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Projects’ Booklet
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Dear EMSAi,
Welcome to the Projects Booklet of the European Medical Students Association. The projects presented in this document will hopefully help you discover some of the directions that will be the focus for EMSA in 2012 and might even inspire you to organize projects at a European level or to share experience and best practices. EMSA projects are being developed and taken care of by the European Support Division - a platform trough which medical students from throughout Europe can develop or coordinate projects on an international level by connecting and integrating the work that is being done on a local and national level. The work within the European Support Division is coordinated by the Directors of the 5 EMSA pillars in the spirit of a high appreciation for personal initiative and team work. If you wish to join the European Support Division please fill in the following form - link. Europeanly yours, The Department of Internal Affairs 2011/2012
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Directors: George Tsaknias, Giga Sordia, Ilayda Uyat, Olga Rostkowska, Ozan ĂœnlĂź Vice-President of Internal Affairs: Iza Ene
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20. International Woman’s Day – 8th of March 21. Journal of EMSA on Medical and Scientific Affairs (JEMSA) 22. Medical Ethics Newsletter 23. Mental Health 24. Movies & Medicine 25. Network of European Medical Students’ Conferences (NEMSC) 26. Patient safety 27. Right To Research 28. Secret Science Club 29. Stay Negative 30. Teddy Bear Hospital 31. The Festival of Culture 32. The Little Sanitarians 33. The Pathway of Science 34. Twinning Project 35. Vaccines and Immunization 36. World AIDS Day Activities
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15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Best Buddy Bologna Process Workshop Climate Changes Influence On Health Cultural Injection Different Christmas E-BIOS EMSA Choir & Orchestra EMSA Medical Mission EMSA Summer Schools EMSA Trans Plantation EMSA Week of Medical Education ERASMUS MEDICUS EuroMed Mobility European Students’ Stem Cell Society (ES-STEM) European Week of Ethics European Week of Public Health European Words Eurotalk Healthy Erasmus Project
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
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Best Buddy (European Integration) Best Buddy is a project aiming to have medical students involved with the community by bringing them closer to young people with disabilities, including children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and children with fewer opportunities. In order to support the community and to increase medical students’ knowledge, awareness and tolerance towards these people medical students are paired with children or young adults with a chronic disease or disabilities and together they participate in several activities. Aiming at offering young people with disabilities or chronic diseases the best possible support participants attend related training sessions delivered by professionals such as doctors and child psychologists prior to meeting their “Best Buddy”.
Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) Bologna Process Workshop ((M The Bologna Process Workshop is an annual workshop where medical students from all over Europe discuss the implementation of the Bologna Process in medical education. Together they create a statement and voice the position of European medical students advising the European authorities and medical faculties. Since the start of the implementation of the Bologna Declaration, educational systems throughout Europe have been changing. As the medical studies are designed in a different way than most other studies, medical students feel the need to be involved in the process of harmonizing the medical studies. In order to do so, the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) jointly organize an annual Bologna Process Workshop for medical students throughout Europe. Two policy papers were created in last BP workshop which was held in Istanbul Yeditepe University Turkey (July 2011), and the topics covered were “Accessibility to Higher Education” and “Medical Students’ involvement in the Educational Process”
Climate changes influence on health (Public Health) Conferences that reunite expert speakers in the field of medicine, public health and climate change in events organized European-wide on the occasion of the World Climate Change Day on 5 June.
Cultural Injection (Medical Ethics and Culture)
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Theatre, opera, good literature were all designed for medical students. Just like TBH fights the apprehension towards ‘white gown’, the intention of Cultural Injection is to fight the fear of highbrow culture among students. The project focuses on getting free tickets to shows, plays and
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concerts from the sponsors and distributing them among future doctors. We would like to underline the value of well-nurtured passions and personal development here. By exposing oneself at art, good music and particular visuals one not only gets into relaxed state more easily but also prevents early burn-out and becomes more aware of the beauty around us! Cultural Injection intends to stimulate medical students (who very often get into the trap of focusing too much on one subject) to discover the world of belletristic reading and appreciate the charm of photography or writing. All in one dose. Culturally injected.
Different Christmas (European Integration) A project that mainly consists in fundraising for and distributing presents to patients who spend their Christmas in hospitals. In addition to this, more activities (e.g. concert/ bazaar) can be organized at the hospital for the patients during this period. Through this project not only medical students strengthen their abilities on establishing a relationship with patients but also awareness is raised about the need of humanity in the hospitals across Europe, especially in occasions when most people get together with relatives and significant others. Spending Christmas Eve at the hospital might not be pleasant, but EMSAi intend to make it more supportable, offering not only a present but also human contact!
