In the lead up to the 2010 Australian Medical Student’s Association (AMSA) Convention held in Hobart, Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) and AMSA ran a video competition called Get Promoting General Practice. The competition aimed to engage medical students in the promotion of general practice as a career of choice and to help break down barriers and stigma attached to the profession.

Entries were judged by Ross Roberts-Thomson, president of AMSA; Brooke Ah Shay, Vice Chair of GPSN; Professor Michael Kidd, GPSN patron and Anne Messenger, AGPT Senior Manager Communications and Marketing. Winners of the 2010 AGPT and AMSA Video Competition were announced on 9 July 2010 at the final plenary session of the 2010 AMSA Convention, with Anne Messenger and Dr Jeff Ayton president of ACRRM, presenting the prizes.

First prize went to Mercia Eminoglu, Sashie Howpage and Aarani Somaskanthan from the University of Western Sydney for their video “Bob’s Big Decision”. Each member of the winning team received $1,500.00.



Second prize went to Harley Mason, Helena Chan and John Ang from the University of Tasmania for their video “Generally Speaking” All three received John Murtagh’s General Practice Companion Handbook as a prize.



Other entries include “Decide” and “A Medical Student’s Dilemma”.

Hello again GPSN members!

Yes I am here to bug you again – a little earlier than expected, but one can never get enough of GPSN now can one? Rhetorical question, so please do not answer! Well, I have arrived back in Adelaide after six weeks of Darwin and I must say “What IS this cold weather about?”

GPSN is tracking well. We are putting the final touches on our presentation in Mexico. Basically we are discussing how WE function as a peer-to-peer marketing and social network marketing organisation and thus engaging with medical students whom on the whole are Gen Y. How will this progress and how do we intend to connect with Gen Z as they begin to enter the tertiary study arena and just how do we promote General Practice to them? These issues will all be addressed in our workshop and hopefully we can promote and showcase both GPSN and GP Compass and our engagement tools to the world of General Practitioners. Who knows, maybe some will be excited enough to try and utilize the same model in their own environments back home! GPSN goes WORLDWIDE!!! OK, maybe not and just allow me to return to planet earth before continuing!

For those involved with the local GPSN clubs make sure you start updating your local university GPSN website. The winning team will receive a $300 Myer voucher!! If you have any questions about how to do this contact the GPRA office on 1300 131 198. It’s worth it for a prize like that!

Guys – I have submitted an abstract and am intending to submit another for the RACGP GP10 Scientific Conference in Cairns later in this year. You should have all received an email about the extension of the submission date for abstracts. PLEASE consider submitting something and attending the conference. What did you do before Medicine? What have been some of your key lessons from medicine thus far? I KNOW some of you are very good public speakers, so why not give it a bash? If actually presenting is not your bag, PLEASE consider coming to the conference as it looks like it will be a very good event and a lot of work is being done in an attempt to decrease the costs. Why not approach your GPSA and ask them if your local RTP (Regional Training Provider) would be interested in sponsoring a few students? What is the worst they can do – say no????? We are trying hard to see if people in Cairns are prepared to billet students and registrars to help reduce costs again.

At a higher level, the final discussions are taking place regarding future funding for GPSN and GP Compass. I would say that the fact we are the fastest growing student organisation and have demonstrated our effectiveness holds us in good stead – and one should never underestimate the negotiating capacity of GPRA CEO, Amit! We will keep you posted on the outcomes, but I have the greatest faith in those going into bat for us.

Well, I should head back to the Emergency Department and see what presentations are awaiting me to practice my slowly burgeoning skills upon them! Hope you are all enjoying your year and gaining some skills and not feeling TOO overwhelmed. Just remember we WILL get there in the end – and that is when the REAL learning begins!

Cheers
Kerry

Big Careers in Medicine
SA Medical Careers Expo 2010
Sunday 23 May 2010 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Paramount Entrance
Corner Port Rd and Adam St, Hindmarsh

The 2010 SA Medical Careers Expo is for all TMOs, Interns, Final and Penultimate year medical students.

This is an exciting opportunity to explore your career options with:
> Specialist Medical Colleges
> Metropolitan Health Units
> GP Training Programs
> And Rural Employers

Attend the seminars to demystify the process or listen to a Specialist share about their profession.

For more information:
http://www.saimet.org.au/events/expo

Supported by
AMA (SA)
SA iMET
AUSS

Well fellow GPSN members, another month has flown by. Can you believe how quickly the year goes – especially when you have assignments due or exams pending? I am writing to you from the more humid climes of Darwin. I’m doing an elective rotation up here and would recommend it to anyone. Realistically, getting out of your ‘home turf’ every now and then is good for the soul – and also expanding your knowledge and experience base.

It has been another busy month. I just want to thank all the GPSAs and their teams who were at the annual Breathing New Life conference in March. You would not believe the work they all put in for ideas on improving the clubs at the local level. Some of them amazed the National Executive with the work they have already completed and the events they were hoping to plan and run locally. We have certainly come a long way in the last few years and the events are all of such a top notch quality. You all have some very motivated and organised people representing you and organising events for you. Please support them as much as you can.

You should all try to have a look at the website there have been some wonderful developments there also, and each university has their own page under that main page. There is a myriad of information there also – and even some amusing photos. If you have a spare ten minutes, or are seeking further reasons for procrastination, why not have a squizz?

Some of you may have heard rumours about another competition we are hoping to get running. This one is about health promotion. There will be more news soon, but basically we are hoping that each club will run a health promotion on a topic of their choice (such as sun protection, STI prevention, portion sizes, or any other health issue that takes your fancy) in any platform you so desire – so video, poster or such like. It is vital that as future healthcare professionals we think of ways to engage with our communities to build health – let’s not leave ‘building a good health system’ to Governments – let’s try to build healthy communities, even if it is one step at a time! You never know, this MAY go further than a GPSN competition! There will be more details to follow – but put your thinking caps on….. also another way to procrastinate!

Well, in a few weeks myself, GPRA Chair Belinda Guest and CEO Amit Vohra will be heading to the World WONCA Conference in Cancun, Mexico. Yes it sounds wonderful, but there will be a lot of work being done and we are actually showcasing both GPSN and GPRA and hopefully getting others to think of ways to nurture students and GP Registrars so that vertical integration and peer support becomes the norm in our profession. Once again, who would have thought we would come this far as to having a space within the world forum of GPs/Family Physicians? I will tell you all about when we get back, but I hope I am able to represent the student body well and demonstrate the importance of both peer support and vertical integration!

Well I have to head back to consultant ward rounds – wish me luck.. hopefully I can answer the majority of questions thrown at me – actually I would be happy with knowing answers to half of them! Enjoy your next month guys and keep smiling – do not stress too much….. we WILL get through the years and we WILL get there in the end!

Cheers,

Kerry Summerscales
GPSN Chair
gpsn.chair@gpra.org.au

Each year MIGA co-ordinates an Elective Grant Program which offers up to five Grants of $3,500, each consisting of:

• A $2,000 Elective Grant to assist in meeting the student’s travel costs, and
• A $1,500 Medical Support Grant to assist in the purchase of medical or other aid for the community the student visits.

Laura Trezise was a 2009 recipient of MIGA’s Student Elective Grants Program, which provides financial assistance to medical students undertaking electives in developing communities. A full account of Laura’s experiences in Kamuzu Central and Bwaila Hospitals in Malawi, Africa is available to read here.

Applications for the 2010 Program open on 3 May 2010. Further information is available from www.miga.com.au or by contacting MIGA on 1800 777 156.