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RACGP
Register your free online RACGP student membership with the option to upgrade for $49 to receive your free copy of Australian Medicines Handbook CD 2008 (valued at $115) and go in the draw to win a copy of John Murtagh's General Practice 4th edition (valued at $150). Find out more about the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP), career advice from GPs and more.
For details visit our website.
South Australian
Department of Health
Ever wondered what it would be like to work interstate - where you can have it all? Festivals, Lifestyle, Career and a Family. Consider South Australia in your future plans.
Australian GP Training
A record number of doctors has applied for the 2009 intake of the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT). The number of first round applications from eligible doctors has increased by 20% this year from 609 to 733. The numbers don't lie! General practice is increasing in popularity as a vocational choice - Have you considered general practice?
AMSA American
Express Gold Card
American Express will advise AMSA of the names, and member numbers, of AMSA members who take up this offer, for entry into their database. The AMA privacy policy can be accessed at www.ama.com.au or by contacting AMSA at 02 6270 5435
Avant
Avant is proud to be a major partner of AMSA. Student membership of
Australia's largest MDO is free and is designed to meet your needs as you study.
Insurance features include $20 million professional indemnity cover, driving license defence
and cover for Good Samaritan acts worldwide. Click here to join.
Elsevier
Elsevier Australia is a dedicated publisher of textbooks for the ANZ market. We
continuously work with the most respected researchers, academics and professionals and set a high
standard for quality in medical education. To register for regular updates and view our range of Medical
text titles click here.
Health Super
Health Super can help you take superannuation from 'care factor zero' to give it a little
more lovin'! After all, you have an asset money can't buy...Time! So what are you waiting for? Visit
www.healthsuper.com.au or contact our
Superline Freecall on 1800 331 719 for all the details.
MDA National
Whether you're in 1st year or 4th year, it's important that you have adequate medical
indemnity cover for clinical placements, electives and private clinical work. MDA National Insurance's Student
Indemnity Policy provides medical indemnity cover worldwide (excluding USA) and insures you for $1,000,000
policy limit including $500,000 towards defence costs.
Competitions
Last Month's Winners
Congratulations to James Sewell, the winner of last month's Free Stuff in Exchange for an Email Competition. I've had to award the prize for "Med Revue Season is Upon Us" to myself, because a grand total of zero people submitted entries. In the altruistic spirit of this month's Embolus, I've donated the prize back. Win it by trying your hand at these...
A Clinical Scenario
 Sam M has slipped and severed his femoral artery in an horrific accident at the academic program at Convention. There was an ill-placed lectern and some sandwich scraps involved. He now requires a life-saving blood transfusion. His blood type is B-. What donor blood types are suitable, assuming an absence of atypical antibodies? Send your entries to embolus@amsa.org.au.
Starbucks' Loss, AMSA's Gain. Hypothetically.
Suppose, if you will, that AMSA legally acquired all of the stores previously vacated by a haemorrhaging Starbucks. What would be the best (and most fun) use of such a resource (i.e. 61 strategically positioned commercially-zoned real estate sites) by your favourite student organisation? Send your entries to embolus@amsa.org.au.
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We Want Answers on Intern Training
The issue of intern training capacity has been on the horizon for years now, but with the notable exception of Victoria, most states have categorically failed to detail how they will be coping with the increasing number of interns resulting from the surge in medical student numbers over the past five years. To get some answers and raise awareness of this issue AMSA is launching the intern training capacity campaign. You can find out more and take part by visiting here.
AMSA Calls For Private Sector Training
At the July meeting of the AMSA National Council a policy was passed calling for expansion of medical student training into healthcare settings which are currently underutilized for teaching purposes, including the private sector. On the back of the Federal Government's recent move to use the private sector to train junior doctors, we hope the proposal will be well received. You can read the complete policy here.
AMSA Blood Drive: Keep Bleeding
The AMSA Blood Drive runs but for one month a year - that month is here. All you have to do is donate blood before the end of August and register your donation here. This is your one chance to actually save a life as a medical student and not just be in the way. If your medical school has the best showing then you will be able to take home the coveted Vampire Cup. All blood donations, including plasma, are desperately needed around the country at the moment so go make a date with a needle and complimentary sausage roll.
AMSA-RACGP National Leadership Development Seminar - Applications Closing Soon!
The AMSA-RACGP National Leadership Development Seminar is being held from 1-3rd September at Parliament House, Canberra. The program gives delegates the opportunity to question leaders in health, education, media and politics - with the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, the Hon Brendan Nelson MP and Dr Rosanna Capolingua already confirmed. Other sessions will arm you with the skills to run an advocacy campaign and take on leadership responsibilities, as well as addressing issues concerning Indigenous and Global Health. For the first time ever, you will also have the opportunity to wield your speaking skills in an enthralling evening of debate at Old Parliament House. Read more about NLDS and submit your online application before August 1 here.
Post-Convention Adjustment Disorder Abounds
12,000 dumplings. Prof Vinay Kumar single handedly rescuing the pathology recruitment drive for years to come. Seven incredible nights of social bliss. The crowning of UWA as the Emergency Medicine Challenge champions. A snapshot into student research in Australia. Discussion of the BIG issues affecting you. Forging relationships with organisations that support you. The national introduction of Man About Town. Surviving a Melbourne winter in minimalist costumery. A clash of ideas in the euthanasia debate. The future of medical education. Preparing for your Life in the Real World. 900 medical students. One amazing organising committee. See you in Brisbane next year.
