swimsa Journal Edition 22 - FS23

Head of Journal

Bansi Butani | Journal Coordinator

Erica Piccinni | Vice-President for Communication 2022 - 2023

Publisher

Swiss Medical Students’ Association swimsa

3011 Bern www.swimsa.ch

Contacts General | contact@swimsa.ch

Publications | vpc@swimsa.ch

Front side picture

The beautiful city of Bern by Rudy Balasko from Getty Images

© Portions of the NJSMS may be reproduced for non-political and non-profit purposes mentioning the source provided. Notice | swimsa cannot accept any liability. The opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of swimsa. Some of the photos and graphics used in articles are property of the authors. We have taken every consideration not to violate their rights.

AGENDA

March 24-26, 2023

April 10-14, 2023

May 6, 2023

SMSC in Bern"Precision Medicine"

EuRegMe 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DV/AD Geneva

August, 2023 IFMSA August Meeting 2023, Ivory Coast

WHAT IS SWIMSA?

The Swiss Medical Students’ Association (swimsa) commits itself to creating a sustainable, healthy society and motivates medical students through innovative engagement to become better doctors.

swimsa is the voice of over 10,000 medical students by the membership of eleven medical students’ associations, represented on a national level via seats in health organizations such as the FMH and the BAG/ OFSP, as well as on an international level as part of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA).

With currently 21 associated members, swimsa helps to shape public health – by teaching sex education in highschools, destigmatizing mental health or working in developing countries. Additionally, swimsa enables students to complete international exchanges in clinical (SCOPE) as well as in research (SCORE) fields.

With the Commission on Medical Education, swimsa plays an active role in shaping medical education in Switzerland and is aspiring to be the link between education and work, students and professionals, across all fields of health care.

Twice a year, swimsa organizes the Swiss Medical Students’ Convention (SMSC), which brings together over 400 Swiss medical students from all universities and allows them to network and bond over interesting subjects.

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD

President

The President is the heart of the executive board, coordinates swimsa internally and represents swimsa to the external partners.

Vice President for Communication

The VPC is in charge of swimsa’s representation on social media, the website, the newsletter (swimsagram) and the swimsa journal.

Erica Piccinni | Lugano vpc@swimsa.ch

Vice President for Exchanges

The VPX is the head of the Exchanges Team within swimsa and represents swimsa Exchanges internationally within the IFMSA.

Aline Pinto Monteiro | Zürich vpx@swimsa.ch

General Secretary

The General Secretary is the backbone of swimsa, the first contact person on any swimsa question and in charge of administrative tasks

Jakub Novotny | Lugano president@swimsa.ch

Faizan Kareem | Zürich gs@swimsa.ch

Vice President for Education

The VPA is the head of the Commission on Medical Education [AK/ CoFo], which discusses topics related to medical education, decides on measures and writes swimsa’s official statements.

Luca Siragusa | Lucerne vpa@swimsa.ch

Vice President for Internal Affairs

The VPI has an open ear for the members of swimsa, be it local committee or project, and supports them in their needs.

Danaé

vpi@swimsa.ch

Vice President for External Affairs

The VPE represents swimsa towards our external partners and sponsors, and is in charge of networking.

Chloé Rosenfeld | Lausanne vpe@swimsa.ch

Treasurer

The Treasurer manages swimsa’s finances, and is in charge of the swimsa Fonds, from which members can receive money in order to accomplish their vision!

Annina Biri | Zürich treasurer@swimsa.ch

Vice President for Global Affairs

The VPG connects swimsa to the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations) and is responsible for Capacity Building.

Sven

vpg@swimsa.ch

Bucher | Lausanne

Stalder | Zürich

THE SWIMSA INTERNALS

Thank you all for your amazing work!

Supervising Council

The SVC oversees the work of the executive board and makes sure the bylaws are being adhered to.

Rahel Laager

svc@swimsa.ch

NATIONAL OFFICERS

NEO-In: National Exchange Officer for Incomings

The NEO-In checks the applications of international students who want to do a professional exchange in Switzerland and distributes them to the local committees.

Ana Zimmerman

neo.in@swimsa.ch

NEO-Out: National Exchange Officer for Outgoings

The NEO-Out coordinates all international clinical exchanges for Swiss medical students going abroad.

Boya Zhang neo.out@swimsa.ch

NORA: National Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS

The NORA connects projects and members within swimsa working on Sexual Health with each other and with empowering international opportunities in this field.

Kevin Brunold nora@swimsa.ch

NORE: National Officer on Research Exchange

The NORE is responsible for the research exchange in Switzerland and coordinates the exchanges of Incomings and Outgoings.

Jan Theiler

nore@swimsa.ch

The NPO represents swimsa, its projects and commitments in the area of Public Health on a national and international level.

NPO: National Public Health Officer Khalid Azalmad npo@swimsa.ch

NORP: National Officer on Human rights and Peace

The NORP represents swimsa, its projects and commitments in the area of Human Rights and Peace on a national and international level.

NOCB: National Officer on Capacity Building

The NOCB is responsible for the training activities swimsa provides to its internals and members and represents the link in this area to the IFMSA.

Sumanie Gächter nocb@swimsa.ch

Pascale Meyer norp@swimsa.ch

THE SWIMSA INTERNALS

Coordinators and Liasion Officers

Legal Council

Our Legal Counsel is here to support the EB with legal advice where needed.

Benedict von Allmen legal@swimsa.ch

Journal Coordinator

Hi, that's me! The Journal Coordinator is responsible for putting together the bi-annual swimsa journal, highlighting the events of the year, as well as collecting articles showing new and unique information.

Bansi Butani journal@swimsa.ch

Website Coordinators

The website coordinators are responsible for the swimsa website (www.swimsa.ch) and keeping it up-to-date with the latest information about upcoming events and is the to-go spot for any information you may require about the activities of swimsa. It is also currently being translated to other languages for more accessibility.

Clémence Aellen

website.coordinator@swimsa.ch

Diego Hack website.translator@swimsa.ch

LO-FMH: Liasion Officer FMH

The FMH is the association of swiss doctors, which gathers representatives of cantons and all medical specialties. The LO-FMH attends the “Ärztekammer”/”Chambre médicale” twice a year and represents swimsa’s views.

Marc Reynaud de la Jara fmh@swimsa.ch

LO-BAG: Liasion Officer BAG/OFSP

The LO-BAG/OFSP represents swimsa’s views and can vote on behalf of swimsa in the plattform “Zukunft ärztliche Bildung/Avenir de la formation médicale”, which collects all stakeholders in medical education four times a year.

Lara Serban bag@swimsa.ch

LO-vsao/asmac: Liasion Officer vsao/asmac

The LO-vsao/asmac represents swimsa’s views and can vote on behalf of swimsa in the monthly “Geschäftsausschluss/Comité directeur” and the bi-annual “Zentralvorstand/Comité central” in the vsao, which is the organisation representing the “Assistenzärzt:-innen and Oberärzt:innen/médecins assistant(e)s et chef(fe)s de clinique”.

Clara Ehrenzeller vsao@swimsa.ch

LO-MeBeKo: Liasion Officer MeBeKo

The LO-MeBeKo represents swimsa’s views and can vote on behalf of swimsa in the extraparliamentary Commission of the BAG/OFSP, which mainly discusses the recognition of foreign diplomas as well as the federal licensing exam four times a year.

mebeko@swimsa.ch

LO-WHO: Liasion Officer WHO

Since a few years swimsa has a Liasion Officer who represents our organisation at the World Health Organization (WHO) assemblies.

Valeria Scheiwiller vss@swimsa.ch

THE SWIMSA INTERNALS

Exchanges Coordinators

NEO-In Assistant

The NEO-In Assistant supports the NEO-In in coordinating the international students coming to Switzerland for an exchange (SCOPE Exchanges).

Catalina Nierlich

neo-in@swimsa.ch

NEO-Out Assistant

The NEO-Out Assistant supports the NEO-Out in coordinating international clinical exchanges for Swiss medical students.

Jennifer To neo.out@swimsa.ch

NORE Assistant

The NORE-Assistant supports the NORE in coordinating the international students coming to Switzerland for an exchange (SCORE Exchanges).

Diogo Zimmermann

nore@swimsa.ch

National Exchanges Treasurer

The National Exchanges Treasurer manages the finances of Exchanges in collaboration with the VPX.

