  • Increasing strength and sustainability of branches
  • Maximizing participation through sixth form recruitment

Category B

Vice President for Branches - Helen Preston

I first became involved with Medsin at the Global Health Conference in 2006. I was completely overwhelmed by the things I learnt during that weekend, as well as by the people I saw who were so passionate and motivated to make a difference. I came back from that conference knowing that this was something I wanted to become more involved in.

Since then, Medsin has been a major contribution to one of my most enjoyable years so far.

In April last year I became involved with the organisation of ukAM, the August Meeting of the International Federation of Medical Students. As the events co-ordinator, I have worked with a team and attended regular national meetings to ensure that the conference centre provides everything we require. It is also my responsibility to ensure that we have an adequate supply of food and amenities; there is adequate technological support; and that the conference runs as smoothly as possible. I have loved every minute of this experience and I will be as committed to a role in the National Committee as I am to the ukAM organising committee.

Attending conferences including the National and Global Health Conferences, AGA, SGA and the March meeting in Australia has allowed me to understand how the Medsin network runs on a National and International level.

For the last year I have been part of the Manchester committee, attending regular meetings and contributing to the running of the branch.

As VP for branches I will put 110% into the role. I am friendly and approachable and will always encourage people to ring me whenever I am needed. I will liase with the VP projects and campaigns co-ordinator to ensure that everyone involved in the projects/campaigns feel that they are getting the most out of their branch and vice versa. I feel it is very important that they know why they are part of a branch, and the benefits that they get out of being part of Medsin.

My aim is to have all Medsin branches working to their full potential. Having been part of a strong Medsin branch for a couple of years I am aware of how well branches can work and how this can be achieved. One of my top priorities is to have regular contact with branches that are struggling or have just recently been set up. I will give them help and support, as well as putting them in contact with larger, more grounded branches, who could give them advice on how to make their branch stronger. As VPB I will aim to make each branch of Medsin as successful as possible, allowing more opportunities for new involvement in the organisation.

From a personal point of view I will really enjoy getting to know more about how the different branches work, finding out what works well and what can be improved. My goal is to learn more about global health issues, and get other people involved in what Medsin does, and I think being part of the National Committee is the ideal opportunity to do this.

Vice President for Branches - Raphael Rogans Watson

My ultimate goal is to provide and improve healthcare in both developed and developing countries, but I cannot see myself pursuing a career in medicine without addressing some of the fundamental inequalities in healthcare today. I’ve always had a keen interest in global politics, and when I became aware of Medsin back in October 2006, it seemed the perfect opportunity to translate this into action. Being on the Medsin National Committee would enable me to inspire others to do the same.

Since attending this year’s Medsin conferences, and returning hugely impressed by the National Committee’s work, I have become heavily involved in establishing the BSMS branch. I recently volunteered to become our Campaigns Coordinator, aiming to bring our current campaigns and projects together, enhancing the structure of our branch in readiness for the next year of freshers. I also intend to facilitate students setting up new Medsin projects, so as to broaden involvement and ensure that Medsin-BSMS remains a force for the future.

In December I founded the BSMS Stop AIDS Campaign (SAC) branch (our first ever Medsin campaign), and have since set up a committee, lobbied MPs in London, petitioned local MPs, organised a successful launch event and a forthcoming evening of talks. As president, I will be coordinating a medical school ‘Sports Day’ to include all our societies and raise the profile of the SAC.

I’m a very sociable person and enjoy working as part of a team: being in Medsin-BSMS, Stop AIDS, and the BMA Intra Schools Committee has really developed my skills in this area over the past year. I love meeting and engaging with new people (I’ve even been called a “phone slag” for the amount of numbers I exchange at events and conferences!), which is partly why I believe I’d be a good VP for Branches or Campaigns Director. I already spend a lot of time emailing for Stop AIDS and the BMA ISC, so that will be nothing new to me. What's more, I’m taking International Health at Leeds or UCL next year, and although it’s an intensive degree, the reduced lecture hours will allow me to devote a lot of energy to Medsin.

