Asian Medical Students' Association
In 1979, a group of Japanese medical students were invited to travel to Thailand to visit and discuss solutions to the ever increasing health problems experienced in Thailand's many refugee camps. The students began talks with Thai medical students, discussing similarities and differences between their country's health systems as well as discussing possible solutions to the health problems being experienced in the Asian and Oceanic region. It was decided that these meetings should occur annually and the Asian Medical Students' Association and Conference was born.
The Asian Medical Students' Association International (or AsMSA as it is known in Australia) is an international student organisation formed by medical students' associations in Asia and Oceania. It has 10 regional members representing Australia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, The Philippines and Papua New Guinea, along with other observer members. Full details of the role and aims of AsMSA-International can be found on the association website.
AsMSA International runs two annual conventions every year – the East Asian Medical Students Conference (EAMSC) and the Asian Medical Students' Conference (AMSC).
The EAMSC is a 4-5 day conference attracting 350 medical students, where else the AMSC is a slightly bigger – a 6-day conference attracting 450 medical students. The conference is normally attended by medical students from many Asian countries including Australia and the other member countries as well as guests from Europe, America and the rest of the world. The main aim of each conference is to promote health and understanding among Asia-Pacific medical students.
Each conference has an overall theme such as Community Medicine or Tropical Medicine. The conferences involve on an academic front, speeches, workshops, discussions and debates all lead by international well-recognised academics. Most countries also present an academic paper on the theme of the conference. One of the academic highlights includes tours to outstanding research, medical and health-related institutes in the country where the conference is being held. As well as the learning opportunities, the conferences are well known for the social program which includes gala dinners, sporting events, many tourist activities as well as the spectacular Cultural Night with performances from each country's delegates. To attend the conference is an amazing experience. The conference supplies unparalleled learning opportunities as well as social events you will remember forever.
Australia has attended the Asian Medical Students' Conference over the previous decade and has been an active country in directing and helping run the AsMSA-International as well as the conference. AMSA Australia hosted the AMSC in Melbourne in 2001, and the EAMSC in 2009.
Each year up to 20 Australian medical students attend the conference as ordinary delegates along with the Regional Coordinator and Chief Delegates for Australia. The option to travel to any Asian Medical Students' Conference as a General Delegate is open to all medical students in Australia (not just those with an Asian background) even if they have never attended an EAMSC/AMSC beforehand. The role of the general delegate before the conference is to help raise the funds necessary for the delegation. The Chief Delegate position is open to any student that has attended an EAMSC/AMSC conference previously, and acts as the leader of the delegation. The Regional Coordinator is selected at the previous conference to represent Australia throughout the following year on the Asian Medical Students' Association board as well as to organise the delegation. The conference has been in the past, and continues to be financed fully through sponsorship.
Applications for EAMSC generally open half way through second semester and close somewhere in November or December, and applications for AMSC close around March each year.
Each delegate can also participate in Australia's paper and poster presentation. At the conference each Delegate will represent the Australian Medical Students' Association, and is expected to participate fully in all events of the conference. After the conference there may be a small post conference project for each delegate to participate which will be related to the theme of the conference. If you have any further queries please contact the Australian Regional Coordinator at rcaustralia@amsa-international.org
For more information visit our website: www.amsa-international.org