Martina Schuppisser treasurer.exchanges@swimsa.ch

Third State Coordinator

The “Third-State-Coordinator” is responsible for providing invitation letters to non-EU medical students who want to work in Swiss hospitals.

Elena Truetsch

drittstaaten.students@swimsa.ch

LETTER FROM THE VPC AND JOURNAL COORDINATOR

Cari/e studenti/esse, Salut à tout le monde, liebe Leser:innen,

Dear readers,

As two students studying Medicine in the 4th year at Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, we tend to reminisce on our journey through studying Medicine. When we look back on the day we took the Numerus Clausus, little did we know that four years later we would write a letter together for our fellow students and that we would have the opportunity to gather so many treasured experiences with swimsa.

Given a chance to talk to our versions of the past, standing on the cusp of starting this new journey there are so many things we'd like to say - things that could make their lives easier, and maybe also a few nuggets to make your experience more enjoyable as well. For instance, life is not only about sitting in front of a book and on the computer and studying from dusk till dawn, but also about having experiences outside the safe space that the university represents. It also entails getting out of our comfort zone and making our comfort zone bigger with new experiences, such that when we step out into the world, our comfort zone is bigger than ever. To our stressed and exhausted selves from exams past, we'd also say that it is normal to feel this way sometimes, even if our dreams have come true and we are finally studying medicine, since these emotions are also a part of the spectrum of our emotions, and it's alright to always seek help.

Most of all, we would tell ourselves to be engaged in an association in which we believe in and are passionate about, may it be swimsa or any of the other infinite existing associations, and to pour our hearts into it because no matter how trying it can be at times, at the end of the day you will be proud of the version of yourself looking back at you in the mirror.

Medicine is tiring and exciting and a bundle of emotions all at once, but it is also not only about the final destination, no matter how exciting it seems, but also about the journey getting there and cherishing it.

Yours truly,

Erica Piccinni | Vice President of Communication (VPC) 22/23

Bansi Butani | Journal Coordinator

FOCUS:

PRECISION MEDICINE

SMSC MEETS PRECISION MEDICINE

Lea Wahl, Head of Public Relations SMSC Bern | University of Bern

Florin Kalberer, President SMSC Bern | University of Bern

The Swiss Medical Student’s Convention (SMSC) held this semester, from 24th March - 26th March 2023, was all about precision medicine.

What is Precision Medicine?

Precision medicine is a new paradigm of medical care. It assumes that every person is unique and that these individual patient characteristics should also reflect in therapy planning. Thus, therapies depend not only on disease patterns but also on genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle.

Who can we learn from?

It was Prof. Dr. Mark Rubin, who explored the concepts of precision medicine with the participants in the first lecture of the congress.

"Introduction to Precision Medicine" by Prof. Dr. Mark Rubin

Prof. Rubin is an expert and renowned researcher in the field of precision medicine, especially precision oncology. He is the founding director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, and co-leader of the All of Us program for New York City (U.S. National Precision Medicine Program). In Bern, he is the chairman of the Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM), whose mission is to lead towards new approaches in disease prevention, treatment and drug development and to educate the next generation caretakers and scientists about the long-term benefits of precision health care.

The OC of the SMSC Bern 2023

Following the lecture of Prof. Rubin, we received interesting inputs from Dr. Anne Gregor about her speciality “precision medicine and rare diseases”. Her research project „Modelling LHX2associated neurodevelopmental disorder in human brain organoids“ was one of the winning projects in the BCPM Young Investigator project call. Additionally, she is the co-leader of the Female Empowerment in Life Science (FELS) Network of the medical faculty at the University of Bern.

We furthermore had the opportunity to listen to Prof. Dr. Andrew MacPherson about his research project „personalized mutualism with our microbiota in health and disease“. Prof. MacPherson is the Clinic Director and Chief Physician of Gastroenterology at the University of Bern and leads the Gastroenterology/Mucosal Immunology Research Group in the Department for Biomedical Research at the Inselspital Bern. Also, he is a member of the Scientific Review Board of the BCPM.

"Precision Medicine and Rare Diseases" by Dr.rer.nat. Anne Gregor

„Personalised mutualism with our microbiota in health and disease“ by Prof. Dr.med. Andrew MacPherson

To sum up our first morning at the SMSC in Bern we heard a talk from Prof. Dr. Deborah Stroka. After her studies in New York and Boston and her PhD and Post-Doc at Harvard Medical School, at University of Zürich and at University of Alabama at Birmingham, Prof. Stroka is now the Research Laboratory Head and Group Leader of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery at the Department of BioMedical Research of the University of Bern. Her research project „Single cell analysis for non-invasive biomarker discovery for NASH patients using both protein and transcriptome analysis“ was selected for funding in the project call of the BCPM.

After an intense workshop session at the beginning of the afternoon we finished our Saturday programme with a slightly different perspective on the big topic of precision medicine. Dr. Sabine Österle gave us some insights into her field of work - „Swiss Personalized Health Network: from clinical routine data to FAIR research data“. Dr. Österle is a lecturer in the Ethical and Legal Aspects in the Clinical Trials course at the European Center of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM). Since 2018 she works in the Personalized Health Informatics group of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) where she is the Team Leader of Data Interoperability. In close collaboration with the SIB, the Swiss Personalised Health Network (SPHN) Management office coordinates SPHN project funding and together, they enable the development of coordinated infrastructures, data interoperability, compatible data management systems and harmonized guidelines, much needed for the practical implementation of precision medicine.

"Precision Medicine in Visceral Surgery" by Dr.rer.nat. Deborah Stroka

"Swiss Personalized Health Network: from clinical routine data to FAIR research data" by Dr.sc. Sabine Österle

A look into the future?

Our society continues to face a demographic shift with an increase in the elderly and multimorbid populations. At the same time, biotechnological research is producing more and more new and expensive therapeutic options that promise better and more targeted treatment of disease and its risk factors. This progress is further accelerated by the widespread use of molecular analysis methods on genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic basis - which in turn keeps creating a vast amount of sensitive data. In order for the future generation of physicians and researchers - our generation - to successfully master the challenges proposed by this development, we need a solid foundation of values supported by society as a guideline for action. And this foundation of values can only be formed in participatory discourse.

That is why our congress on precision medicine invited representatives from clinical practice, research, ethics, law and politics and the interfaces of these fields to explore the following questions and many more in a thought-provoking panel discussion:

• What do we really mean by the term “precision medicine”?

• What characteristics distinguish modern precision medicine from personalized patient care that is already performed in clinical routine?

• With targeted therapies and rigorous stratification, the number of potential patients for clinical trial groups decreases. Can we still create statistically relevant conclusions with fewer patients?

• What about genetic privacy: Is it desirable to fully anonymise valuable genetic and other sensitive data in order to protect patients’ privacy, but instead hinder medical research progress? Is this even possible?

• Is precision medicine able to omit unnecessary therapy? Or does it add high-tech therapy to standard therapy causing even more costs?

• Are precision medicine drugs profitable for pharmaceutical companies despite their small target group?

• Is it fair and economically reasonable to invest significant parts of the federal and cantonal budget in precision medicine and not in other areas?

• Which factors decide who receives precision medicine therapy? Can we - or do we want toeven afford the development of future precision medicine patient care for our society?

This SMSC was organized jointly with the Bern Center for Precision Medicine - BCPM of the University of Bern and the Inselspital.

EDUCATION

The Committee on Medical Education is the democratic body of swimsa that deals with all issues concerning the education of medical students. It ensures that the opinion of Swiss medical students is carried into the relevant bodies and strives to represent the interests of students wherever this is desirable.

Would you like more information or would you like to join us? Contact our Vice-President for Education at vpa@swimsa.ch

Die Ausbildungskommission ist das demokratische Organ der swimsa, welches sich mit allen Fragen beschäftigt, welche die Ausbildung der Medizinstudierenden betreffen. Sie sorgt dafür, dass die Meinung der Schweizer Medizinstudierenden in die relevanten Gremien getragen wird und ist bestrebt, die Interessen der Studierenden überall dort zu vertreten, wo dies wünschenswert ist.

Möchtest du mehr Informationen oder ebenfalls mitmachen? Kontaktiere unseren Vize-Präsidenten für Ausbildung (vpa@swimsa.ch).