E-BIOS (Medical Science)
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The purpose of the projects is to provide a basis that the students from engineering, medical and medical engineering faculties can work together. Bringing together students and youth from Europe, Asia, Africa, America, this project aimsto create an interactive environment for training students and young specialists in medical and engineering fields with interests in interdisciplinary education and medical engineering. Based on the fact that a complete and efficient study in the human health field is fully realized when training occurs in interdisciplinary aspect, medical engineering is continuously developing, being at the border of medicine and engineering. Current partners of EMSA in this project are EESTEC (Electrical Engineering Students’ European Association) and MEA (Medical Engineering Association). Each year a local committee organizes a summer school the program of which is defined by a supervising council which represents equal number of students from each partner organization.
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EMSA Choir & Orchestra (Medical Ethics and Culture) For those who find themselves humming, tapping or openly singing famous melodies numerous times a day. Do not suppress your passion! Develop it with EMSA. The same applies to those who can’t keep their hands off the piano, saxophone, violin… Why not bring you guys together and let you simply ROCK? EMSA would like to introduce you to the world full of passion for music – both listening to it as well as creating it. We believe at many European universities there are people who can sing very well and/or play an instrument but they simply miss the right logistics and organization to bump into each other and start performing as a group. Let’s change it together! EMSA will help you get new members and announce your future performances using its local channels. Who knows – maybe one day you will hit the speakers of a radio station as ‘The Singing Doctors Squad’ ? Besides, playing an instrument definitely helps to improve one’s memory and attention span… Try it out! With EMSA.
EMSA Medical Mission (Public Health) A project that engages medical students to provide medical assistance in the rural areas were access to healthcare services is problematic. This project allows medical students to further develop their clinical practice and as a result of the projects Statistics about the disease.
Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) EMSA Summer Schools ((M
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EMSA Summer Schools offer medical students from all over geographical Europe to study a specific field of medicine during the summer in an international group. Teaching language is English, and the topics are a broad variety, covering the whole spectrum of medical science, always taking into consideration the ethical approach as well. During those summer schools the students not only learn medical knowledge, but also interactive communication and team-work with medical students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and contacts to speakers. Medical Education Pillar will gather the information coming from the SS Organizing Committees for promotion via EMSA web-site and mail servers. Furthermore, any help and support will be provided for Organizing Committees.
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EMSA Trans Plantation (Medical Ethics and Culture) With this project our goal is to expand bone marrow donors database by organizing local initiatives focusing on raising awareness on tissue and organ replacement. Our ‘square one’ will be to gather people interested in that topic and discuss ways of making blood donation more popular and postmortem organ transplantation less frightful. Some time ago there was a survey conducted among medical students intending to evaluate how much they know about transplantation medicine. The results were less than satisfactory… Think, how much more difficult it is for a non-medical to gain proper knowledge on this topic? Our job will be to enhance the level of knowledge on transplantation (including legal procedures) and spread the idea of declaring one’s will on his/her organ collection after death. Not only among students but also in local societies. The action plan here includes establishing cooperation with some big companies coordinating database of bone marrow donors. In this case – you not only help in searching for the right donor but you also cooperate with ‘big label’ partners and hospitals which can contribute greatly to your future path as a doctor.
Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) EMSA Week of Medical Education ((M A week long umbrella event that encompasses several projects on medical education: lectures, conferences, seminars, activities, workshops…etc. Do you and your local committee want to learn about “How is it like to be a neurosurgeon?” then arrange a place to meet and ask a neurosurgeon for a presentation! Gather the students… voila! Do you want to feel more competent in communicating with people with a hearing deficit and want to gain some basic sign language skills? Just an activity ahead! If you feel the need: Go for the Surgical Suturing Skills Workshop! Do you know how to perform “Basic Life Support”? If your answer is no, then it is one thing that needs to be fixed for a medical student! If your answer is yes, then the question is: how competent you are? Maybe an “Advanced Life support” is needed. The duration of events (usually a week) and topics of lectures taking place, depends on you, you and the needs of your local committee! Have you seen something that flexible before? ;-)
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Each year hundreds of medical students take part in the European exchange program Erasmus. Erasmus Medicus is a project that aims in helping medical students not only to take part in the “Erasmus” program but also to cope with the most common difficulties they might face such as different teaching and working methods, language and cultural problems or social isolation. Problems of medical exchange students are eased by various activities such as events for incoming and outgoing students, non-formal medical language trainings, distribution of informative
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ERASMUS MEDICUS (European Integration)
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handbooks etc. Last but not least events are being organized in cooperation with other youth NGOs which are active in this field.
