AMSA-Philippines Primer

AMSA-PHILIPPINES

PRIMER

Contents About AMSA-Philippines..........................................................................................................4 Our International Affiliations ..............................................................................................5

Our Standing Committees......................................................................................................7

Our Major Annual Projects.....................................................................................................10 International Activities..............................................................................................................14 Meet our Member Organizations......................................................................................18

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About AMSA-Phil

About Us

The Asian Medical Students’ Association - Philippines (AMSA-Phil) is a national youth advocacy organization composed of medical students from all over the Philippines. With its dedication to promoting deeper understanding of the critical and multifaceted issues affecting health, AMSA-Phil seeks to place Filipino medical students at the forefront of transformative change in the community.

As a youth organization, AMSA-Phil aims to inspire innovative and collaborative approaches to social issues by engaging both global and local perspectives.

AMSA-Phil is also the country’s sole representative to two of the largest international medical student organizations: the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and the Asian Medical Students’ Association - International (AMSA-I).

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Our International Affiliations

What is IFMSA?

The International Federation of Medical Students Associations is one of the world’s oldest and largest student-run organizations. It comprises 145 National Member Organizations (NMOs) from 134 countries, representing more than 1.3 million medical students.

IFMSA is an officially recognized NGO within the United Nations system and the World Health Organization. It also works with the World Medical Association, among a wide range of partners.

Its structure mainly consists of Six Standing Committees — on Medical Education, Public Health, Human Rights & Peace, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS, Professional Exchanges, and Research Exchanges.

IFMSA gives its members the skills and resources to become competent health leaders through capacity building activities.

These are streamlined through programs on a local, national and international level.

IFMSA also provides opportunities for external representation, allowing us to voice out our concerns and priorities as future healthcare professionals. All these are done to positively impact the communities we serve.

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Our International Affiliations

What is AMSA International?

Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) International is a student-led, not-for-profit, non-governmental peak representative organization for medical students from across Asia, the Asia-Pacific, and beyond. AMSA has trained future doctors-to-be from 15 Full Member Nations, 3 Associate & 11 Observer Nations to share knowledge, undertake activities and social services and create international and transcontinental friendships.

The AMSA vision is Knowledge, Action, and Friendship. Three areas we continuously strive to further in our members and peers through our organizational missions.

AMSA International was founded at the 6th Asian Medical Students’ Conference (AMSC), held in Manila, Philippines, in 1985, making AMSA Philippines one of its founding members. It has six subsidiaries – Global Health, Academics, Asian Medical Students’ Exchange Program (AMSEP), eNewsletter, Journal of AMSA (JAMSA), and Membership and Development.

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Our Standing Committees

Our Standing Committees

AMSEP is one of the seven standing committees of AMSA-Philippines that exposes medical students to both academic and cultural exchange programs.

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Our Standing Committees

The Standing Committee on Medical Education is the platform where medical students come together to share, analyze and work in the development of their medical education and student involvement experiences in order to improve it. SCOME promotes projects, training and advocacy activities that enable medical students to complement and effect change in the education, as well as to develop individuals on a personal and professional basis.

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The Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) is an advocate of global health that offers medical students worldwide an opportunity to experience medicine in another culture and health system. We are the largest student-run exchange program in the world with more than 13,000 students per year from 106 different active national member organizations, and it is our mission to promote cultural understanding and cooperation among medical students and other health professionals through international exchanges.

The Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) is the department that carries out the public health initiatives of AMSA-Philippines—recognizing the pivotal role that medical students play in advocating for health issues. Focus areas include (but are not limited to) Universal Health Coverage, Mental Health, Noncommunicable Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Environmental Health. As part of the much larger IFMSA community, SCOPH in AMSA-Philippines is one with medical students all over the world. Our members have the privilege of partaking in an international knowledge sharing network, capacity building, exchange placements, and external learning opportunities.

Our Standing Committees

The Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS is a gathering of passionate individuals committed to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through creating culturally fashioned positive impact in local communities. SCORA envisions a world where individuals are empowered to exercise their SRHR equally, free from stigma and discrimination. Our mission is to provide both members and non-members tools, skills, information, and mindset necessary to advocate for SRHR in a culturally respected fashion through training, exchange of ideas, projects, and drafting policies.

The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace envisions a peaceful world where all individuals are entitled to full and equal access to their human rights. Our mission is to empower medical students to actively promote and protect human rights through advocacy, capacity building, awareness raising, and through supporting activities contributing to creating a fair and peaceful world.

The Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) facilitates the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations' research exchange program. It is a month-long research project placement wherein students can gain hands-on experiences and knowledge on healthcare and research. SCORE also advocates for open access and better research education. Through its activities, it aims to ignite in our members a passion for research and provide opportunities for them to become grounded in its basic principles and core competencies.

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National Medical Students’ Conference

Our Major Annual Projects

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The National Medical Students’ Conference (NMSC) is an annual two-day event that aims to tackle the pressing issues of the national health landscape in a conference setting. The first-ever NMSC started in 2006 which was held in Tagaytay.

In 2011, it was re-established and rebranded as a unifying avenue to enhance medical education outside the confines of the medical schools.

The objective is to bring together medical students from various member organizations of AMSA-Philippines, as well as showcase their projects, advocacies, and community development programs. NMSC is also an avenue where medical field experts share their experiences and expertise with medical students of Philippine schools.