La Commission de la formation est l'organe de la swimsa qui s'occupe de toutes les questions concernant la formation des étudiant∙e∙s en médecine. Elle assure que l'opinion des étudiant∙e∙s en médecine dans les universités suisses est portée à la connaissance de tous les comités et s'efforce de représenter les intérêts des étudiant∙e∙s au mieux.

Tu as besoin de plus d’informations ou tu veux participer? Alors contactes la vice-présidente pour l’éducation (vpa@swimsa.ch).

FMHDYNAMIK ALS CHANCE

Dass sich die ärztlichen Arbeitsbedingungen verändern müssen, rückt immer mehr ins öffentliche Bewusstsein. Diese Entwicklung ist eine Chance –wenn wir sie mitgestalten.

Anmeldung:

Ich hoffe, die Schlagzeilen der letzten Zeit haben Ihnen nicht die Lust auf Ihren Beruf verdorben: Assistenzärzte am Limit, Hausärztinnen vor dem Burnout, Chirurgen, die nonstop operieren müssen. Zweifel am Medizinstudium wären da verständlich.

Die meisten von Ihnen dürften aber schon lange wissen, wie Ärzte und Ärztinnen seit Jahrzehnten arbeiten. Dann sehen Sie auch, dass wir aktuell keineswegs «den Niedergang eines Berufsstandes» erleben, wie es die NZZ schrieb. Im Gegenteil, wir erleben gerade einen grossen Erfolg: Endlich werden die schwierigen Arbeitsbedingungen insbesondere der Assistenzärzte in der breiten Öffentlichkeit als Problem anerkannt. Auf die Einhaltung des Arbeitsgesetzes zu pochen, gilt endlich nicht mehr als Wehleidigkeit unmotivierter Underachiever, sondern als berechtigte Forderung einer neuen, selbstbewussteren Ärztegeneration. Auch die überbordende Administration im Gesundheitswesen wird immer weniger als notwendiges Übel betrachtet, sondern zunehmend als ernstes Problem wahrgenommen. Diese Entwicklungen sind auch das Ergebnis jahrelanger Arbeit der Standesorganisationen wie des VSAO und der FMH – und wichtig, um die Arbeitsbedingungen der Zukunft zu verbessern.

Ihr Berufsleben beginnt in einer Zeit des Wandels: Ihre Generation, für die Selbstfürsorge zum Glück kein Fremdwort mehr ist, wird die Babyboomer ablösen und frischen Wind in die Spitäler tragen. Sie werden nicht nur eine bessere Work-Life-Balance als neue Normalität etablieren. Auch die anstehenden grossen Finanzierungs- und Tarifreformen, neue Formen der Zusammenarbeit, veränderte Versorgungsstrukturen und die Digitalisierung werden ihren Berufsalltag prägen. In diesen Veränderungen liegen grosse Chancen – wenn wir sie mitgestalten und uns dafür organisieren.

Dank der standespolitischen Arbeit der Ärzteschaft erleben wir gerade einen grossen Erfolg!

Zweifeln Sie darum bitte nicht an diesem wunderbaren Beruf – gestalten Sie seine Zukunft!

Dr. med. Yvonne Gilli, Präsidentin

FMH

Nach dem Bachelorabschluss können Medizinstudierende der FMH gebührenfrei beitreten: Die Studierenden-Mitgliedschaft ist unter anderem verbunden mit einem kostenlosen Abonnement der Weiterbildungszeitschrift Swiss Medical Forum und der Schweizerischen Ärztezeitung.

www.fmh.ch

LA DYNAMIQUE ACTUELLE EST UNE CHANCE

L’opinion publique semble plus en plus consciente du fait que les conditions pour exercer lamédecine doivent changer. C’est une belle opportunité, pour autant que nous sachions la saisir.

Les étudiants en médecine peuvent s’affilier gratuitement à la FMH après le bachelor et bénéficier entre autres d’un abonnement gratuit au Swiss Medical Forum et au Bulletin des médecins suisses.

Pour s’inscrire: www.fmh.ch.

J’espère que les titres des journaux que vous avez pu lire ces derniers temps n’ont pas émoussé votre motivation : médecins-assistant-e-s au bord de l’épuisement, médecins de famille au bout du rouleau, chirurgiens qui doivent opérer sans relâche. On pourrait comprendre que vous ayez des doutes.

Mais la plupart d’entre vous sait déjà comment les médecins exercent depuis des décennies. Vous avez donc aussi remarqué que nous sommes loin du « déclin d’une profession », annoncé par la NZZ. Nous vivons au contraire notre heure de gloire: les conditions de travail difficiles, en particulier celles des médecins-assistants, sont enfin remontées jusqu’aux oreilles du grand public. Exiger le respect de la loi sur le travail n’est plus le lot de médecins démotivés et moins performants, qui ne font que se plaindre, mais l’affirmation d’une nouvelle génération plus sûre d’elle qui exprime une revendication légitime. De la même manière, la surcharge de travail administratif, de moins en moins perçue comme un mal nécessaire, est en passe d’être considérée comme un sérieux problème. Cet évolution et cette prise de conscience sont aussi le fruit du travail de longue haleine - et important - accompli par les organisations professionnelles que sont l’ASMAC et la FMH pour améliorer les conditions de travail. Votre vie professionnelle commence dans une période marquée par les changements : votre génération, pour laquelle prendre soin de soi va heureusement de soi, va succéder aux baby-boomers et apporter un vent de renouveau dans les hôpitaux. Vous n’allez pas seulement établir un meilleur équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée, mais serez également confrontés aux grandes réformes des tarifs et du financement des prestations, aux nouvelles formes de collaboration, à des structures de soins modifiées et à la numérisation du système de santé. Ces changements offrent de belles opportunités, à condition que nous sachions les saisir et nous organiser en conséquence. Ne doutez donc pas de cette magnifique profession, mais aidez-nous à façonner son avenir !

Grâce à la politique professionnelle du corps médical, nous vivons une période de grand changement !

Ne doutez donc pas de cette magnifique profession, mais aidez-nous à façonner son avenir !

Dr méd. Yvonne Gilli, Présidente de la FMH

www.fmh.ch

info@fmh.ch

+41 31 359 11 11

IS THERE AN END IN SIGHT REGARDING THE PRACTICALYEAR-PRESSURE?

Text: Matias Jacomet | NOME 2022/2023

The practical year (dt. “Wahlstudienjahr”, fr. “anné de stages”, it. “anno di stage”) is a part of Swiss medical education many students are looking forward to: Not only does it give the possibility to gain a lot of hands-on clinical experience in the various fields of medicine, it is also an important “reality-check” regarding everyday working conditions and differences between hospitals and also between specialties. Many students hope to gain clarity during this year, regarding which path their future career as a medical professional should take. As interests vary between students according to their personal strengths, ambitions and other preferences, having the liberty to organise the practical year individually and without many requirements is generally appreciated.

Unfavourable trends for students and hospitals

However, there also seems to be downsides to the application process. Some local students associations noticed that medical students started to apply earlier and earlier in their medical studies for practical year spots. Some

students confirmed that they already applied for positions during their first and second year of medical education. It’s worth noticing that some faculties haven’t covered a lot (if any) of their clinical courses and lectures at this point in their curriculum. In reaction to that, peers of those students start to fear missing out on presumably desirable spots and start to apply as well, even though they are often not sure if they are actually interested in that particular specialty or that particular spot.

Other unfavourable phenomena arising from this trend are “double-bookings” (students applying for multiple spots for the same time period with the intent to cancel the least interesting spot at a later point) and other short-noticed cancellations of spots that are not interesting to the student by the time the practical year takes place. Although cancellations can sometimes not be avoided for various reasons, double-bookings are likely avoidable, if students would not feel pressured to apply so soon and would have enough time to figure out what they really want to see.

Needless to say, this situation leads to additional and unnecessary administrative burden for the hospitals/clinics as well as increased planning insecurity, especially in hospitals that have to rely on the work of the practical year students. As a result, some hospitals have introduced measures against such behaviours.

How big is the problem?

To find out if the points described above are really trends happening or only rumours of single cases, the commission on medical education (AK/ CoFo) conducted a national survey last autumn. There were 923 participants from all Swiss medical faculties and all study years. The following conclusions were drawn:

1. Students feel increasingly peerpressured to apply for spots early in their studies.

This was shown by the fact that 34% of the 1st year and 66% of the 2nd year students indicated that

they experience such pressure (Please notice, that the survey was conducted at the beginning of the study year and numbers can still increase during the ongoing year). Luckily, only a few students also indicated to already having booked spots during their first and second year. The majority of students seem to apply for their first spot in the course of the 3rd study year.

