Swiss Medical Students’ Association

Swiss Medical Students` Association

Verband Schweizer Medizinstudierende

Association Suisse des Etudiants en Médecine

Associazione degli Studenti di Medicina Svizzeri
Abbreviation swimsa
Motto Have you Med me?
Formation 1917
Type
Purpose Representation of all Swiss medical students on a local, national, and international level
Headquarters Bern
Location
Membership
7000+ medical students
Official language
German, French, English
President
 Federico Mazzola
Secretary General
 wanted
Internal Affairs
 Mirjam Nussbaumer
External Affairs
 Nadine Schönenberger
Main organ
 Delegate Assembly
Affiliations
Website http://www.swimsa.ch

The Swiss Medical Students’ Association (swimsa) is an independent association represeting all medical students in Switzerland. It was founded in 1917, and currently maintains 17 member organisations, 6 of which are medical faculties and 11 are public health and awareness organisations/projects. All medical students of Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich are represented on a national and international level.

History

1917 the medical faculties of Switzerland were united to the Association of Swiss Clinicians "Verband der Schweizer Klinkerschaften" (VDSK).

In 1951 the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) was founded by the VDSK and associations of six other countries in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1][2] From then on the IFMSA has been representing the interests of medical students on an international level. Later on the VDSK underwent a reform to become the Association of Swiss Medical Students (Verband der Schweizer Medizinstudenten) VSM, from which the organization IFMSA Switzerland had split, concentrating solely on professional clinical exchange for medical students.

In 2006 the VMS and IFMSA approached each other and decided to create a joined venture under the name swimsa - Swiss Medical Students’ Association. Nonetheless IFMSA-Switzerland mutated to swimsa Exchanges and remained a legally independent organization, still taking care of international exchanges. Further founding members of swimsa were the medical student organizations "Achtung Liebe", promoting sexual health and education, and "Gruhu", enabling medical students to volunteer for clinical electives in third world countries.

In 2014 the organization swimsa Exchanges was dissolved and formally integrated into swimsa.

Member Organisations

The student councils of the medical faculties of Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich are recognized as members of swimsa with voting rights at the national delegate assembly, which takes place twice a year. Other medical student organizations, also known as swimsa projects, are represented as members with voting rights as well. Currently there are ten such organizations/projects. Usually the organization/projects have their own constitutions and are as such de jure independent from swimsa.

Medical Faculty Full Name University Number of Students
FVMed Fachverein Medizin Zurich 1800
AEMG Association des Etudiants en Médecine de Genève Geneva 1400
AEML Association des Etudiants en Médecine de Lausanne Lausanne 1600
FaMed Fachschaft Medizin Fribourg 300
FaMBa Fachschaft Medizin Basel Basel 900
FSMB Fachschaft der Medizin Universität Bern Bern 1300
Organisation Locations Purpose
Achtung Liebe Basel, Berne, Zurich Sexual and Reproductive Health incl. HIV/AIDS Awareness & Peer-Education
Marrow Switzerland Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich Blood Stem Cell Awareness, Information & Registration
gruhu Zurich Humanitarian Interships in 3rd World Countries
Amitié Hispaniola Zurich Fundraising for the Justinian University Hospital in Haiti & other projects
Doctors and Death Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne
Teddybear Hospital Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich Example
M.E.T.I.S. Lausanne Public Health Projects and Social Awareness in and around Lausanne and in Tansania
ASC Action Santé Communautaire Geneva Public Health Projects and Social Awareness in and around Geneva
UAEM University Allied for Essential Medecine Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne Example
Medstache Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne Movember, Men's Health Awareness & Fundraising
Aufklärung gegen Tabak Bern

Activities

Swimsa is the official representation of Swiss dental and medical students and has seats in various commissions, such as the Commission of Swiss Medical Daculties SMIFK (Schweizerische medizinische Interfakultätskommission) or the Ministry of Health BAG (Bundesamt für Gesundheit). In addition the swimsa organizes international exchanges and takes part at the activities of the IFMSA. The association collaborates with various projects and organizations on the topics of public health, medical education, sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and human rights. The SMSC – Swiss Medical Students` Convention- takes place twice a year and enables students throughout Switzerland to meet and exchange experiences and ideas. Furthermore once a year a trainings weekend is organized.

Awards

swimsa honors medical students with the "U ROCK swimsa Award" and the organizations with the "Projects Award".

The "U ROCK swimsa Award" is presented twice a year during the SMSC (usually April and November) to people who have shown excellent commitment and endurance. The candidates are chosen by the executive board to be voted on by the national delegate assembly. The following list shows the recipients since its introduction:

The "swimsa project award" is the equivalent award for outstanding work of a project/organization and is presented annually at a SMSC after being elected by a representative jury.

See also

References

  1. ↑ History on the official website of IFMSA
  2. ↑ History on the official website from swimsa
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