I’m passionate about what Medsin stands for, and determined to further its outstanding reputation and increase participation. Being at a new medical school has meant we’ve had to set up campaigns from scratch, so I’ve experienced the challenges faced by new branches when trying to establish themselves and interest more people. I would be able to use this knowledge to help set up and support new or floundering branches, both at medical schools and otherwise.

Enthusiasm is infectious, so I would like to link the branches and campaigns more closely next year, encouraging more regional events and greater communication via the national committee in order to get everyone aiming for common goals. I’m prepared to dedicate a tonne of energy to Medsin nationally over the next year, as I have done locally this year, and I’m prepared to have fun at the same time!

Vice President for Branches - Mori Mansouri

I’m a second year medical student with a BSc in Neuroscience. In my two years in Medsin, I served first as a member of a number of projects, the international exchange committee, and currently as the elected president of the Edinburgh branch.

While on the exchanges committee we submitted a motion to the MSC and built the foundation of a successful program at our university. In my capacity as president, we started a number of projects and campaigns. These include, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, Protection of Women Against Violence, and International Health for Dummies course, a 12-week course on international health issues. We are currently working towards setting up Teddy Bear Hospital, Sexpression, and Healthy Planet. We created a collaborative forum for all activities; extend membership to non-medics and improved communication both within committee and with members. We also organised Alma Mata’s Global Health Directions 2006 conference on the topic of ‘Health Worker Migration’.

Aside from Medsin, I have gained invaluable experience through my active involvement in other organisations, particularly Alma Mata, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, and MSF in Dubai of which I am a volunteer since 2002. I have represented MSF-Dubai on a number of occasions including Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, April 2006. This accumulated experience has taught me how to get things done. I know which people to talk to and what steps to take to turn an idea into action or a complaint into actual change.

If elected as VP Branches, I look forward to building on the momentum generated thus far by the current national committee and our expanding network. I will work hard to bring to fruition the ideas that you, our membership, consider worthwhile. On the other hand, in addition to fulfilling my constitutional duties, I will have a threefold mission:

First, I would make it a priority to increase the participation of members in Medsin’s decision-making process and presence at national events. This could be achieved by:

Promoting ownership of the network to member branches. Encourage and assist branches in building local networks through regional conferences, buddy schemes and whatever else people think might work Stimulate and encourage less active branches (members and non-members) to participate Encourage the participation of non-medics at member branches

Second, I would like to bridge relations between member branches and activities whilst maintaining their autonomy. For this, I will liaise with VP Projects, branch presidents, and activities coordinators.

Third, I would like to streamline branch-national committee communication. This can be achieved through the use of new mediums of communication, particularly electronic forms, RSS feeds and Wikis.

I understand the complexities of medsin and its activities, and acknowledge the hard work involved. I’m asking for your vote because I’m enthusiastic and excited about putting in the time and energy required to work with the branches and bring the medsin network to their doorstep. I have many new ideas and the necessary experience to make this happen.

Vice President for Projects - No Applications Received

Vice President for Externals - Neha Jain

In 1998 Meddin UK rejoined the IFMSA. Since that time it has made leaps and bounds; growing from strength to strength as an organisation and expanding in its ideas, projects and branches. We, as medical students, are extremely privileged to be able to experience the projects, campaigns and educational activities it offers, at both local and international levels. Furthermore, we have opportunities to not only learn about global health but to actively take part in its development. In order to continue this work, fundraising and expanding our external image through the VPE role will become even more crucial.

This year I have been lucky enough to be involved with ukAM2007, and as a co-Fundraising co-ordinator, so far have co-ordinated the raising of over £40,000. Since taking on this position I have come to realise that there are 4 main areas which form the cornerstones of fundraising. Firstly, copious amounts of enthusiasm and motivation can take you a long way to securing funds. Secondly, both Medsin and the IFMSA as organisations, have huge amounts of experience in many fields, which should be shared and leaned from. Through discussion and co-operation with my colleagues, I have come to employ methods such as applying to trusts and companies for funds, actively fundraising through events such as national raffles and jazz evenings and directly approaching shops for sponsorship in kind.