2. Students apply “blindly” for disciplines not yet covered in their studies and in which they have lost interest by the time of their practical year.

409 of the surveyed students (44%) admitted that the spots they applied for were not yet covered during their education. Further a substantial number of students (n = 288) indicated regretting booking a spot even before they started the internship. The main reasons for this were 1) not enough time left to see other specialties (n = 94) and 2) no longer being interested in the specialty (n = 87).

3. Students start “hoarding” spots, causing administrative burden and planning insecurity for the healthcare institutions and blocking spots for other interested students.

The results luckily showed that only a minority of students participate in such behaviours: There were 105 participants (14%) indicating to have one or more double-bookings and 151 participants (20%) that had to cancel a spot. Nevertheless, both situations have a negative impact on hospitals as well as on the students.

Subjective pressure to apply for practical year spots experienced by students according to their study year

How could the situation be improved?

The results of the survey seem to support the impression that there are negative trends taking place at the moment due to the current application process. On a closer look it seems that those situations are emerging from hoard-behaviour due to the fear of missing out and could be solved, if students would no longer be afraid of being too late to apply for desirable positions.

One possible solution to this is the introduction of a time-limitation for the application process, meaning that there would be a national starting point from which students can apply for practical year spots. The student’s opinion regarding such a solution was clearly shown in the survey:

The vast majority of students (n = 829; close to 90%!) is supporting the introduction of a time-limitation for practical year applications.

The preferred time-limitations were one year before the spot takes place (n = 319) or after reaching the bachelor’s degree (n = 208). However, both options have advantages and disadvantages,

especially since there are substantial differences between the medical curricula in Switzerland (e.g. the practical year doesn’t take place at the same time at all faculties).

To reach an optimal solution which takes into account all those differences and other relevant factors of the application process, there have been discussions with student delegates from all faculties and the local associations have been included in the decision process as well. We strive to find an ideal solution and to present this to the deans of the Swiss medical faculties in March, hoping to gain the support of the universities for this endeavour. If we’re able to find such a time-limitation, the goal is to propose a change in the application process to all the healthcare institutions involved in the practical year in the course of this spring/summer and hopefully improve the student’s situation in doing so.

If you want to know more about the project, do not hesitate to reach out to nome@swimsa.ch

Preferences regarding the introduction of a time-limitation to apply for a practical year spot

Der vsao setzt sich für die Anliegen von angestellten Ärztinnen und Ärzten, insbesondere von Assistenz- und Oberärztinnen und -ärzten ein, auf nationaler Ebene und mit den 16 regionalen Sektionen auch in den Kantonen.

Mit rund 22’000 Mitgliedern ist der vsao die grösste Basisorganisation der FMH. Wir vertreten die Interessen der jungen Ärztinnen und Ärzte innerhalb der FMH.

Zu unseren wichtigsten Zielen zählen die bessere Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Privatleben, die Förderung von Teilzeitarbeit, zeitgemässe Arbeitsbedingungen an Spitälern (dazu gehört auch die 42 + 4 Stunden-Woche), eine qualitativ hochwertige und finanzierbare Weiterbildung für Ärztinnen und Ärzte und gute Bedingungen für Medizinstudierende.

Medizinstudierende zahlen im vsao keinen Mitgliederbeitrag, profitieren aber voll von allen Dienstleistungen wie zum Beispiel:

• kostenlose Beratung durch unsere Sektionsjuristinnen und -juristen

• Laufbahnplanung: kostenlose Teilnahme am medifuture–Kongres

• Kostenloses Telefoncoaching durch die Fachstelle UND zu beruflichen und familiären/privaten Frage

• aktuelle Informationen zu wichtigen vsao-Themen: Website, Newsletter, vsao-Journal

• unser politischer Einsatz für Ärzteschaft und Medizinstudierende

• attraktive Versicherungen bei mediservice vsao-asma

Jetzt auf vsao.ch Mitglied werden!

ADHÉREZ GRATUITEMENT À L’ASMAC

L’asmac s’engage pour la défense des intérêts des médecins employés, en particulier des médecins-assistant(e)s et chef(fe)s de clinique, au niveau national et, avec ses 16 sections régionales, également dans les cantons.

Avec près de 22 000 membres, l’asmac est la plus grande organisation de base de la FMH. Nous représentons les intérêts des jeunes médecins au sein de la FMH.

Parmi nos principaux objectifs figurent une meilleure compatibilité entre profession et vie privée, la promotion du travail à temps partiel, des conditions de travail modernes dans les hôpitaux (dont la semaine de 42 + 4 heures), une formation postgraduée de qualité et finançable pour les médecins et de bonnes conditions pour les étudiant(e)s en médecine.

Les étudiant(e)s en médecine ne paient pas de cotisation à l’asmac, mais profitent pleinement de toutes les prestations, telles que:

• Conseil juridique gratuit par nos juristes des sections

• Planification de carrière: participation gratuite au congrès medifuture

• Coaching téléphonique gratuit avec le bureau UND relatif à la situation professionnelle et familiale/privée

• Informations actuelles sur les thèmes importants de l’asmac: site web, newsletter, Journal asmac

• Notre engagement politique en faveur du corps médical et des étudiant(e)s en médecine

• Assurances attractives chez mediservice vsao-asmac

CREATING RACISM-CRITICAL SPACES

In October 2022, two workshops and a lecture called "Rassismuskritische Räume schaffen" took place at the University of Basel with medical students from different universities. Gina Vega, M.A. Ethnology & Sociology and head of the Fachstelle Diskriminierung und Rassismus and "Beratungsnetz für Rassismusopfer" (counselling network for victims of racism), took us on an exciting, important and instructive examination of ourselves and our own racist thought patterns.

We reflected on our very privileged positions, confronted everyday racism and exchanged ideas about teaching points in medical school, as well as how and what we had (not) learned in university on these topics.

Why is this important?

Medical teaching is shaped by generations of White researchers. It is shaped by colonial heritage, medical products geared towards EuroAmerican patients and doctors who experience and practice structural racism in everyday life. As a result, BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) experience worse medical treatment. A study has shown that residents are less likely to treat Black people presenting to the Emergency Department with an acute coronary syndrome (partial occlusion of the heart vessels) adequately due to implicit preferences and stereotypes. BIPoC patients presenting with headache are further more more likely to be treated with painkillers (despite reporting higher pain levels during triage) than White patients who were significantly more likely to receive a head CT scan or neurology consult. Another study from the US shows that the risk of pregnancy-related death is

1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17594129/

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35905601/

3 https://www.uptodate.com/contents/racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-obstetric-and-gynecologic-care-and-role-of-impli cit-biases?search=racial%20bias&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~97&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

4 e.g. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30544245/

Matias Jacomet | NOME 2022/2023 Florin Kalberer, President SMSC Bern | University of Bern

two to three times higher in Black American and American Indian/Native Alaskan mothers than in White mothers.

Other examples include skin diseases that are not recognised on pigmented skin (Mind the Gap. Mukwende M., 2020), the baseless assumption that patients do not speak the local language and in other cases the lack of sufficient interpreters in hospitals. These examples are signs of racist socialisation. In addition, the majority of medical research is focused on a European population. Too little is known about metabolism and deviation from laboratory standards in other populations. This in turn leads to drug side effects, incorrect measurements of vital signs and many more disadvantages.

With the events of "Rassismuskritische Räume schaffen", we wanted to start a conversation that will lead to better care for our patients in the future. In order to change the current way of dealing with racism in medicine, we need to become aware of where discriminatory structures are hidden. These already start in our studies, in

our lectures. We are convinced that these events have started a discourse among the participants, which will also have an impact on the university context.

Additionally, it was very inspiring that students from different universities came together and were able to talk about the respective differences of the universities, as well as network.

If you are interested in recommendations on further literature, please feel free to contact us. The events were financed by the kind support of SWIMSA, FaMBa and Diversity Uni Basel - thank you very much!

Event tip: On 01.04.2023 our last event will take place: a workshop for people affected by racism who work in the health sector. Registrations via social-health@unibas.ch .

EXCHANGES

swimsa Exchanges offers medical students the unique opportunity to complete an internship in a foreign country through the largest international exchange program in the world.