EuroMed Mobility (European Integration) The aim of the EuroMed Mobility Project is to promote mainly via internet mobility for medical professionals and students. By offering online new and existing information on these field young doctors, junior researchers and medical students keep track of all relevant activities. Not to mention that this project enables young professionals and medical students to enrich their personal development in the context of developing a successful career.
European Students’ Stem Cell Society (Medical Science) European Students’ Stem Cell Society aims to enlighten all the students of Europe about ‘Stem Cell Research’ on both theoretical and practical base. The applications of stem cells are widespread both as a laboratory discipline and in clinical means and its being studied with an increasing rate in almost every branch of science. With their ability of high proliferation and differentiation these cells are just pushing the limits of the once called impossible. Stem cell studies are very promising for many patients with its solid data and it’s a huge multidisciplinary work field for us who are the candidates of becoming the scientists of the future. We want students to find a pathway through the stem cell world which they might get solid results. By organizing national and international congresses and symposiums ES-STEM plans to create an environment where students and lecturers can share their ideas in the highest possible level by bringing students and lecturers closer to each other.
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The aim of this project is to raise awareness of some ethical problems in medicine and get to know opinions of corresponding authorities. We will strive to organize an international event bringing to light some of the most nagging ethical issues. An alternative solution will be getting FMOs involved in arranging some activities for their students on the local level. However, by forming an international group of people working on this subject we will collect materials to facilitate the process of making those events happen locally, at many different universities. Of course, we are free to choose the leading theme of our conference! The following years will be dedicated to healthy ageing politics and underlining problems of the elderly in many societies. Medical ethics can be a wonderful and educational base for numerous discussions circulating around those subjects –
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European Week of Ethics (Medical Ethics and Culture)
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ranging from palliative care to senior leisure activities, from proper family support to dignified death.
European Week of Public Health (Public Health) A European Public Health event will be organized in the first week of April in anticipation of the World Health Day, 7 April 2012. This event will reunite the medical students in Europe that wish to organize projects and conferences on topics relating to public health such as: - Primary healthcare - Active and healthy ageing - Disease prevention - Healthy lifestyle - Health determinants - Physical activity and sport competitions
European Words (European Integration) Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a medical student in another European country? European Words is an online magazine written by and for European students, about what life is like in their home city. In this magazine, students share everything that’s important in their daily lives mainly focusing not only on their studies but also on their interests and daily activities. In this way intercultural dialogue, understanding and European integration is being promoted.
Eurotalk (European Integration) Eurotalk is an intensive language course available to all medical students of Europe. Language classes are usually combined with anamnesis exercises, team building activities and trainings in the hospital in cooperation with local students and doctors. As a result medical students manage to raze or at least lower the language barrier that is still considered as one of the greatest obstacles for mobility and integration within Europe.
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For many Erasmus students, going abroad for exchange is their first time away from home. As a consequence, temptation for experimental behavior is strong and the importance of a healthy life style is often underestimated. The Project aims to give students guidance in unfamiliar situations and to empower them to make their own (responsible) decisions. As medical students and members of EMSA family we take into consideration the students that engage exchange programs and want to provide some information for a healthier Erasmus
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Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) Healthy ERASMUS Project ((M
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experience for those adventurous traveler friends. We touch on subjects like: drug and alcohol abuse, food/diet, health care systems, insurance information, emergencies, medication, sex and many pinpoints of best practices for leading a healthy lifestyle. This aim is going to be actualized by creating an informative booklet and handbook using the expertise of medical, pharmaceutical and Erasmus students and this booklet/handbook will be distributed among all European medical faculties. This project is a joint initiative of the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA) and the Erasmus Students Network (ESN).
