candidature bronwyn jones - wordpress.com · 2012. 8. 8. · candidature!!...
TRANSCRIPT
Candidature
Liaison Officer for Medical Education Issues
2012 -‐ 2013
Bronwyn Jones
Motivation Letter
Dear IFMSA family,
G’day (!) I’m Bronwyn, a final-‐year student at the University of Western Australia. Before I go on to explain my motivation for applying for the position of LOMEi I would like to share a bit of my background with you:I was born to a South Korean mother and a British father in Harare, Zimbabwe, whereI lived for almost 20 years before migrating to Australia in the Zimbabwean diaspora. Africa is, and always will be, my home, and I envision working there as an Internal Medicine physician and Public Health specialist, teaching clinical skills to medical students in my spare time.
Home, Zimbabwe 2012
I initially became involved with IFMSA after I had the good fortune of learning about the organisation during the Joint IFMSA-‐AMSA International conference in Hong Kong. There I participated in the SCOME sessions and immediately knew I had found my niche. I subsequently showed interest in, and applied for, the position of SCOME Regional Assistant for Asia-‐Pacific, which I was lucky enough to attain. Therein was the start of my relationship with IFMSA.
During my time with IFMSA I have tried to get involved as much as possible. I am proud to say that I have been involved in multiple areas, including Publications, the Taskforce for External Representation, and the Asia-‐Pacific Think Tank, amongst others. The IFMSA has
provided me with many rich and wonderful experiences; it is my sincere hope that my journey with our federation may continue for a while to come.
Why do I want to assume the role of LOMEi?
Medical education is, and has been for the past 5 years, a major interest and passion of mine. I can remember feeling angry and frustrated about the sore lack of teaching on global health topics at my university during my pre-‐clinical years; I felt helpless that I could change anything about this … that is, until I found out about SCOME and IFMSA. As LOMEi I want to shift the role of decision-‐making on medical education towards those who receive it – medical students and doctors-‐in-‐training. I want medical students to receive the best education possible, and I want them to have a significant say in what constitutes this. It is this simple ideal that has provided the motivation for me to apply for the role of LOMEi.
I will now go on to explain how I believe the work I have done has prepared me well for this role:
My work with SCOME
In my capacity as Regional Assistant most of my efforts have gone towards trying to establish a SCOME platform in each of our Asia-‐Pacific NMOs, as well as strengthening those already in existence.I am delighted to say that India and Pakistan have recently joined our standing committee so, at the moment, we only have twoNMOs outstanding.
In collaboration with National Officers for Medical Education (NOMEs) I have endeavoured to consolidate existing SCOME frameworks, namely by establishing Local Officers for Medical Education (LOMEs) at a number of different universities and regions, and by offering skills in the area of medical education project development. At present I am in the process of developing a medical education project at my university which will focus on Aboriginal health issues, and involve medical students working inAboriginal clinics and rural communities.
This year I have worked to distribute a medical education survey (devised at the Global Health workshop in Manila in December 2012) to NMOs in our region. The survey will give us a better idea of what medical students in the Asia-‐Pacific region think about the quality of theireducations and what is necessary for positive change. Once the results are collected and compiled we will produce a report which willhopefully be used to guide curriculum development and change.
Currently I am constructing a database containing details on medical education projects in each NMO. This resource will provide medical students with the ideas and impetus to positively impact the quality of their educations by coming up with their own project initiatives or by contributing to current ones.
My work with the Taskforce for External Representation
As a taskforce member I have had the chance to learn much about what external representation is and why it is important to IFMSA. Our team discussed such topics as how to ensure sustainability and continuity with our external partners from year-‐to-‐year, and what criteria we should use in selecting partner organisations in the future. I believe this exposure has prepared me well for the duties of liaison officer, which, of course, are intrinsically related to the area of external representation.
Representing IFMSA at the XIX International AIDS Conference and the Asian Medical Students’ Conference in Manila
The opportunity to attend these conferences gave me further insight into what it means to represent the IFMSA. I now have an appreciation of the work that goes into preparing a delegation for external meetings; the logistics involved are now much more evident.
IFMSA represent! Students at the White House, Washington DC in July 2012
Team Asia-‐Pacific (!) at the March Meeting in Accra, Ghana
Plan of Action
Please read the following for details regarding my 12-‐point action plan which will describe my 12 main aims for the role of LOMEi.