SCOPE: Standing Committee on Professional Exchange

SCORE: Standing Committee on Research Exchange

IFMSA: International Federation of Medical Students Associations

SCORE and SCOPE organize clinical internships as well as research internships for interested students from Switzerland in a country of their choice from the list, as well as supports students coming to Switzerland from other countries for exchanges.

For more information contact: vpx@swimsa.ch

“DOBRÝ DEN” FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

swimsa exchanges goes to the 7th NEO-NORE Weekend

At the beginning of February four swimsa exchanges delegates attended the 7th edition of the NNW (NEO-NORE Weekend) in Plzeň, Czech Republic. The NNW is a three day capacity building event where exchange enthusiasts from all over Europe meet to build a stronger bond within the European exchange team as well as broaden their knowledge on various exchanges related topics. This year our VicePresident for Exchanges, National Exchange Officer for Outgoings, National Exchange Officer for Outgoings Assistant and National Exchange Treasurer attended the event. Our VPX was part of the sessions team and delivered sessions on stress & time management as well as team management within exchanges. During our free time we visited the famous Pilsner Urquell Brewery, danced the national dances from all over Europe and saw a live Finish edition of the tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”.

Attending this year's NNW in Pilsen, Czech Republic was more than just a blast. As a member of swimsa I’ve had the opportunity to attend various national, regional and international meetings but there is something very special about the NNW that hits me every time. Seeing fellow exchange enthusiasts from all over Europe taking time off from their busy university schedule to work towards the same goal (provide medical students worldwide with the opportunity to do an exchange abroad) is mesmerizing. The motivation and energy that every single person brings to the table is something that hits me every time. As part of the sessions team I had the pleasure to share the knowledge that I was able to gain during the last few years within our association with the participants and fellow trainers. A possibility that left me very proud and enriched as I got to see how more and more exchange officers felt at ease with their position.

Aline (Vice-President for Exchanges 22/23)

Boya (National Exchange Officer for Outgoings 22/23)

Attending the NEO NORE Weekend was an unforgettable experience for me. I had the chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and experience the Czech Republic's culture and traditions. We had the opportunity to share our experiences and perspectives on exchanges, and it was an excellent chance to network and build new relationships. Everyone was very friendly and eager to learn from one another, and it was an enjoyable experience. Furthermore, it was an excellent opportunity for capacity building, and the sessions were informative and engaging. I'm grateful to IFMSA Czech Republic for hosting us and providing us with an unforgettable experience. Overall, the NNW was an excellent opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and learn new things and I definitely hope to see my newly met friends soon!

Being able to attend this year's NNW in Pilsen, my first IFMSA-event, was just an absolutely amazing experience for me. Engaging and meeting with all those people, that share the same fascination for exchanging the world and care so much about it, is just an incredible feeling to experience. Over this weekend I’ve been able to learn so many valuable things, not just about our work in exchanges and healthcare around the world, but also about different cultures and different people. Being able to work with so many motivated and open people towards the same thing, as well as gaining new insights and different perspectives on all possible topics creates an environment that just makes me absolutely thrive and want to learn and do more. On top of all, I am just incredibly grateful I got to meet so many amazing people, some of them feeling like a big family I will have for a lifetime. It is safe to say that this NNW will be another memory I will carry close to my heart, enriched me with new lessons I would have never learned in the auditorium or textbooks and for sure boosted my passion to continue with this amazing work to make a change!

If you want to learn more about international opportunities and/ or exchanges feel free to contact us at vpx@swimsa.ch (for exchanges) and vpg@swimsa.ch (for international opportunities).

Jenny (National Exchange Officer for Outgoings Assistant 22/23)

MEDISERVICE ?

INTERESSIERT MICH NICHT!

Text: Marc Schällebaum | Geschäftsführer MEDISERVICE VSAO-ASMAC

mediservice vsao-asmac? Sind das nicht die Versicherungen und den Krankenkassen? Das interessiert mich nicht. Ich wohne noch zuhause. Meine Eltern bezahlen das alles, solange ich noch studiere.

Sollten Sie so oder ähnlich denken, verstehen wir Sie. Versicherungen, Krankenkassen und ähnliches sind etwa so verführerisch wie Gebrauchsanweisungen für Staubsauger. Dennoch lohnt es sich auch für Studierende, mediservice etwas besser kennenzulernen.

Die Dienstleistungsorganisation soll ihren Mitgliedern in allen Lebensphasen vor allem in Versicherungsfragen zur Seite stehen. Daneben bietet mediservice eine weite Palette von andern Dienstleistungen an. Eine davon, das vsao Journal, haben Sie vielleicht schon in den Händen gehalten.

Sie wohnen noch zuhause, ziehen aber bald aus?

Ihre Eltern zahlen noch bis zum Ende des Studiums Ihre Krankenkasse, doch der Studienabschluss rückt näher? Höchste Zeit, sich mit den leidigen Versicherungsfragen auseinanderzusetzen.

Und höchste Zeit für mediservice!

Das auf der Homepage von mediservice aufgeschaltete Lebensphasenmodell informiert Sie bei jeder privaten und/oder beruflichen Änderung, worauf Sie versicherungstechnisch achten müssen.

Dank unseren Kollektivverträgen können wir Ihnen vorteilhafte Angebote bei verschiedenen Krankenkassen und weiteren Versicherungen (Haftpflicht, Mobiliar, Rechtsschutz, Fahrzeug etc.) unterbreiten. Da wir einzig unseren Mitgliedern verpflichtet sind, können wir Sie unabhängig beraten und die für Sie beste Lösung suchen.

Als Dienstleistungsorganisation für Ärztinnen und Ärzte (angestellte und selbstständige) sowie Medizinstudierende, können wir das von uns erwirtschaftete Geld in verschiedenste Projekte zugunsten von vsao und swimsa einfliessen lassen. Als Platinsponsor unterstützen wir die swimsa in diversen Bereichen und sind immer offen für neue Ideen, die wir zusammen umsetzen können. Gemeinsam mit dem vsao organisieren wir alljährlich den Laufbahn-Kongress medifuture, der sich insbesondere an angehende und junge Ärztinnen und Ärzte richtet.

Auch auf Ihrem weiteren Berufsweg, z.B. beim Schritt in die Selbstständigkeit bis hin zur Pensionierung, steht Ihnen mediservice zur Seite. Sie sehen Dienstleistungen in allen Lebensphasen. Von daher lohnt es sich wirklich, uns besser kennenzulernen.

Als Medizinstudierende können Sie das übrigens ganz einfach: Werden Sie kostenlos Mitglied bei vsao und bei mediservice und profitieren Sie von allen unseren Angeboten. Wir freuen uns darauf, Sie besser kennenzulernen!

MEDISERVICE ? CELA NE

M’INTÉRESSE PAS

Text: Marc Schällebaum | Directeur MEDISERVICE VSAO-ASMAC

mediservice vsao-asmac? Ce ne sont pas ceux des assurances et des caisses-maladie?

Cela ne m’intéresse pas. J’habite encore chez mes parents. Tant que je suis aux études, ils paient tout.

Si telle est votre attitude, nous vous comprenons. Les assurances, les caisses-maladie et ce genre de choses sont aussi attrayantes que des modes d’emploi d’aspirateurs. Pourtant, même pour les étudiants, il vaut la peine de s’intéresser d’un peu plus près à mediservice.

L’organisation de services accompagne ses membres dans toutes les phases de vie, notamment pour les questions d’assurance. En plus de cela, mediservice propose une large palette d’autres services. Vous avez peut-être déjà tenu entre vos mains l’une de nos offres, le Journal asmac?

Vous habitez encore chez vos parents, mais allez bientôt quitter le domicile familial? Vos parents paient encore votre caisse-maladie jusqu’à la fin de vos études, mais la fin de celles-ci approche? Il est donc temps de se pencher sur les désagréables questions d’assurance et de s’intéresser à mediservice. Le modèle des phases de vie présenté sur le site web de mediservice vous informe sur les points à observer en matière d’assurance lors de chaque changement de nature privée et/ou professionnelle.

Grâce à nos contrats collectifs, nous pouvons vous proposer des offres intéressantes auprès de diverses caisses-maladie et autres assurances (responsabilité civile, ménage, protection juridique, véhicule, etc.). Comme notre engagement est réservé à nos membres, nous vous conseillons en toute indépendance et cherchons la meilleure solution pour vous.