Attending the recent March meeting in Australia brought to light the fantastic opportunities available to us through the IFMSA. Thirdly, it is essential to understand your own limitations. Time and manpower constraints can influence how much you can realistically generate and hence the approach taken to reach your goal. And lastly, Asda put its best, “every little helps”, no matter what the amount, it’s a step forward

Whilst fundraising is essential, building upon our external image will be vital in all areas of Medsin’s work. My role as co-coordinator has given me the opportunity to work closely with our marketing and theme teams. With them I have gained an understanding and experienced aspects of branding.

For the past year Medsin has been very successful at forging alliances with prominent organisations such as The Lancet. These friendships are very important and have laid the basis for the coming years. I wish next year to build upon this success; improving the network through consistent communication among the braches especially with regard to fundraising; securing funds that are specific to projects; building upon existing fundraising documents to form a comprehensive resource packs that are event and target specific; actively informing members about the resources and connections available to us as a network; developing more external links and our branding; and finally finding out from you what you want from your VPE.

For me there is no medicine without Medsin. Its success so far has been largely because of the passion, enthusiasm and motivation of its members. I would love the opportunity to display all of these qualities and more, through the VPE position.

Vice President for Externals - Selina Rodrigues

Motivation

The role of VP Externals attracts me because it is varied, its dynamic and its an evolving role. The role of VP Externals would make the most of my strengths. These lie firmly in organisation, motivating and building teams, scheduling multiple factors to orchestrate an event, making the most of opportunities, and seeing the potential in ideas.

Experience

Team-building

During the GHC I developed and oversaw 7 teams with integrated functions, personally leading the Finance team and central Organising Committee. We used a fluid model in which team members could evolve roles based on time availability and expertise, at the peak of GHC activity this involved co-ordination and delegation to over 70 people. I would bring well tuned skills in team building, communication and motivation to the NC

Fundraising

I have key experience in:

  • successful grant applications
  • negotiating corporate sponsorship
  • convincing the university to donate money events

The key GHC successes were getting:

  • £5000 BMA sponsorship
  • £1350 MDU sponsorship
  • £1000 Co-op sponsorship

I hope this reassures you that I have a proven track record in generating cash! I would willingly apply this potential to national Medsin finances.

External Network Building

The GHC challenged me to build from scratch a network of contacts. I have strong communication skills and ability to initiate and maintain external relationships.

For example, these are the organisations I already have personal contacts in, which will be useful in future financial assistance or helping Medsin with developing charity best practice.

BMA – Parveen Kumar, plus BMA Marketing, BMA International Department

MDU – Rebecca Kerry, through which we arranged the £1350

Lancet – Richard Horton / Rhona Macdonald

Medact – Robin Stott/ Frank Bolton

Oxfam

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Prof Andy Haines, Director

United Nations – Paul Hunt

Plans and ideas to develop

We must find sustainable finance to grow the network. This is a challenge we cannot fail to address. I propose the medium term goals would be to

  • Develop a sustainable National Committee travel fund
  • Develop a small grants scheme for local branches/projects
  • Source funding for Presidents sabbatical year

Implementation

The ideas above need solid financial backing, initial solutions to this could be:

  • Continue to develop the Alumni fund and ideas for a Fun club 8 like People and Planet to generate sustainable income.
  • Targeted trust/grant application learning from what has not worked in the past.
  • Increase marketing value of association with the Medsin brand to win old and new sponsors, the BMA, and looking to new (ethical) partnerships
  • Annual fundraising events – a ball, good for the social life and externals!
  • Sell Medsin products through website – t shirts/mugs/bags
  • Develop membership idea further

Summary

Role of VP Externals interlinks three things - finance, branding/image and contacts. My natural strengths are in these domains and I would be delighted to bring them to the National Committee team for the benefit of the network.

Category C

Secretary - No Applications Received

Treasurer - Helen Preston

I started to write another 500 words for this application but it was very similar to my statement for VPB so I’ve just kept it short and focused on why I want to be Medsin treasurer.

  • My time on ukAM and on the Manchester committee has involved me working closely with the treasurer, which has given me a good insight into what it entails. I already know how to use Paypal, online banking and carry out transfers and will enjoy learning how to perform the other roles of the treasurer.