Global Health Conference: Past, Present and Future
With Asia-Pacific delegates, delegate training, carbon neutrality, and the formation of global health policy, the 2008 Global Health Conference has taken this unique event to new heights. Over 500 delegates were stimulated and inspired by a world-class academic program geared towards generational change. In 2009, the Global Health Conference will be held from the 2nd to the 5th July in Brisbane, and embody the theme 'Challenge your World'.
Applications Open for East Asian Medical Students' Conference
AMSA is now calling for applications for the EAMSC, one of two academic conferences hosted by the Asian Medical Students Association each year. To be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from the 7th to the 11th of January 2009, the theme of the conference will be 'AIDS in the Asia-Pacific'. Applications close on the 15th August. Click here for further information.
Travel Insurance Discounts for Medical Students
As the time of year approaches where end of year electives and holidays are being studiously organised, it is worth remembering that you might need travel insurance to cover you in case you get into trouble while away in Australia or overseas. AMSA offers a 20% discount on travel domestic and international travel insurance from QBE. If you're travelling check out the AMSA travel insurance here.
Rural and Indigenous Health Bursaries - Closing Soon!
This year AMSA in conjunction with the National Rural Health Network (NRHN) will be providing four $1000 bursaries for medical, nursing and allied health students to undertake electives in rural areas. In addition AMSA and NRHN are running an Indigenous health essay competition with two prizes to be awarded to medical and allied health students worth $1000 each. For more information or to apply for the bursaries click here.
MSOD Project Exit Questionnaire
The MSOD Project, along with AMSA & Medical Deans ANZ will this year administrate the Pilot Exit Questionnaire (EQ) to final year medical students at Flinders, Griffith and Sydney universities. The EQ is vital for determining changes in student career intention and forms an essential component of the project. Go here for more information.
Panacea 2: The Readying
History is full of great sequels: Jaws II, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps... World War II. So we here at AMSA said to ourselves "Say, it went so well for the Germans - we can't help but enjoy the same unbridled success!"1. Which leads us to Panacea II and the hope that, now that you've seen the kind of pap the editor was forced to produce as filler in the first instalment, your festering rage can be channelled into something productive.
Write to us: tell us a story, compose an anthology of poetry devoted to pessaries or send an inappropriate Letter to the Editor asking for assistance with your love life. We're not fussy. But we do want more stuff from YOU, dear reader - get it out there by sending it to publications@amsa.org.au and look forward to seeing your name in print next to such literary luminaries as that made-up guy from Oxford.
1It's probably safe to assume that the collective knowledge of the Great Wars held at AMSA HQ derives from reruns of Hogan's Heroes and Dad's Army.
A Blood Drive Special: How We Won The Vampire Cup
Musings by Sean Williams, Part-Time UWSyd Student, Full-Time Winner of Vampire Cup
Sports day at Convention. Tasmania beat Adelaide in the final of the Cascade Cup. Adelaide "boys" are devastated. Start crying. I try to photograph said display of emotion. Adelaide girl threatens to knee me in the balls if I don't piss off. I laugh. WHAM! She actually does it. Even funnier.
What passion! What emotion! What drama! Over a drinking game?
The VAMPIRE CUP, not the Cascade Cup should be the ultimate piece of silverware that med students across Australia strive each year to bring home. It is a shiny shiny symbol of altruism and generosity as we make the simple sacrifice of a week-or-two's worth of blood production. It means nothing to us, but everything to the child suffering leukaemia or the trauma patient rapidly crashing.
Here at the University of Western Sydney this year we are striving for a benchmark of 50% donations. We won AMSA's greatest prize last year with a meagre 34%. As an AMSA rep or blood drive coordinator, the key to maximising donations is acknowledging that MED STUDENTS ARE LAZY! Sure, we are more proactive than any other faculty at uni, but we are also strapped for precious time. SO MAKE IT EASY!
Many of the Blood Donation centres have a free shuttle bus service that will pick up and drop off from your uni. Book regular shuttles and advertise these widely, you'll be surprised how quickly they fill up if everything's organised.
Blood vans coming directly to the university are of course the easiest way to get donations, but these are slippery little suckers, requiring bookings up to 12 months in advance. Instead, check out the calendar of local mobile vans at www.donateblood.com.au and car pool out to these sites.
Have a Blood-Drive BBQ! To raise publicity, money and iron levels - these are a rip-snorter of an idea.
Peer pressure! Besides Med-school pride being on the line, it is simply unethical for med students not to give blood if they are able. Laziness, forgetfulness are NOT excuses. As for the unfortunate few who still suffer Aichmophobia (fear of needles), get some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy into ya and get over it.
I look forward to welcoming Vamp Ire McCup back to Western Sydney in 2008, but nonetheless hope the other medschools out there put up some bloody hearty competition! Good luck.
PS. I blocked that Adelaide girl's knee with my sweet ninja skills, so my manhood remains intact. Thanks for your concern, ladies.
Disclaimer: The views expressed or implied in this article do not reflect the views expressed or implied by the Editor or the Australian Medical Students' Association. These two fine institutions are not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to edit out critique of Adelaide's Cascade Cup performance. Sean Williams is responsible. -CF.
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