En tant qu’organisation de services pour les médecins (employés et indépendants) et les étudiants en médecine, nous pouvons investir les recettes générées dans différents projets en faveur de l’asmac et de la swimsa. En tant que sponsor platine, nous soutenons la swimsa dans différents domaines et sommes toujours ouverts aux nouvelles idées que nous pouvons mettre en œuvre ensemble. En collaboration avec l’asmac, nous organisons chaque année le congrès de carrière medifuture qui s’adresse notamment aux futurs et jeunes médecins.

Pour la suite de votre parcours aussi, p. ex. lors de l’ouverture de votre propre cabinet et jusqu’à la retraite, mediservice sera probablement à nouveau à vos côtés. Vous voyez, ce sont des services pour toutes les étapes de vie.

Il vaut donc vraiment la peine de mieux nous connaître. En tant qu’étudiant en médecine, vous le pouvez très facilement: adhérez gratuitement à l’asmac et à mediservice et profitez de toutes nos offres. Nous nous réjouissons de faire votre connaissance!

NEWS FROM SWIMSA

Die swimsa bietet engagierten Medizinstudierenden eine Plattform, sich auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene auszutauschen. Lokal initiierte Projekte können über die swimsa zu nationalen und internationalen Projekten weiterentwickelt werden.

La swimsa offre la possibilité aux étudiant∙e∙s en médecine d’évoluer au niveau national et au niveau international. Ainsi, les projets initiés localement peuvent se développer, avec l’aide de la swimsa, en projets nationaux et internationaux.

WE WANTED TO KNOW: WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED?

Text: Benedikt Reuthebuch | Vice-President for Communication 21/22

“Spending even more time for things having to do with university - why would you do this?” This is certainly a frequently asked question to everyone who is doing more apart from their everyday studies or other occupations. At first sight, all the people steadily questioning getting involved must be right: more leisure time, less online meetings, less responsibilities and no deadline to keep an eye on. But - why are there so many people out

there still getting involved and still dedicating their time and their capacities to such a huge association like swimsa? One could get the impression that there must be something magnetically attracting about working for and with swimsa. So we went out and asked the people directly to find an answer. And to conclude, we might have to revise our introductional question: “Why wouldn’t you do this?”

A friend of mine was involved in the LC of Bern. I was always asking him about the stuff he did with swimsa exchanges, so one day he just invited me to a LC meeting. I met a lot of cool people there, and that’s basically how my swimsa journey started. I met many amazing people who inspire me with their commitment and their positive energy, and I also made many valuable and useful experiences for myself, for example how to work more efficiently, how to lead an online meeting, how to use excel and so on.

- Céline Ueltschi, National Exchanges Treasurer 21/22

“I joined the national swimsa Meeting in February and thought that swimsa was a great opportunity to get in touch with medical students from all over Switzerland as well as on an international Level. Additionnaly, I’ve always wanted to go on an exchange so I thought my chances to get in there would be higher if I started as a LEO. First of all, I learned how to cooperate with the hospital and other institutions. Then I joined the swimsa exchange weekend which was a great experience and I already organized a Fondue with an incoming! :)

- Rahel Aeschbacher, Local Exchange Officer Fribourg 21/22

It was over Zoom that I first heard about swimsa. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention as I first wanted to focus on my studies just like most freshers. A year went by before I attended a VSAO Zürich meeting (mostly because of the apéro ;) where I randomly met the Vice President for Exchanges. What started as a casual conversation, ended up being an encouragement to run for the open position of General Secretary. Wanting to do more than just study, I applied for the position and I met the minds and the energy behind swimsa. The motivation and determination of my fellow swimsa Internals (especially of the EB) & the kind of work done at swimsa taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned from books and lectures. That’s when I truly understood swimsa.

- Adnan Kareem, General Secretary 21/22

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Text: Kate Gurevich | swimsa President 21/22

Have you just started your studies? Or been at it for a while but would like to do more? Ask no more. We are here to give you the answers.

There are many ways to become involved during your studies, with participation in swimsa being just one of them. Have a look at the possibilities listed below and do not hesitate to contact the people directly - they are just like you and started at one point. They would love to assist you.

How to be aware of opportunities opening up? swimsa posts all her new openings and new possibilities to engage on social media - mostly on instagram. However, we also use the newsletter and Facebook for promotion. Scan the QR codes to keep up to date.

Join our events!

A great event to get started is the SMSC - Swiss Medical Students’ Convention, which takes place twice a year. More information on how to sign up for the next SMSC will be available on the swimsa social media and through your local student council.

Capacity Building events

Capacity Building is a fancy word. What it means is passing on knowledge, in our case knowledge on soft skills such as public speaking, non-violent communication or leadership. swimsa holds these events to help you be more prepared for the future and give you the skills medical school does not give. At the moment no fixed events are planned but keep up to date through our social media or contact our National Officer for Capacity Building at nocb@swimsa.ch.

International events

swimsa is part of the international organisation of medical students - IFMSA - International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations. They host events several times a year, in March, April and August. There is an application process and your chances of getting a spot are largely increased if you are already a little bit active in swimsa. For more information, subscribe to our newsletter or contact our Vice-President for Global Affairs at vpg@swimsa.ch

Join our Commissions!

swimsa is active in different areas of work. We need motivated people to join our commissions to work on various projects for the upcoming year.

CoSH - Commission on Sexual Health: Are you passionate about sexual health and rights? Do you know a lot or would like to learn more about STIs? The Commission on Sexual Health is the right place to start. Contact our National Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS under nora@swimsa.ch

Get active in Exchanges!

swimsa helps organise your exchange in another country. There are two types of exchanges, professional (clinical) exchange in a hospital and research exchange in a research facility. You can find more information on how to go on an exchange on our website or social media. Registrations for exchanges take place between the 1st of March and the 30th of June each year. However, you can also get involved in exchanges by becoming active on a local or national level. We are always looking for motivated people to help assure that students coming for an exchange in Switzerland have everything they need. So if you are interested in meeting people from all over the world and would like a smooth start into swimsa, contact our Vice-President for Exchanges at vpx@swimsa.ch.

AK/CoFo - Ausbildungskommission/Commission de la Formation: Our medical education commission ensures voices of medical students in Switzerland are heard and medical education keeps up its high standards and is improved where necessary. For more information or if you wish to join a meeting, contact vpa@swimsa.ch

CoPHR - Commission on Public Health and Human Rights: This commission encompasses a wide variety of topics ranging from Mental Health to Planetary Health. Interested in contributing? Contact our National Officers on Public Health (npo@swimsa.ch) and Human Rights and Peace (norp@swimsa.ch) for more information.

Check out our members! swimsa is great because of her members. The members of swimsa are on the one hand the student councils of your university and on the other hand, various associations focusing on Public Health or Sexual Health and Rights. You can find a full description of the members on our website. Feel free to contact them directly in case you are interested in joining their midst or contact our Vice-President for Internal Affairs at vpi@swimsa.ch for more information.

For further information:

Instagram Facebook Newsletter

“LESS HARM, BETTER CARE - FROM RESOLUTION TO IMPLEMENTATION”

Lara Serban | ETH Zürich

In the city where Freddie Mercury serenaded festival visitors with “Another one bites the dust” and only a boat ride away from the WHO Headqua ters, the Swiss Federal President Alain Berset hosted over 80 nations in Montreux for the 5th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. First held in London 2016, this summit was created as a means to bring together experts and policy makers with the goal to build comprehensive patient safety frameworks. These summits have raised awareness for patient safety worldwide – in May 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly endorsed the adoption of the first ever “Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030”, which outlines an international framework for patient safety.

The 5th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety focused on “less harm, better care – from resolution to implementation”. As Alain Berset said in his welcome message:

“Awareness is largely in place and the relevant measures for improvement are well known. The problem is often a lack of adequate implementation.”

The dire need for efficient and sustainable implementation is currently gaining visibility in politics, mainly because the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many vulnerabilities in the healthcare system.

Text: Luc Lutz | University of Basel

Why is patient safety important?

Patient safety is a public health issue in all health systems around the world. Insufficient patient safety implementation has long-lasting and deepreaching consequences. The implications affect all healthcare professionals and patients, from the level of individuals to societies as a whole. In addition to the ethical aspects, there are also financial perspectives to consider.