International Woman’s Day – 8th of March (Medical Ethics and Culture) One of the projects which actually has strongest impact around a certain point in time: March. In that month most of the efforts will be dedicated to the promotion of woman’s health issues. However, once that period is over, local teams could still be working on topics related to the more beautiful 50% of our population Our main intention is to sum-up all main health problems that most women (regardless of age) must be aware of. Due to rapidly increasing number of young mothers, a teenage pregnancy issue might be an interesting theme to evaluate. On the other hand, a growing focus on the elderly part of our societies might shed some light on the problems of cervical and breast cancer or menopausal ailments such as depression. All in all, the number of topics appears more than enormous! And they are almost shouting for attention and further investigation. PLUS - an interesting aspect would be to get many male EMSAi interested!
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The Journal of EMSA on Medical and Scientific Affairs (JEMSA) is an opportunity for young students and researchers to publish their first scientific work. A unique scientific publication and the official EMSA Journal, which enables young medical students and health professionals to publish their work and research, within the guidelines set by the EMSA Medical Science Director and JEMSA Editor-inChief. JEMSA is an open Access journal that is published online. All articles in JEMSA are reviewed by a board of professionals and students, and serious feedback is provided to the authors of the articles. This way the high quality of JEMSA is maintained. The main goal of the journal, JEMSA, is to help students spread knowledge of their own original research through publication and recruit new students to medical research and scientific inquiry. JEMSA holds a unique place in publishing European medical students' scientific articles and other papers, since the journal is edited and produced by medical students for medical students.
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Journal of EMSA on Medical and Scientific Affairs (Medical Science)
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Medical Ethics Newsletter (Medical Ethics and Culture) An extract from the last issue: www.rethinkbreastcancer.com “Haha, I promised some boobies to you, Ladies & Gents, and I will keep my word. However, those Boobies are rather dedicated to Ladies especially that they are SO SO COOOOL ;) Check’em out. What do you think of such direction of development for breast cancer campaigns? Too awkward? Or did it actually make you re-think the whole problem? One thing is sure: a totally new way to spread the message will make people go and watch those (hot/odd) videos.“ Initially the Director is in charge of the Newsletter (preparing the content as well as adding recipients). As a follow-up of the call for workgroups, the Director forms a team of students who will gradually be taking over the task of editing the newsletter. The goal is to have a varied, well-edited and interestingly served packet of news from many fields of medical ethics, fully designed by the members of the European Support Division. With the help of Director, of course.
Mental Health Day (Public Health) Mental health is a basic human right and as such the medical students of Europe will engage in projects that target social exclusion, mental health disability and mental health promotion and prevention of disorders such as depression or professional burnout particularly in the medical profession, especially surrounding the 10 October Mental Health Day.
Movies & Medicine (Medical Ethics and Culture)
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Beautiful and extremely visual way of learning medicine, which through years of practice among students has gained huge popularity. First element of a M&M meeting is showing a full-length movie which includes some medical aspects (e.g. ‘My sister’s Keeper’, ‘Patch Adams’, ‘Lorenzo’s oil’). The film should be an interesting, entertaining or a touching one – no boring stuff! After a movie session we have a heated discussion with the doctor who comments on what medical problems from his field of specialty were covered in the film. The project is a friendly fusion of leisure and studying real clinical cases. The key to its success is an old saying that we learn more quickly while having fun!
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Network of European Medical Students’ Conferences (Medical Science) NEMSC today aims to facilitate interfaculty exchange of high-potential medical and biomedical students. The winner of the NEMSC award will feature in JEMSA as an acknowledgement for the significance of this award to students across Europe and to increase participation in the following years. This network is called: Network of European Medical Students’ Conferences (NEMSC) and has the following aims: 1. To facilitate interfaculty exchange of high-potential medical and biomedical students 2. To enhance Medical Science Student Congresses in Europe by: • increasing the number of participants of individual congresses • improving the quality of the congresses by means of • setting standards for member congresses of the NEMSC • establishing joint evaluating of the congresses • organizing workshops and/or seminars for congress-organizations 3. To promote Science in Europe by informing students about research events and to establish a joint website 4. To enhance integration of medical science researchers
Patient safety (Public Health) A European opportunity to collaborate on patient law and to conduct a situational analysis on the topic of patient safety on the national and regional level so as to create projects that will be shaped based on the particularities of national legislation and the needs on the national and regional level.
Right To Research (Medical Science)
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As well as EMSA itself, science pillar Works with Right to Research Coalition to promote an open scholarly publishing system based on the belief that no student should be denied access to the articles they need because their institution cannot afford the often high cost of access. Our work is centered on two major program areas: • To advocate for policies at the campus and national level that promote Open Access by requiring that research results be made freely available in a timely manner; • To educate the next generation of scholars and researchers about Open Access so open publishing becomes the new norm.