  • As Medsin treasurer (and the source of all the money!), I will be required to liase with every member of the committee regularly and would enjoy keeping up to date with all sides of the Medsin network. I build up working relationships easily and relate to people well and so will be easy to approach.

  • I am organised, reliable and honest, which I think are important qualities to have, as there is a lot of responsibility attached to this role. I am meticulous with my own money and ensure that I will be stringent with Medsin’s money, ensuring financial probity.

  • As treasurer I will have to liase with the VPE regularly and help with the fundraising. This is something that every member of ukAM has been involved with in the past few months and I am becoming increasingly aware of how to fundraise efficiently

  • Finally, I would love the opportunity to be part of the National Committee and to help make decisions that will affect the running of the organisation

Publicity Director - James Chan

Why I want to be the Publicity Director…

Publicity is a vital link between the National Committee and to those who are interested, and to those who don’t know they’re interested!

I want to share the ethos of Medsin with other students, to empower them to take action, to educate on global health issues they may not have had exposure to, and to share the opportunities given to me through the Medsin network!

Publicity has been a vital part of the growth of Medsin in the past 10 years, by spreading the word of Medsin and getting it known to students and now to the wider world of medical journal editors and NGOs.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my past experiences in working in publicity. I was recently involved in the publicity campaign for a certain National Committee member in his successful campaign to become Leeds University Union Council Speaker. On top of this, co-organising the Northern Regional Conference this year has shown me the importance of timely and effective publicity. Being the ex-President of the Medical Students’ Representative Council in Leeds, I understand the difficulties of committee work, and have an idea of how to work well in a team.

Over the next year, I want to support the branches, campaigns and projects with recruitment and publicity drives. I want to work with the National Committee to expand the network to even more non-medical students, to build upon the brilliant work put in by this year’s team.

I am…:

  • Organised, responsible
  • Experienced at working in committees
  • Good at working to deadlines
  • A team worker, but good working on my own
  • Creative and love thinking outside the box
  • Up for a challenge!

What I will do:

  • Work closely with VPs, branch publicity officers, campaign & conference organisers
  • Keep the image and messages loud and clear
  • Dispell myths (Medsin are NOT hippy gap year medical students)
  • Widen access to non-medical students
  • Use new media – Facebook, new Medsin magazine etc.
  • Use my artistic flair!

Those who know me know that I take it easy on the whole but I knuckle down to work when I have to, and I hate to see an unfinished product. I’ll admit to being a bit of a perfectionist, but that’s not such a bad thing when designing t-shirts and artwork!

Vote me in, to big up Medsin!

Campaigns Director - Partho Roy

Who am I?

I’m Partho and next year I’ll be a 4th year Medic at Bristol University.

You guys probably know me from:

  • Running around madly trying to organise the Medsin conference in Bristol!
  • As one of the UK delegates at AM06 in Serbia
  • As a national and international Medsin trainer
  • From numerous Medsin campaigns and conferences

This year, I’ve been working full time in the Policy and Advocacy Team at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) in London, and have also been working with the Health Inequalities Team at the Department of Health (DH). This summer, I hope to be doing a full time internship at Department for International Development (DFID).

Why do I want to be your Campaigns Coordinator?

  • I have been running campaigns all of my university life - with Amnesty International, People and Planet, Fair Trade and NUS amongst others – and this year, through working at FPH and the DH, I have seen how campaigns can impact on government from the ‘inside’. I can therefore bring all of my skills and experience of campaigning to Medsin.
  • I’ve thought long and hard about this job, and I am confident that: I have the time and the ability to commit 100% to the job This is the one thing in life that I am most passionate about! I can do a really great job, and I can take the campaigns side of Medsin forward!

What will I do as Campaigns Coordinator?

I believe that today’s health and social problems require political solutions. As such, I make the following promises to you:

  • I will work to strengthen the Medsin Campaigns team, starting next week in Leeds. I will determine the campaign team’s key priorities, and put in place a 12-month action plan.
  • I will organise a National Campaigns Training Day, open to all members of Medsin, where we will receive training from our friends and my contacts in Oxfam, Amnesty, and People & Planet. Those who attend the campaigns day will be in a position to train others in their local branches.
  • With the help of the campaigns team, I will put together a ‘Rough Guide to Campaigning’ to be put on the web and to given to each branch, which will include things like…how to organise a demonstration…tips for writing to your MP…and what to do if you get arrested!