To “do care”, as we are urged to as healthcare professionals, means to cause no harm and especially to protect patients from avoidable harms. Improving and ensuring patient safety is a growing challenge to all health services globally, regardless of their respective socioeconomic status. Patient safety is an important part of evidence-based medicine and will therefore be a critical part of our future work as healthcare professionals.

Some challenges facing adequate implementation include:

• Lack of buy-in due to a paucity of understanding the matter and goal

• Unsuitable checklist design, failure to adapt to local practice and context

• Strong working hierarchies and clinician resistance to change

• Inadequate training of healthcare front workers and lacking feedback loops

Implementation science is defined as the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic integration of research findings and evidence-based practices into care delivery and the de-integration of low value care.

It actively engages multiple stakeholders while drawing from a rich theoretical foundation for understanding, designing, and evaluating complex implementation processes and their multilevel contextual interactions.

Our approach to implementation science is inherently interdisciplinary, systems-oriented, and cyclical in nature, and uses a multitude of research approaches. Positioned at the intersection of research and practice, the bidirectional aims of implementation science are to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care while also shaping future research priorities.

Here are some of the key messages from the expert panels that stood out to us:

• The evidence and best practice plans for patient safety are available. The focus is shifting from resolution to implementation.

• Context is key! In every step of creating and implementing a patient safety plan, the context must be carefully analysed and taken into account accordingly.

• There is a clear tendency to remake, rather than reuse, pre-existing frameworks and guidelines for patient safety. An aptly-used metaphor to describe this phenomena was: “frameworks are like toothbrushes. Everyone has their own and nobody wants to use someone else’s”.

• Implementations must be measured and controlled in order to verify progress and sustainability.

• More complicated is not always better! Simpler plans usually require less resources to implement, but can still lead to significant improvement.

• Checklists have been proven to be a simple, yet highly effective tool. They should be an essential part of patient safety measures.

• Mistakes leading to adverse patient outcomes are usually due to systemic problems rather than individual mistakes. Patient safety plans and policies must take this into account.

• Effective implementation of patient safety plans has a good cost to benefit ratio! It is beneficial and profitable in the short, middle and long term.

• Best practice for implementation is a mix of bottom-up and top-down approaches: promote patient engagement, reinforce interprofessional collaboration and includemhealth care workers and other relevant stakeholders in the decision process.

swimsa had the opportunity to send a delegation of three people to assist at the Patient Safety Summit 2023. This provided them the unique chance to gain insight into what goes on behind the scenes of such an event. We were a part of the division of International Affairs, Section EU & Neighboring States of the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH), which organised the event at the Montreux Music and Convention Centre. Together with several FOPH interns, we prepared the goodie bags for the expert participants, assisted with guidance during the two days and helped with the session organisation. We had the chance to talk to several experts in patient safety, policy makers, and staff from the FOPH. These conversations helped us understand the complexities of global health efforts and the occasional difficulties in reconciling political and scientific priorities.

Next Steps

Although progress has been made, further steps must still be taken to ensure optimal patient care. All nations have to develop and implement comprehensive, evidenced-based frameworks suitable to their healthcare system. Patient safety must remain a priority in policy making. The vision is clear and simple: eliminate all avoidable harm. The key messages from the summit will be summarised in the Montreux Charta on Patient Safety. All represented countries strongly support and expressed their will to implement the Montreux Charta. This Charta is meant to outline the global focus on patient safety for the next year and to hold the ratified countries accountable. Nevertheless, the Charta contains no concrete actions or mandates and has no direct legal consequences.

Given the time constraints of the summit, we realised that there was not enough time to properly discuss all aspects of patient safety. Even so, as young medical professionals, we would have hoped for more discussion about the following aspects:

• Planetary health (health care system resilience against climate change, antimicrobial resistance, social health determinants)

• Sustainability (In the sense of monitoring of the long-lasting effects as well as the intelligible use of resources in the respective contexts)

• Interdisciplinarity (communication and cooperation between different professions related to healthcare)

• Population/patient health literacy (being a cornerstone for self-responsible citizens

Alain Berset ended the summit with clear and memorable words. Drawing from his experience as a health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, he urged politicians to be humble and ethical and not instrumentalize health crises for their own interests. He underlined the importance of strengthening collaboration with experts and upholding the free flow of important data and scientific knowledge within global communities to better facilitate responses to health threats.

Efficient and unrestricted collaboration within the international community is key for the resilience of healthcare systems. We look forward to the future of Patient Safety and, together with all relevant stakeholders, hope to contribute positively to this very important topic as we begin our careers in medicine.

Sources:

1. Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for patient safety: a rapid review,

5 August 2022 | COVID-19: Clinical care

2. https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety

3. https://pss2023.ch/

4. Aveling E, McCulloch P, Dixon-Woods MA qualitative study comparing experiences of the surgical safety checklist in hospitals in high-income and low-income countriesBMJ Open 2013;3:e003039. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003039

5. https://www.ifis.uzh.ch/de/Implementation-Science/Ansatz-am-Institut-f%C3%BCr-Implementation-Science.html#:~:text=Implementation%20science%20is%20defined%20as,integration%20of%20low%20 value%20care

JSEMS - BE ACTIVE

Physical activity plays an important role in our daily lives! Professional and amateur athletes practice sports to achieve their goals and enjoy their passion. People with mainly other interests than sports, are physically active as well when they go to work, meet friends, do the household etc.

During sport activities, injuries can happen, and they do. According to a study from Denmark, there is almost 20% prevalence of sport injuries per year1. Moreover, physical inactivity is not healthy and contributes to the development of chronic diseases. Kohl et al. report it as the fourth leading cause of death worldwide2.

Physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic skills are needed, so that sport injuries are treated properly and best advice concerning physical inactivity is given.

With our Junior SEMS (Sports and Exercise Switzerland) association, we try to give medical stu-

dents an insight into sports medicine and raise the consciousness of this topic in the prevention of chronic diseases.

We like to take this chance and present our next event: The Student’s Day! It is going to take place on the 25th of October 2023 in Interlaken and will consist exciting lectures (e.g. the adult knee injury, experience with Swiss Football team in Qatar etc.), hands-on workshops, a short sports session and a tasty dinner! It’s our main annual event, so if it is not possible for you to join this year, there are a lot of interesting topics waiting for you next year ;)

If you’re looking for more activities in the meantime, check out our online events and the upcoming podcast through our website (https://sems. ch/junior-sems) or Instagram (_jsems).

Lots of Love to everyone and stay active, Junior SEMS

2Kohl

Text: Maria Jacomet | University of Lucerne

1Bueno AM, Pilgaard M, Hulme A, Forsberg P, Ramskov D, Damsted C, et al. Injury prevalence across sports: a descriptive analysis on a representative sample of the Danish population. Inj Epidemiol. 2018;5(1):6-

HW, 3rd, Craig CL, Lambert EV, Inoue S, Alkandari JR, Leetongin G, et al. The pandemic of physical inactivity: global action for public health. The Lancet. 2012;380(9838):294-305

ANEM NEUCHÂTEL - THE NEWEST SWIMSA-FULL-MEMBER!

As you have probably noticed, each university is different regarding the medical curriculum. The German-speaking part of Switzerland is used to the well-known numerus clausus. The Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland, on the other hand, has opted for a yearly selection and Neuchâtel is no exception to the rule. 132 students were registered as medical students at the UNINE for the year 22/23. First year students in Neuchâtel must take two exam sessions. The first session takes place in January and the second session in June. Students are ranked based on the average grades of these exams. Only the top 26 students can go into the second year of medical school.

Other students can choose to either repeat the

year or to change completely their curriculum. Students who passed their exams but weren’t in the top of the ranking also have the possibility to go directly to the 2nd year of biology thanks to a gateway provided for this purpose.

As the university of Neuchâtel is small, you can only study there for the first year. “Laureates” (top 26 students on the ranking) must move to Lausanne or Geneva. 18 students move to Lausanne and 8 students move to Geneva. During their first year, must tell in which university they would rather go and, according to their ranking, they get their first or their second choice. Fortunately, in the last two years, all students could move to their first choice uni.

The main goal of ANEM, the Neuchâtel medical students' association, is to support first years students. This support consists of a mentorship throughout the year and a cloud space dedicated to shared summaries, mock exams to practice and many tips to best organize themselves according to each classes.