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For these purposes EMSA Science Pillar makes researches with medical students throughout Europe about this topic and publishes studies to increase the awareness of European Medical Students about the severity of the problem and enhance them to take action.
Secret Science Club (Medical Science) The idea of the projects is to bring popular medical science to a relaxed environment and to make it accessible for the general public. A group of students is organizing lectures with a modern/popular medical science related topic and invites interesting speakers to entertain and interest the public. The location is for example a (not too crowded) bar, coffee house or castle. After the lecture there is enough time for questions and a debate with the public. By organizing these lectures medical science will be available and accessible for all European citizens. This project has its origin in Germany, where a first edition of the project has been successful. In 2009 the EMSA Secret Science Club will be organized in many other European countries
Stay Negative (Public Health) Prevention campaigns among high school students or general population that will aim to promote awareness on hepatitis and other blood or sexually transmitted diseases.
Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) Teddy Bear Hospital - TBH - ((M
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We’ve all been children. In our little innocent worlds we had fears. Some of us were afraid from darkness others from thunders. Another group was afraid from the “white coated people”. In Teddy Bear Hospital Project our goal is to help children overcome their white coat anxiety. This is a community-based project run by medical students and has benefited thousands of primary school children, in the past few years. The highlight is a consultation between special Teddy Bear Doctors (clinical medical students) and the child, where the “sick” teddy can be treated. The ultimate aim is to help young children overcome their “White Coat Anxiety” in going and talking to the doctor. This year, by the valuable cooperation of European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA), Teddy Bear Hospital will also be in great importance bringing medical and pharmaceutical students together.
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The Festival of Culture (Medical Ethics and Culture) A younger brother of Cultural Injection and an alternative for those not ready to launch a full-time CI project. How? First, contact all groups of amateur musicians, photographers and actors at your medical faculty. Choir, drama club, orchestra – release a call for cooperation! Next? Prepare a fullday event where those students will be able to meet and perform together, one next to another. A collision of art and medicine always brings some unexpected and thrilling results! Moreover, your agenda might include lectures on topics such as influence of music on brain and its application in many therapies. Maybe you manage to invite a famous medical celebrity to held this for you? How great would that be!
The Little Sanitarians (Public Health) A project that engages medical students in the act of teaching primary school children basic sanitary education principles such as hygiene, anatomy and physiology, first aid, nutrition, anti-tobacco, environment, physical activity and rest, road safety and abuse and violence.
The Pathway of Science (Medical Science) This Project aims to make every and each faculty member office of EMSA to gain a local science group that will organize scientific events. The local science group should organize journal clubs, seminars, symposiums, scientific discussion hours and scientific courses to allow medical students develop their knowledge and skills about medical science.
Twinning Project (European Integration)
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Twinning Project is a bilateral exchange of 15-20 medical students between two European universities for around one week in each university which involves both educational and social program for the participants. Incoming students stay at their “Twins” and experience a huge bunch of social and educational program that offer them a full overview of student life in the hosting city. Hence, strong bonds are being created among students or taking it a step further between two European universities and thus increasing mutual understanding and promoting European integration.
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Vaccines and Immunization (Public Health) Awareness and public health campaigns on hepatitis vaccination for medical students and medical professionals in general. The project can include a scientific part that would consist in the mapping of relevant vaccination needs in the region.
Meeddiiccaall EEdduuccaattiioonn)) World AIDS Day Activities ((M
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On December 1st, World AIDS Day, medical students all over Europe act to raise awareness through numerous activities, such as interactive lectures, peer education, exhibitions, distribution of condoms and pamphlets, flash mobs, charity concerts, candle-lighting in squares etc. Through all this work, EMSA aims to raise awareness amongst the target group, talk openly about prevention, safe sex, puberty and growing up, protecting unwanted pregnancy and anything related. Medical students do not only visit teenagers in schools but also other youth groups. The projects are a little different in each country, but mostly have the same basis: interactive methods to get people involved and to get them thinking, The focus is on talking and communication without giving long lectures and the whole session should be as much fun and (inter-)action as possible. Often EMSA’s local faculty member organizations (FMOs) cooperate with similar local, national and international institutions and NGOs, active in the same field, such as UNAIDS, Act-Up, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of different European countries, local authorities etc. So, we have given you some information about Medical Education projects. Are you excited? Get involved, join and be a part of our shiny “European Support Division and act on European Level!
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