In Summary

  • I am 100% committed to the job.
  • I want to raise the profile of campaigns and the profile of Medsin as a whole, and make campaigns an integral part of Medsin.
  • I have vast experience of campaigns, and now have contacts in the FPH and the DH.
  • I have important ideas, which are realistic, achievable and which I promise to deliver.

Campaigns Director - Raphael Rogans-Watson

As above for VPB application:

My ultimate goal is to provide and improve healthcare in both developed and developing countries, but I cannot see myself pursuing a career in medicine without addressing some of the fundamental inequalities in healthcare today. I’ve always had a keen interest in global politics, and when I became aware of Medsin back in October 2006, it seemed the perfect opportunity to translate this into action. Being on the Medsin National Committee would enable me to inspire others to do the same.

Since attending this year’s Medsin conferences, and returning hugely impressed by the National Committee’s work, I have become heavily involved in establishing the BSMS branch. I recently volunteered to become our Campaigns Coordinator, aiming to bring our current campaigns and projects together, enhancing the structure of our branch in readiness for the next year of freshers. I also intend to facilitate students setting up new Medsin projects, so as to broaden involvement and ensure that Medsin-BSMS remains a force for the future.

In December I founded the BSMS Stop AIDS Campaign (SAC) branch (our first ever Medsin campaign), and have since set up a committee, lobbied MPs in London, petitioned local MPs, organised a successful launch event and a forthcoming evening of talks. As president, I will be coordinating a medical school ‘Sports Day’ to include all our societies and raise the profile of the SAC.

I’m a very sociable person and enjoy working as part of a team: being in Medsin-BSMS, Stop AIDS, and the BMA Intra Schools Committee has really developed my skills in this area over the past year. I love meeting and engaging with new people (I’ve even been called a “phone slag” for the amount of numbers I exchange at events and conferences!), which is partly why I believe I’d be a good VP for Branches or Campaigns Director. I already spend a lot of time emailing for Stop AIDS and the BMA ISC, so that will be nothing new to me. What's more, I’m taking International Health at Leeds or UCL next year, and although it’s an intensive degree, the reduced lecture hours will allow me to devote a lot of energy to Medsin.

I’m passionate about what Medsin stands for, and determined to further its outstanding reputation and increase participation. Being at a new medical school has meant we’ve had to set up campaigns from scratch, so I’ve experienced the challenges faced by new branches when trying to establish themselves and interest more people. I would be able to use this knowledge to help set up and support new or floundering branches, both at medical schools and otherwise.

Enthusiasm is infectious, so I would like to link the branches and campaigns more closely next year, encouraging more regional events and greater communication via the national committee in order to get everyone aiming for common goals. I’m prepared to dedicate a tonne of energy to Medsin nationally over the next year, as I have done locally this year, and I’m prepared to have fun at the same time!

Campaigns Director - Pete Baker and Jenny Jones

Medsin Experience

Pete:

  • Medsin National Campaigns Coordinator 06/07
  • Manchester President 05/06
  • Medsin Make Poverty History and Trade Justice Coordinator 05-07
  • Chaired Manchester's successful Fairtrade University campaign 04-06
  • Delegate to 2 International (IFMSA) conferences
  • GhAP member

Jen:

  • Medsin National Secretary 06/07
  • Arms Trade Campaign Coordinator 07
  • Manchester Vice President 05/06
  • Medsin trainer
  • Delegate to 2 International (IFMSA) conferences
  • GhAP member
  • Medsin Campaigns Experience

We have worked closely together this year to coordinate Medsin’s campaigns

Pete has taken the major role in forming the Medsin Campaigns Team which has been hugely successful in bringing together coordinators of various Medsin campaigns. The work of the team under Pete’s leadership has produced fantastic results and has seen Medsin taking action on various issues of relevance to global and local health.

Working with the Global Health Conference team, the GHC was used as a platform for Medsin’s campaigns team. We worked together to coordinate Medsin taking action on 5 different issues.

We invited many external campaigning groups to do interesting workshops at the GHC.