Even though this first may look like hunger games (at least that’s why it sounded to us in the first place), it’s important to us to support our first years as much as we can and try to guide

Text: Nora El-Hajouji | ANEM-Vice-President 22/23

Chloé Rosenfeld | ANEM-Vice-President 21/22

them through the year. We really put an effort into trying to build a “safe place” for them and putting them in touch with an older student who can give them relevant advises.

We also organize an information session to explain the main differences between the medical curriculum in Lausanne and Geneva to help student choosing their next university.

Even though our first years have to study hard because of the few spots available to pursue their studies in another university, it’s important to remember why we started. Helping others? Understanding the human body? Educating patients and their relative about their pathologies? Getting to build this unique bind with patients?

When stuck between organic chemistry and physics exercises, these students might forget why they decided to study medicine in the first place. That’s why we decided to organize a Teddy Bear Hospital (l’Hôpital Des Nounours). This event allows healthcare students to get along with and accompany them through a fun journey in “hospital” during which they turn into a doctor who heals his stuffed animal. Our goals are preventing “white-coat fear”, giving students an opportunity to spend time with children in order to better deal with pediatric patients in the future,

having fun and - of course – healing teddy bears! This event takes place in October and is open to anyone from 4 to 8 years old.

You may wonder: why do you study in Neuchâtel even though you will have to move to another university for your 2nd year of med school? A lot of students are dealing with these same doubts. That’s’ why presentations are held in our local high schools and at the unine-open house. During these sessions, the unine first give the needed information (registration dates, how the students are selected ,curriculum, gateway between from medicine to biology, etc…). ANEM then presents how this first year was perceived from a student (why you should or why you shouldn’t study in Neuchâtel) and give feedback on different sides of this curriculum.

MARROW BE A MATCH, SAVE A LIFE!

Text: Morgane Vine | President of Marrow Switzerland

Every year, over 1100 people in Switzerland get ill with life-threatening diseases like leukemia or other blood born diseases. A Blood Stem Cell Transplantation is often the last and best option for a cure. However, due to the presence of specific surface proteins on the cells, the number of possible donors is limited. In Switzerland, only 25% of patients can find a compatible donor.

Marrow Switzerland aims to contribute to find a suitable donor for each patient in need of a blood stem cell donation. We are a student organisation composed of a national Executive Board and sections in Bern, Lausanne, Basel, Fribourg, Luzern and Geneva. Filled with commitment and enthusiasm, we work on four main pillars to achieve our goal.

1. Raising awareness on blood diseases and blood stem cell donation. Presentations in universities, social media, distribution events and activities fairs are some of the tools we use to spread the word and inform potential donors.

2. Training the members. As we want to make sure the information we give to potential donors is of quality and up to date, each section has to train their members based on a national booklet. This document has been revised with our partner Swiss Transfusion SRC in 2022 to include the most recent guidelines. We also organize workshops during our general assemblies with experts from the field.

3. Promotion and registration of new well informed donors by supporting them into filling out the registration form and organising swabbing events. We make sure new donors are well aware of what they are getting into. It is important for people to be correctly informed to be valuable donors as we hope potential donors will keep commited to saving a life when the opportunity presents itself. Let’s say we prefer quality to quantity. The essential principles are solidarity, consent, anonymity and free of charge.

4. Fundraising. The registration of a new donor costs 140 francs. However, we do not want to money to be an obstacle to a life-saving donation. To tackle this issue we organize fundraising events such as concerts, mulled wine and pastry sales, the selling of merchandise and many more. You may have heard about the Leukemia Charity Run which was a great success and raised a lot of money to cover the expenses of registrations and donations. Since 2016, Marrow has raised more than 200'000 CHF !

2022 Outcomes:

178’000 in the Swiss Blood Stem Cell Donor Register, 64% females and 36% males.

8'138 new registered donors of which 251 were registered by Marrow !

89 donations, which is 30% more than in 2021, which is a new record !

Point of information

• Who can be a donor ? In Switzerland, any healthy person between the age of 18 and 40 can register as a potential blood stem cell donor. From a medical point of view, young men are the perfect donors.

• The production of the blood cells is located in the bone marrow. These cells develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and the blood platelets.

• Peripheral Donation : It is the procedure used in 80% of the donations in Switzerland. Growth factors are given 5 days before the donation whose method is called apharesis and will take around 3 to 6 hours.

• Central donation : This procedure is only used in 20% of the donations. It is a punction of the bone marrow, under general anesthesia. 2-3 days at the hospital might be required.

• The Blood Stem Cell Registry is international, so a donation can go anywhere in the world but a person will register and donate in their respective country.

Want to save a life too ? (in 5 easy steps)

• Type https://register.blutstammzellspende. ch/registrierung/

• Fill in the online form

• You will receive the test kit by post at home so that you can take the oral mucosa sample yourself. The saliva sample should then be returned to us.

• As soon as the laboratory has determined your HLA characteristics, you will be entered in the Swiss Blood Stem Cell Donor Register and recieve your donor card.

• If you appear to be compatible with someone in need, Swiss Transfusion SRC will contact you.

For more information, contact:

Mail: marrow@swimsa.ch

Website: www.marrow.ch

Instagram: marrow_ch

SWIMSA POSITIONS - JOIN THE FAMILY!

WHERE TO TURN TO?

Meet your local student association

fsmb - Bern sekretariat@fsmb.ch www.fsmb.ch

ANEM - Neuchâtel contact.anem@gmail.com

aemg - Geneva aemg@unige.ch aemg.unige.ch

mesa - Zurich ETH praesidium@mesa.ethz.ch www.mesa.ethz.ch

smusi - Lugano smusi@usi.ch www.smusi.usi.ch

AEML - Lausanne aeml@unil.ch www.aeml.ch

fvmed - Zurich UZH info@fvmed.ch www.fvmed.ch

FluMed - Lucerne flumed.vorstand@gmail.com www.flumed.ch

MUSt - St. Gallen info@must-hsg.ch www.must-hsg.ch

FaMed - Fribourg fs-medizin@unifr.ch student.unifr.ch/med

FaMBa - Basel praesidium@fachschaftmedizinbasel.com www.famba.ch

MEET SWIMSA’S ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Achtung Liebe

www.achtungliebe.ch

NCWiki

www.nc-wiki.ch

AGT - Aufklärung gegen Tabak

www.gegentabak.de

ASC - Action Santé Communautaire

www.facebook.com/actionsantecommunautaire

ASTiM

www.astim.ch

CLASH

www.instagram.com/associationclash

gruhu

www.gruhu.ch

Doctors and Death

www.facebook.com/doctorsanddeath

EROS

www.association-eros.com

escolhares

www.escolhares.com

Marrow Switzerland

www.marrow.ch

news from the swimsa family

Medstache

www.medstachelausanne.jimdofree.com

JSEMS - Sport & Exercise Medicine Switzerland www.sems.ch

Medic

www.association-medic.ch

MedSICS

www.medsics.wixsite.com/medsics

SCS - Swiss Chiropractic Students www.sc-students.ch

M.E.T.I.S.

www.metislausanne.ch

Teddybär Spital

www.tbsbern.ch

POZH - Projekt Organspende Zürich

www.fvmed.ch

UAEM Switzerland

www.uaem.ch

YS - Young Sonographers

www.youngsonographers.ch

THIS IS YOUR LOCAL STUDENT COUNCIL for all the medical students at your university. They organize social events, parties, represent you to your faculty and fight for your medical education.

THIS IS YOUR NATIONAL ORGANISATION

swimsa is the umbrella organisation for all Swiss medical students. Its members are 10 student councils and the local projects. In the comittee for education, swimsa works towards an improved education on a national level. Via the IFMSA, it enables worldwide student exchanges. Twice per year, it organises the SMSC-Conference with students from all parts of Switzerland. An event you MUST have experienced at least once!

www.swimsa.ch

THESE ARE OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS which work on different public health and human rights topics. You can join any project you like or even start your own.

... AND THIS IS HOW WE CHANGE THE WORLD TOGETHER

The International Federation fo Medical Students‘ is the umbrella organisation for all the national associations of more than 120 different countries worldwide. They gather twice per year in the so-called General Assembly (GA), where 1000 students come together and exchange ideas. swimsa is always represented by a Swiss delegation, which YOU can be part of as well!

www.ifmsa.org

THIS IS YOU, a medical student in Switzerland