The AMSA National Teaching Award champions excellence in medical education. In the current medico-political climate, nothing is more valuable to medical students than quality teaching. The single Award is given to an individual deemed to have made a very significant contribution to medical education in Australia, as determined by students themselves.

The AMSA National Student Award recognises the excellent contributions that medical students make to their local community and the wider nation. This Award is judged on the personal, academic and professional achievements of the nominees. Consideration is also given to leadership qualities.

Any medical student, on approval of the nominee’s Medical Students’ Society, can nominate any educator or medical student for the Awards, which is ultimately judged by the AMSA National Council at Second Council before the National Convention each year.

Submissions are due June 12 2010. All the details are on Blackboard MedSoc in the AMSA Folder under the Documents tab to the left, or check out www.amsa.org.au

Course Link: Documents / AMSA / AMSA National Teaching Award

A number of bursaries will be awarded to support your research and can be up to $2,000 value.

For more information check out this website - http://www.amsa.org.au/content/amsa-avant-research-bursaries

Hosted by the Australian Medical Student’s Association (AMSA), The Global Health Conference responds to a growing demand for focus on topics effecting human-kind on a global scale. From an inaugural cohort of 200 students in Sydney in 2005, the event has almost doubled in size!

During the conference delegates will learn about global health issues from internationally renowned keynote speakers.  You will be inspired by the work that is being done all over the world by specialists in their field, and be empowered with practical skills to help bring about real change through interactive workshops.

Where: Hobart, Tasmania

When:  1-4 July 2010. (Pre conference workshops 29-30 June)

Cost:  Rego $150, Accommodation $237

Registration: 11pm EST Thurs April 1st

What can I expect?

Delegates start and finish the day with keynote lectures, plenary sessions and forums. As well as this, delegates will be asked to choose a stream for the conference. Five academic streams – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Human – will allow students to explore issues in more detail in workshops and tutorials through Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with the exciting ‘Challenge Day’. Among the many exciting speakers already confirmed are:

• * Minar Pimple
• * Hugh Evans
• * Dr Helen Caldicott
• * Dr Julia Newton-Howes
• * Dr Colin Butler
• * Assoc. Prof. Ngaire Brown
• * Dr Mark Loane
• * Assoc. Prof. Tony McMichael
• * Senator Bob Brown

Topics to be covered by the streams include:

• Crisis management
• Preventative Health
• Refugee and migrant health
• Indigenous health
• Poverty, Policy and Health
• Infectious diseases
• Climate Change and Health
• Conflict and Health Crises around the World

What about the social program?

A reception at Government House, an interactive Millennium Development Goals event, International Food Fair, and a party with a Captain Planet themed twist will keep you busily entertained! To top it all off, this year we are excited to host a GHC Op Shop Ball – the recycling social event of the year!

This event will include keynote speakers, workshops and open floor sessions that will allow delegates to discuss particular issues current within rural, remote and Indigenous health in Australia. This event will also see the first student-run rural health roundtable, where delegates as well as invited professionals in the field of rural health can come together to address rural health workforce issues.

For further information about this event, please visit www.amsa.org.au and follow the links through the Events menu or email steven.hurwitz

Good luck with your applications to this amazing event!

Cheers,

The NRLDS Committee

http://convention2010.amsa.org.au/

From the 4rd to 11th of July this year Hobart will be infected. Infected with something much stronger and virulent than any bacteria, virus, fungus or genetically inbred disease. Convention will take hold of Hobart. 800 medical students will engulf this city for a week that will blow their minds…

Not too many first years from Newcastle usually head to AMSA’s National Convention, but strangely enough heaps of second years do. Why you ask? Well just like the cause for multiple sclerosis, no one is really sure. But I do have a theory. I didn’t head to convention in first year because of a number of reasons. I didn’t really know much about it, it seemed expensive, and it didn’t seem that good. Then my friends in second year got back from convention and they wouldn’t shut up about it! So all the first years seem to get tired of hearing about it and have to experience! They then jump on their next opportunity.

So I guess I should explain what the experience is. Over 7 days, you get to hear from some of the best speakers in the world. This includes, but is not limited to, Nobel prize winners, Australian’s of the year and writers of the bible. No not the actual bible, but the medical bibles! Last year we had the editor of Robbins Pathology and writers of Talley and O’Connor Clinical Examination, books that all medical students know well by the end of their degree. Then of course you add on to the speakers incredible workshops and stimulating discussions and we’re not even half way there!

Each day is capped off with a social night that will top any party you’ve ever been to. You will see more body paint than you would think could ever exist and costumes you have to see to believe. In fact I don’t want to brag but last year I had the best costume ever (it was a giant sperm)! Then the social occasion is topped off with a gala ball that last year included roller coasters, fireworks and a broken heart.

Sports day! This day plays an integral role in the convention program. It includes the Emergency Medicine Challenge which last year involved chemical spills, gun wielding maniacs and army vehicles rolling. The EMC is just the beginning of the inter med- school competition as the day continues with tug-o-waring and boat racing.

I don’t know if I’ve convinced you to get down to Hobart for AMSA’s Convention 2011, but let me leave you with a little statistic: Last year over 1300 people applied for the ballot system which only had 800 places. It’s amazing, don’t miss out!

Click here to view the embedded video.

More info on the AMSA convention can be found at their website.