Elizabeth Read (UNSW, Year III; attended AMA Leadership Dinner in Canberra, sponsored by NSWMSC)

On the 27th of May, a blisteringly cold Canberra night, I attended the AMA Leadership dinner at a swanky lake-side restaurant on the dime of the NSWMSC (thanks guys) and I came away so inspired and amazed by the medical community I encountered that I forgot to describe the meal in intricate detail to people I later told about it (the highlight dish for me was a steamed prawn, morcilla and radish salad that literally blew my mind).
 
The speaker, Dr. Nick Coatsworth, was just one facet of the evening that contributed to this.
Formerly the President of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia, Nick’s descriptions of his early career working in the Congo - on a few weeks training and some high school French, no less - showed that youthful idealism and a passion for social justice can survive the arduous years of training, and can realise itself in so many hugely positive ways, as long as we maintain our dedication to it. As articulate and insightful as it was funny, Nick reminded the roomful of medical professionals at every stage of their career - from medical students and interns, to established specialists - of the possibilities for our profession to transcend the boundaries between countries, cultures and people, and enact real change on a personal level.
 
This was further impressed upon us by the presentation of the AMA Doctor in Training of the Year award to Dr. Ruth Mitchell, a neurosurgery trainee at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, PhD student at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, and the Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trainee Association. Ruth received the award to a standing ovation, in recognition of her tireless work to stamp out bullying and sexual harassment within the medical community through education, advocacy and research.
 
As phenomenal as these two people were, just as phenomenal was the opportunity to meet medical students and professionals from all over Australia, to discuss our passions and concerns with them, to share in a good meal and a nice glass of wine and acknowledge the issues we all faced and the commitment of our community to change these things.
 
10/10, would recommend. 

Below is a reflection of his sponsored GPCE (General Practice Conference & Exhibition) experience, written by Ed Lewis, a second-year medical student at the Notre Dame University Sydney. 

On the 20th-22nd May I had the opportunity of attending the GPCE in Sydney, one of Australia’s leading primary care medical events. Here, I joined practicing GPs, allied healthcare professionals and some fellow students in partaking in talks and presentations given by leading specialists and medical education services. The experience was an incredibly informative one and highlighted the ‘lifelong learning’ experience we are all undertaking.

The varied nature of the conference was highly engaging as I moved from IV cannulation refreshers and an introduction to interosseous IV access to talks on chronic liver disease, AF management, osteoporosis and fraction prevention plus many more!

It was also interesting listening to the opinions of keynote speakers about the changing environment of primary healthcare and how external factors such as new government expenditure and policy will come to affect the profession. Definitely, also worthy of note was the fantastic ‘spread’ on offer that kept my blood glucose levels sufficiently in check throughout the weekend!

I’d like to say a massive thank you to the NSWMSC for providing me with the opportunity of attending the conference via a PRINT Conference Facebook giveaway; and encourage all students with varying medical interests to consider attending in future years.

We have the pleasure to announce that ANUMSS and NSWMSC have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see both organisations working closely together for the rest of 2015 and beyond. 

NSWMSC will now be representing over 5,000 medical students in NSW and ACT on issues common to both States. ANU Representatives will contribute to improving the advocacy and leadership work of NSWMSC by joining our Council meetings as an Official Observer, as well as participate in negotiations with key stakeholders.

ANU medical students will also be able to access all NSWMSC events and initiatives (wellbeing, leadership, social and academic events), as well as discounts and special offers at partner stores.

For further information please contact:
Chris Lemon (publicrelations@nswmsc.org.au)
Chris Wilder (president@anumss.org)

The NSWMSC 3rd Council Meeting and Annual General Meeting took place on Sunday 27th September at AMA House.

We asked universities to present their ideas for the future of NSWMSC and some of these suggestions included increasing our media presence, improving emphasis on advocacy, organising smaller events such as workshops and policy working groups, creating a centralised calendar with all NSW medical society events throughout the year, NSWMSC Executive visits to universities and presence during O-week, increased engagement with AMSA and development of stronger relationships between universities.

Other discussions at the meeting included the survey results regarding NSW priorities for internship and whether international students should be ranked higher than interstate domestic students. From completed responses, the majority voted in support of this priority listing change. Other issues discussed included the Murray Darling Medical School, quality internships for all students and increased training positions and the possibility of ANU medical school joining NSWMSC as an affiliate.

We also had the opportunity to hear from guest presenters: Dr Deborah Kuchler and Dr James Edwards. 

​As the year comes to a close we reflected on the many highlights from the year and look forward to seeing the new Executive take NSWMSC to new heights in 2016!

Sarah Lewis
​NSWMSC Secretary 2015