Between us we have been involved with every single Medsin campaign at one time. This gives us a unique overview of campaigning in Medsin.

Jen is currently completing a BSc in International Health. Pete is about to undertake a BSc in International Health.

Why are we running for this position jointly?

  • We've worked really well together over the last 4 years, on Manchester and National committees .
  • We find it easy to communicate with one another on a regular basis, and are able to divide up jobs well.
  • We recognise the massive potential for Medsin’s campaigns to take off this year and we feel we are most able to do this with two of us to share the workload.
  • We both have strong relationships with different parts of the campaigns team and external campaigns organisation.

Our plans

1) To have a campaigning network

  • To encourage Medsin to be a successful, active, political campaigning organisation, at branch, national and international level.
  • To try to secure funding for campaigns.
  • To facilitate creation of new Medsin campaigns and the expansion of current campaigns into branches.
  • To start a national and local campaigns training programme.

2) To have a great campaigns team

  • To support the campaigns coordinators.
  • To encourage the campaigns team to see the wider issues and thus facilitate the campaigns team working together.
    Monthly Skype meetings.
  • To encourage the campaigns team to write articles for publication.
  • To continue working alongside external campaigning organisations.

3) To encourage campaigns at conferences

  • Continue taking Medsin campaign issues to IFMSA meetings.
  • Help all future conference teams to include actions in their conferences
  • To build on this year's Campaigns Day and make it an exciting, vibrant campaigns carnival.

Training Director - No Applications Received

Technology and Communications Director - Matthew Brandwood

I first became involved with Medsin nearly two years ago as part of the new committee to revitalise the Newcastle branch. Despite having no previous experience of maintaining a website I volunteered to take on the role of webmaster. We recognised that an informative and up-to-date website plays a key part in getting the Medsin message out to students in a cost-effective and efficient way.

At the same time, I recognised the need to facilitate communication between the members of the committee and with the society members. A comprehensive email database was built which has greatly helped with committee planning as well as allowing society members to play a more active role in branch activities. The Medsin lists have been closely integrated with those of our branch projects and campaigns, allowing us to communicate more easily, improving ties with projects.

My most ambitious project to date has been the total design and administration of the GHC07 website, online booking system, team email system and wiki. In order to promote the conference, the website was a key source of information for delegates and needed to be as user friendly as possible. Other students were consulted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of other conference websites in order to learn from previous mistakes.

I realised that one of the key challenges that the team would face would be ticket booking and the associated administration. GHC07 pioneered the use of online workshop booking in order to combat the problems associated with organising workshops which had been identified at previous conferences. The database system used also allowed us to allocate accommodation more easily as well as providing a rich source of data about the delegates which can hopefully be used to improve the delegate experience at future Medsin conferences.

The GHC system was not without flaws and set-backs, but I believe the fact that I managed to administer the booking of over 300 delegates alone, as well as providing real-time delegate information to other teams involved is testament to the ease of use of the system. In the role of Communications & Technology Director I would seek to build upon my previous experiences and mistakes to make such systems available for future conferences.

In the future, I would also hope to make the Medsin national website more accessible to members around the country. I believe that it is key to get members more involved both with their local branch and Medsin as a whole. The national website presents a wonderful opportunity to provide an integrated point for information not only about Medsin but all of the projects and campaigns as well as giving members throughout the country a national forum for their ideas and experiences. I believe I could use technology to break down the perceived barriers between members and national Medsin, allowing a better flow of ideas and helping local issues to be tackled using the full resources and invaluable experiences of Medsin, as well as facilitating communication amongst the national committee itself.