12 main aims:
1. To advocate on behalf of medical students worldwide with regards to better education standards and to ensure that medical students play a significant role in decision-‐making concerning their medical educations:
In collaboration with the SCOME Director and Regional Assistants I plan to create a concise survey (based around that of the survey produced at the Global Health workshop in Manila) concerning medical education that will be distributed to all NMOs. The results will be compiled, following which a detailed report will be made and distributed both internally and amongst our external partner organisations
Regular e-‐mail communication will be made with NMO officials to determine any new issues facing medical education in their respective countries.These topics will then be discussed with board members of our partner organisations, including the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE), in order to highlight topics that may need to be addressed
Furthermore policy statements issued by SCOME will be distributed to partner organisations to further inform guidelines on medical education
2. To strengthen ties with current external partners:
Such as the WFME, the AMEE and the Right 2 Research Coalition by continuing with the progress made by our outgoing LOMEi; that is, by attending executive board meetings and communicating regularly by e-‐mail with regards to IFMSAs progress. I will also make sure to invite speakers from the aforementioned organisations to become involved with SCOME events, sharing their wealth of expertise at national, regional and international levels
3. To ensure IFMSA’s continued presence at relevant international conferences:
In particular, the World Conference on Medical Education and the AMEE Conference, but also other meetings such as those of the Federation of African Medical Students’ Associations and the South-‐East Asian Regional Association for Medical Education, for instance, in order to achieve more regional representation
The conferences will provide a good opportunity with which to inform institutions about IFMSAs stance on a particular topic; they also give students the chance to learn from, and express their opinions directly to, the decision-‐makers. As such it is importantto secure funding for capable students to attend such conferences. I will do this by writing official
letters of support for students, and by directly contacting airline companies as well as our partner organisations for assistance.
4. To increase transparency between external partners and IFMSA:
IFMSA:By providing NMOs with resources and publications from the WFME and other external partners; by updating the IFMSA blog with regards to outcomes from conferences; by regular e-‐mail postings to the IFMSA general and SCOME servers; by creating a monthly e-‐newsletter that will summarise important happenings in the field of medical education; and by giving presentations at GAs and regional meetings
External partners:By disseminating SCOME publications, policy statements and information on medical education projects and initiatives to both current and potential external partners; publishing articles in external publications;and giving presentations on SCOME’s work during external meetings
5. To evaluate the need for more regional partners for collaboration:
By seeking opinions fromthe SCOME Director, National Officers for Medical Education (NOMEs), SCOME Regional Assistants and NMO officials, and through networking at conferences and meetings
6. To ensure sustainability with regards to external representation in medical education:
By producing a comprehensive handover manual for my successor containing outcomes of decisions made, and plans for future progress
7. To ensure fair and equitable selection of eligible medical students from each region of the world at international conferences while keeping in mind those from under-‐represented countries:
I will do this by employing a qualified panel representative of all regions which will recommend delegates for selection after thorough review of their applications and credentials
8. To act as a mentor and tosupport medical students attending conferences:
With general advice and pastoral care, as well as trainings on medical education 101, protocols regarding representing the IFMSA, fund-‐raising techniques, and leadership skills
9. To ensure that I am available and fully committed to support and answer the queries of anyone who asks for assistance:
From the student with almost no knowledge on medical education issues to the president of the WFME
10. As a member of the Team of Officials I promise to be fully engaged and proactive in all of my duties:
I will endeavour to communicate efficiently through e-‐mail and to attend all Team of Officials Meetings as well as GAs. At General Assemblies and Regional Meetings I will actively contribute to SCOME session preparations, distributing materials, and holding workshops and presentations on the work of our partner organisations and how medical students can become involved
11. To collaborate effectively with the SCOME Director and SCOME Team, VPE and LOs with IFMSA team spirit:
SCOME Director and Team: I plan to contribute fully to the efforts (projects, events etc) of SCOME throughout the year; regularly update the SCOME Director and Team with regards to recent developments; assist with evaluating the need for, and creating, new SCOME policy statements; and keep up-‐to-‐date with advances in the field of medical education Liaison Officers: I will work closely with all LOs, particularly those with shared interests, on issues concerning medical education and external representation Vice President External: I aim to be in regular contact with the VPE regarding IFMSA promotional materials and other means of promoting SCOME and IFMSA to potential external partners (such as publishing SCOME articles in external publications); as well as fundraising strategies and logistics planning for conferences 12. And last but not least, to work tirelessly for the good of our federation:
I have the best interests of IFMSA at heart and will do my utmost best to improve it and make sure that its integrity is upheld. Please give me your confidence for what is sure to be a trulyamazing and privileged opportunity. Thankyou
With my Australian delegation :O)
Curriculum Vitae
Nationality: Zimbabwe; Australia; United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Phone number: +61403860934 Languages spoken: English (native); French (basic); Shona (basic) Education
• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Western Australia (April 2008 to November 2012)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Chemistry at the University of Western Australia (February 2005 to November 2007)
Activities Conferences attended
• 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington DC, United States of America • 2012 Asian Medical Students’ Conference on “Surmounting Health Disparities Across
Asia as One Region” in Manila, the Philippines • 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Pain Society in Melbourne, Australia • 2011 Joint IFMSA-‐Asian Medical Students’ Conference on Complementary Medicine
in Hong Kong • 2010 Asian Medical Students’ Conference on Geriatric Medicine in Jakarta, Indonesia • 2010 Students in Health and Medical Research Conference in Perth, Australia
IFMSA meetings attended
• 2011 Asia-‐Pacific Regional Meeting in Hong Kong • 2012 March Meeting in Accra, Ghana • 2012 August Meeting in Mumbai, India* • 2012 Asia-‐Pacific Regional Meeting in Penang, Malaysia*
IFMSA activities
• Regional Assistant (Asia-‐Pacific) for Medical Education, November 2011 to present • Photography Editor for the Publications Division,October 2011 to present • Member of the Task Force on the 2-‐year plan for External Representation, April 2012
to present • Co-‐Leader of the Task Force’s Small Working Group on Policy Statements and
Publications, April 2012 to present • Member of the Small Working Group on Synchronising Team of Officials and
Taskforce Documents, April 2012 to present • Support Person at the March Meeting to the Publications Director,March 2012 • Member of the Asia-‐Pacific Think Tank, 2012 • Member of the Small Working Group on SCOME projects, 2012 • IFMSA representative to the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington DC,
July 2012
Trainings received
• Conflict resolution • Leadership skills • Advocacy • Time management • Communication skills
Leadership
• Aboriginal People’s Representative for the Western Australian Medical Students’ Association, January 2012 to present
• Western Australian Youth Advisory Committee Member for the Red Cross, 2009 to 2011
• Youth Leader for the Red Cross’ World Aware Program, 2009 • City of Perth Youth Advisory Committee Member, 2010 to 2011 • Publications and Promotions Officer for the Students in Health and Medical Research
Conference, 2010 • Treasurer for the Chemistry Club at the University of Western Australia, 2007 • University Mentor at the University of Western Australia, 2006 to 2008
Volunteer service
• Zimkids community volunteer in Harare, Zimbabwe, February 2012 and January 2009 • English tutor and orphanage aid in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Chiang Mai, Thailand
respectively, November 2010 to January 2011 • AIDS awareness, and Needle and Syringe Exchange Program volunteer for the AIDS
Council of Western Australia, June 2005 to present • Medical attendant at Roebourne Aboriginal Medical Service, 2011 • Healthy Eating workshop volunteer, 2011 • Red Cross World Aware Program volunteer,2009 to 2010 • Volunteer in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Anne’s Hospital in Harare,
Zimbabwe, 2004 • Volunteer at the Youth Against AIDS Organisation in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2004 • Volunteer at Nazareth House for the Elderly in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2002 to 2003
Work Experience
• Clinical Tutor at the University of Western Australia, March 2012 to present • Receptionist at Sorrento Medical Centre, May 2012 to present • Medical Chemistry Lab Demonstrator, 2008 • Patient Services Assistant at Hollywood Hospital, 2006 to 2009 • High-‐school Chemistry and Mathematics Tutor, 2008 to present
Awards • John Flynn Clinical Placement Scholarship, 2009 to 2012 • Western Australian Youth Awards Certificate of Recognition, 2010 • Summer Research Scholarship at the University of Queensland, November 2009
to February 2010 • University of Western Australia, Faculty of Medicine Research Scholarship, 2009 • Summer Research Scholarship at the Australian National University, November
2007 to February 2008 • Royal Australian Chemical Institute Prize, 2007 • St. Catherine’s College Community Service and Academic Excellence Scholarship,
2005 Publications:
• Report on the AMSA-‐International conference on Complementary Medicine published in the Journal of the Asian Medical Students’ Association on the 20th of July 2012
• Report on the AMSA-‐International conference on Surmounting Health Disparities in the Asia-‐Pacific Region
Volunteering for Zimkids, Zimbabwe 2012
