FridaJudithMaciasTapia& EneidaCarolinaNúñezRodríguez

2024364d@umich.mx, 1648666a@umich.mx

Ammefmexico

FacultyofMedicalandBiologicalSciences "Dr.IgnacioChávez"

Around the world, there are many differences between each country: culture, religion, economy, politics, language, education and of course, health systems.

IFMSA Exchanges are a great opportunity to expand our perspective, this influence in our knowledge about health systems and how medicine is practiced in other places so this way we can analyze advantages and disadvantages, based on this, students could implement new ideas, technologies and strategies for their countries they are from. Absolutely, this method will improve personal and professional growth Also, practicing languages like English and some others (like French, Italian, German, Spanish, etc.) are important aspects we should promote.

We have been involucrated in SCOPE exchanges because we are contact persons. We believe that our role is very important for all incomings that arrive each month because exchange students need support when they arrive, they need to manage the cultural impact in a correct manner and something we must remember is they don’t know anyone in the new place they arrive, their families are not with them and they need to feel comfortable.

Our role as contact persons has opened our perspective, we had met many people from different countries around the world and it had been relevant for our development. It is amazing to meet new people, personalities, ideas, points of view, methods and empathize with that. In addition, having this knowledge sharing must help to implement a broader educational system with updated ideas and new methods that will support different procedures. Some places in the world have the most recent medical theory, but others are more advance at practice, if we join both and analyze each one, as medical students and professionals we can have a better and a complete education.

There are not only academic benefits, we also believe that being part of this group of contact persons and exchange programs will influence in a positive way to our careers and to the society (everybody at any moment of life require some medical service). That’s why we want to include more students to this association We totally agree that the main objective of IFMSA exchanges is share new knowledge, compare it and this way we would learn a lot from both parts, work as a team with our future colleagues and in consequence improve the healthcare and medical education for next generations.

An Exchange Student’s Apology

Why should I go on an exchange program when I plan to practice medicine in my home country? In a world where all humans seem to be connected via electronic means, are exchange programs really necessary? As G. H. Hardy presented an apology for Mathematics in his phenomenal book "A Mathematician's Apology", I will attempt to propose an apology for medical student exchange programs. I ask the readers to be patient as, being a SCOPEnguin, I am bound to show bias towards the IFMSA programs

From dealing with global health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic to fighting infectious diseases in underserved communities, the field of medicine is one that brings humanity to a common ground. After all, the eight billion humans on this planet all share one quality: the quality of being human Since medicine is a field that is truly global, medical students must acquire the skillset needed to become culturally sensitive and competent physicians capable of dealing with global health problems.

With hands-on experience working under novel conditions in a different country, medical students learn about the various approaches to healthcare and gain exposure to patients experiencing illnesses that they may not encounter in their home countries; this allows them to become more confident in their clinical skills and learn how to adapt to new situations. Moreover, exchange programs help cultivate openness, and tolerance in medical students by creating room for dialogue about the similarities and differences in healthcare provision encountered in different systems.

Being a great networking opportunity, exchange programs also set the stage for future collaboration between medical students for addressing important public health problems; getting involved in public health initiatives during the programs can be a great way for students to get inspired to take action both during and after the program.

With the importance of exchange programs having been established, the question arises: why choose IFMSA? The answer lies in the high quality of the exchange experience. Endorsed by organizations such as the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), the SCOPE exchanges are a cost-effective way of gaining exposure to different healthcare systems Exchange students are facilitated by local students and trained by a mentor or physician supervisor and receive an official certificate as well as credits from their home university upon successful completion of the program Moreover, the programs are well-organized with a unique blend of educational and social activities that offer an experience of a lifetime, especially to travel enthusiasts who are eager to explore new places, learn about new cultures and possibly even pick up a new language!

Whether you plan to practice in your home country or abroad (it is possible that you may decide to do so after your exchange experience!), IFMSA exchange programs are a great learning experience that is conducive to both your personal and professional development.