CAMPAIGNS COORDINATOR POSITIONS

  • Healthy Planet - Guppi Bola and Sarah Walpole, Meghana Kulkarni
  • Malaria - Meghana Kulkarni
  • Water Aid - Rebecca Hardwood & Fiza Jabeen
  • Fair Trade - nominations still open
  • Trade Justice - nominations still open
  • Stop AIDS - nominations still open
  • Who 4 WHO - nominations still open
  • Arms Trade - nominations still open (dependent on this campaign being ratified by the GA)
  • Health Systems - nominations still open (dependent on this campaign being ratified by the GA)

Healthy Planet Campaign Coordinator - Guppi Bola and Sarah Walpole

Guppi Bola and Sarah Walpole

Sarah and I started Healthy Planet only 6 months ago. Since then we have:

  • Written an article for "What makes us sick" and the student BMJ
  • Trained the IFMSA delegation to promote it to the delegates of IFMSA meeting in Oz
  • Started a couple of branches in London and expanding to Leeds and Leicester
  • Held workshops at National Conference, Global Health Congerence and regional conferences
  • Designed some wicked t-shirts!
  • Created a good relationship with Medact

The campaign is just getting started. After succeeding with all our achievements over the past 6 months, we feel like another 6 months to co-ordinate the campaign would really set it in its path. Both Sarah and I have had extensive experience in campaigning, and are using our skills and knowledge on the subject to really get Healthy Planet out there. I am also involved in setting up a good relationship with People and Planet, and with Oxfam, who will be concentrating their campaigning on climate change for the second half of the year. We would like the opportunity to see through a full year as co-co-ordinators

Healthy Planet Campaign Coordinator- Meghana Kulkarni

A coordinator is not simply a figure of authority, but one who offers guidance and direction, represents the group and expresses their views. Although such a role offers tremendous opportunity, it also carries significant responsibility. It is with this in mind that I approach my application for the role of campaigns co-ordinator.

We focus much of our attention on global health, but what about the globe itself?

This is where the Healthy Planet campaign comes in. The NHS is a massive organisation. Due to its vast size, it is no doubt a significant polluter. A simple act such as travelling to a hospital is a contributing source of carbon emissions. Such trivial actions cumulatively have a major adverse effect on our environment. A successful and workable solution will have a positive impact on health. Finding such a solution, however is a major challenge for health and other professionals worldwide. It is therefore vital that we students, the future generation (and future polluters), get involved in helping to stop the current trends and assess the practical steps that can be taken within our own sphere of influence. It is for this reason that I wish to be considered for the post of coordinator of the Healthy Planet project; this collaboration would be an accessible and benificial way of getting involved in tackling such issues.

Activities including interactive workshops, the establishment of links with other similar organisations, awareness of political events and putting the fossil fuel industry and the big polluters in the spotlight, will keep students up-to-date with global issues and provide the means by which to make a change.

Although I recognise the role of a coordinator would be to make independent decisions, I also understand that an effective leader must be adaptable and must incorporate the views of the entire team. I feel that I am able to do this well.

For example, having been elected Head Girl at my former school offered me tremendous opportunities to lead and organise various events. This role demanded significant responsibility and enabled me to improve my confidence, particularly when addressing large audiences. I have shown myself to be a sociable, empathetic and trusted individual. I hope that this, and all of my other experiences so far, will provide a firm platform for me to embark upon this role.

I feel that I have much to offer this campaign. I will strive to make this campaign an inspiring, ambitious and professional one. I will go beyond just the media headlines, adding substance to not only raising awareness of the issues, but also producing action.

Thank you very much for considering me for this position.

Malaria Campaign Coordinator - Meghana Kulkarni

A coordinator is not simply a figure of authority, but one who offers guidance and direction, represents the group and expresses their views. Such a role offers tremendous opportunities, but carries a significant burden of responsibility too. It is with this in mind that I approach the role of campaigns co-ordinator.

With increasing foreign travel, malaria has become an important problem due here in the UK and no longer solely concerns tropical nations. It is not only increased borderless global travel, but also other factors such as the lack of compliance in relation to prophylactic treatment and persisting lack of adequate sanitation in developing nations that has promoted the spread of the disease. Currently, anti-malarial drugs are not funded by the NHS as malaria is not considered a ‘UK-based’ disease. Consequently, drugs are expensive, and their numerous side effects have resulted in many tropical travellers opting not to take them. Such practice must be actively discouraged, perhaps by lobbying the government to either provide the drugs for free, or at least at a subsidised rate.

