International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations - Taipei,Taiwan (Aug 2019)

Yseult Gibert

From August 1st to 7th 2019, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations held its annual August Meeting in Taipei,Taiwan.

This meeting was a time for more than one thousand medical students from all around the globe to meet and work together towards a healthier world, whether it was by sharing projects and ideas, proposing motions and position papers, or training each other during the Standing Committee Sessions. I was lucky enough to be part of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS)’s delegation at this Meeting, and proudly represented all Canadian medical students during the General Assemblies.

In the Standing Committee of Public Health (SCOPH), more than thirty-five hours of training in different facets of public health were held for representative students from all around the world. From Universal Health Coverage (UHC), to Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), Bioterrorism, Globesity, Gaming addiction, and Climate Change, each country had an experience and vision to share on the subject, how they were advocating against or for it, and what were the specific obstacles encountered in their country (the stigmas, culture, finances, government, etc).

It was like a giant international brainstorming of ideas and solutions; a palpitating beehive of brilliant minds coming together to reflect and share on the global and local health issues of our planet.

Meeting people from all delegations, I was very rapidly introduced to the diversity of medical curriculums all around the world, but also to how students were all fighting to improve them. Canadian medical students are very lucky to have a comprehensive curriculum in terms of public health. Even if there is always some progress left to be made, it was quickly evident that not all NMOs around the world had a curriculum as extensive as us in terms of public health. And this is where we can truly see the beauty of IFMSA, because as I had the honor of presenting CFMS’s HEART initiative* at the meeting, multiple NMOs came to see us after the presentation to ask about how they could, like us, advocate for planetary health to be integrated in their curriculum. I also had the chance to discuss and learn from the Estonian and Taiwanese delegations and their projects to fight against Climate Change, and sensitize medical students as well as patients on its effect on health.

Moreover, numerous skill training sessions were offered throughout the meeting. It was hard to make a choice as they all seemed more interesting than the others, but my two favorites remained the ones on Advocacy and Debating.

In addition to those trainings, we had Capacity Building sessions and plenaries where I had the chance to represent CFMS. During those sessions, multiple subjects were addressed, like Health Behaviours, Mental Health and Health Economics. Throughout the CB plenaries, we engaged actively in the discussions, especially on time regulations for training. It is almost impossible for us in Canada to organize a 44-hour (more than 4 days!) long training as the students couldn’t miss so many days of class. Thankfully, by partnering with Norway and other NMOs, we were able to diminish that number, which would hopefully enable CFMS and IFMSA-Qc to organize more trainings, allowing more Canadian students to participate in those endeavors.

In conclusion, between the Standing Committee Sessions, the plenaries, the Activities Fairs and the social programs, there was no time to get bored at IFMSA’s August Meeting, and I am more than grateful to have been part of this amazing opportunity. I went home the mind filled with ideas, inspiration and ambition to honor IFMSA’s slogan: “Think global, act local”.

I would encourage anyone, passionate or just curious, to get involved and apply for the next meetings, as it is a wonderful and rewarding experience that will make you a better healthcare professional, but also a better person.

IFMSA is the vibrant heart of tomorrow’s global health, a place of exchange, partnerships and support, and it is truly inspirational to see the youth of healthcare working so hard to make the world a better place.

*implementation of Climate Change in the Canadian medical curriculum

About the author

Yseult Gibert, Second-year McGill Medical Student

Yseult Gibert is a second-year medical student at McGill University, passionate about Global Health. She is interested in Environmental Health, Human Rights and accessibility of healthcare. She recently received IFMSA’s Planetary Health Leader training and hopes to inspire others to advocate for Public and Global Health.Yseult Gibert is a second-year medical student at McGill University, passionate about Global Health. She is interested in Environmental Health, Human Rights and accessibility of healthcare. She recently received IFMSA’s Planetary Health Leader training and hopes to inspire others to advocate for Public and Global Health.