One of the methods I would propose to raise awareness of the need for active solutions to the worldwide problem of malaria, would be through community and corporate fundraising events. As Head Girl at my former school I had the opportunity to lead and organise such events. This role demanded significant responsibility and enabled me to improve my confidence, particularly when addressing large audiences. I have considerable experience of such leadership, having been a member of my school’s Council, have participated in a ‘mini tennis’ programme, which involved coaching younger children. Last summer, I completed the highly enjoyable but exhausting Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. These experiences have taught me about the importance of teamwork and the ability to deal with a range of personalities and problems - all essential attributes of a coordinator. I have shown myself to be a sociable, empathetic and trusted individual. I hope that this, and all of my other experiences so far, will provide a firm platform for me to embark upon this role.

Thank you very much for considering me for this position.

Water Aid Campaign Coordinator - Rebecca Hardwood and Fiza Jabeen

We have recently taken on the role of water co-ordinators and have enjoyed our role in the campaigns team. Preparing a workshop and the water action at the Newcastle GHC has increased our awareness of water issues and helped us develop useful relationships, in particular with the World Development Movement, who helped with writing the letter sent to Hilary Benn.

Individually I (Fiza) have participated in the Manchester AGM, Birmingham activities board meeting and the Newcastle GHC and Rebecca, being a Newcastle student has helped in the organisation of the Newcastle GHC. We hope that we get to continue our role and attend the Campaigns Day as the new water co-odinators!

Fair Trade - Nominations Still Open

Trade Justice - Nominations Still Open

Stop AIDS - Nominations Still Open

Who 4 WHO - Nominations Still Open

Arms Trade - Nominations Still Open

No applications received. Dependent on this campaign being ratified by the GA - nominations remain open

Health Systems - Nominations Still Open

No applications received. Dependent on this campaign being ratified by the GA - nominations remain open

OTHER POSITIONS

Global Health Education Coordinator - Sunil Bhopal & Abi Smith

We're Abi Smith and Sunil Bhopal, putting ourselves forward for position Global Health Education Project co-ordinators.

A bit about us:

Abi - I started off my Medsin life by being involved in Marrow and Sexpression in Bristol, sine then I’ve done several Medsin Jobs; Sexpression Coordinator, Publicity, VP Projects and most recently President! I’ve had an amazing experience throughout my time in Medsin, and am now ready to focus onto an area I think is hugely important. Last year I studied international health in London, and I’d love the opportunity to put this knowledge, my past experience and new ideas to good use for the Network.

Sunil - I first got into Medsin through my involvement in National Conference 2005 in Leeds. From then on I've been hooked! I was VP of Medsin-Leeds in 2005-06, and this year have been VP Branches. It’s been brilliant, absolutely top notch - as I move on to study the International Health BSc at Leeds I want to focus more on the Global Health side of things. I have so many ideas from my time working with branches, and would love to be given this opportunity to put them into practise!

We’ve worked closely together this year as President and VP, so we’re used to each others lifestyles, schedules and can communicate well.

Our ideas and plans!

We’ve got lots of things that we’d like to do – there’s not room to explain them all here, so we’ve just included the highlights!

We’d like to work to develop the global health based core curriculum. We’d like to do this by writing to deans of medical schools, working with externals (Skillshare/Medact/UCLCID/Nuffield etc) to form guidance on content for this and by providing the resources and training to advocate for global health education. We will use the results of the global health education survey for this and also develop the knowledge base further with follow up survey’s to achieve this.

SSC’s have become an important part of global health education, we plan to work with Medact and other partners to develop the global health studies pack. We also want to support Medsin branches in setting up SSC’s with practical advice on content, methodology and contacts.

We’d like to make sure that the speakers database is updated and expanded and ensure that it is used more widely. Along this vein, we’d like to develop global health education resources, including improving the website and creating computer based packages from which interested people can learn about global health issues.

Electives are a topic we’d both like to explore further, it would be good to have information available to people about ethical electives and how to educate themselves about global health before and during their elective. We’d also like to help branches to develop, in conjunction with their Medical Schools, pre-elective global health teaching. We’d like to extend this idea to the IFMSA exchanges programme by working with the NEO’s to develop pre-exchange global health training.

Finally, we’d aim to support students other than medical students in developing global health teaching for them.

Last updated on Wednesday 18 April 2007 at 09:23.