The structure of NMSC is composed of the following: plenary talks, panel discussions, parallel sessions, and workshops. While the highlights of NMSC are the GAWAD AMSA and academic competitions--mainly, research papers and research poster competition. In 2020, the public poster competition was added and the NMSC was shifted to a virtual conference.

Our Major Annual Projects

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Our Major Annual Projects

Outside the Box

Outside the Box (OTB) is an annual culminating event of the Standing Committee on Medical Education. It was first held in 2013, the project was conceptualized to inspire and empower potential leaders from the different member organizations of AMSA-Philippines by discussing current and relevant issues in the medical field and encouraging them to think with a mindset that is beyond the four corners of the classroom. In 2020, Outside the Box will be rebranded as Outside the Box: Revamp (OTB-Rev) and it will focus on capacity building, advocacies, and collaborations.

OTB aims to attain an optimal and professional development of the medical students from different member organizations through joint efforts that will create sustainable changes for our generation, and future generations to come.

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Our Major Annual Projects

Hiyaw

Hiyaw is a nonconventional annual national event of AMSA-Philippines which is the highlight for the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS. It aims to promote social awareness and relevance through different art forms of self-expression including performances that invoke sharing of feelings and opinions, and gatherings on various topics, depending on the agreed theme for each event.

This event is done through close safe spaces, whether online or physical and includes both medical and non-medical participants.

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AMSEP

International Activities

Asian Medical Student’s Exchange Program (AMSEP) is an initiative from AMSA International (AMSA-I) that allows its members to participate in a 5-10 day exchange program with a chapter of their liking. AMSEP utilizes a twinning system, where 2 chapters form a binding contract and perform exchanges bilaterally. It ties to the main philosophies of AMSA, Knowledge, Action and Friendship, through the activities that are prepared which provide social, cultural and academic experiences.

SCOPE

SCOPE is a collaboration among different National Member Organizations of the IFMSA from around the world, providing opportunities for international exchange clinical experience for medical clerks/ interns.

We aim to provide an accessible avenue to experience healthcare in another culture, to collaborate with different international medical students and professionals, and to learn more about global health issues.

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International Activities

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International Activities

AMSC and EAMSC

Apart from the subsidiaries, one of the flagship programs of AMSA International is its biannual conference – the East Asian Medical Students’ Conference (EAMSC) and Asian Medical Students’ Conference (AMSC), held in January and July, respectively, hosted by various cities around the AsiaPacific region. Participated by hundreds of medical students from as many as 20 national chapters, these conferences aim to inspire delegates to become active in the amelioration of global healthcare problems through networking with other medical students. It challenges students to think beyond what is learned at university through various academic and cultural activities that explore a nominated conference theme. In recent years, AMSA-Philippines hosted the AMSC 2016 and the EAMSC 2021.

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International Activities

APRM, AM, and MM

Annually, IFMSA holds two General Assemblies: the March Meeting and August Meeting. Each is hosted by a different country every year, welcoming approximately 1000 medical students and 20 external partners from 5 regions worldwide.

MM and AM feature meetings of each Standing Committee, where there are training opportunities for skills development, governance and decision-making plenaries, as well as social activities and inspiring events on the conference theme.

Apart from this, members of our region can attend the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting held every June/July. These are just like the GAs, but held at a much smaller scale and focus on more specific priorities.

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Meet our Member Organizations

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Meet our Member Organizations

Local Member Organizations (LMO)

Advocates for Consciousness and Social Involvement Society - Asian Medical Students’ Association

Asian Medical Students’ Association Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation

ACSIS-AMSA is a student organization that aims to contribute to nation-building through health promotion by engaging its members in various socially relevant activities and developing attitudes, skills, and knowledge in forming members that will empower others into coaction.

It envisions itself to be a community of action-oriented medical students who are committed to cultivating their own advocacies, within and beyond the realm of health, that is vital in catalyzing social change locally and globally.

AMSA FEU-NRMF is a socio-civic organization that has always provided different avenues for medical students in their pursuit to become holistic and relevant physicians of the future. It also aims to offer a comprehensive introduction to local and global health issues. Through various programs and opportunities, AMSA FEUNRMF develops culturally sensitive medical students with the intention of influencing cross-cultural diversities that shape the concept of health both locally and globally while promoting qualities of friendship and camaraderie.

Asian Medical Students' AssociationJonelta Foundation School of Medicine

AMSA Jonelta is a student organization founded on advocacies which aim to develop competent, culturallysensitive and holistic physicians. Their main goal is to respond to the health needs of both the local and global community, all the while providing timely medical knowledge and experience to its students.

Through its different advocacies, AMSA Jonelta brings forth and participates in projects that promote inspiring and personal professional development, as well as, building sustainable communities and linkages.

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Meet our Member Organizations

Asian Medical Students’ Association University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc.

The Asian Medical Students’ Association - University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc. (AMSA-UERMMMCI) believes that every medical student has the potential, and ultimately, the responsibility to preserve the value of health in society. In this regard, every medical student shall aspire to become the five-star Filipino physician— social mobilizer, healthcare practitioner, administrator, researcher, and educator— whose life’s commitment is to enhance every person’s quality of life.

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Asian Medical Students’ Association Service-Oriented Medical Advocates “Service-Oriented Medical Advocates” entails that the organization is formed, supported and run by medical advocates, both students and practicing professionals alike who are united by one ultimate reason: passion for SERVICE.

“Soma” in medical parlance means “cell body” which is the most basic unit of life. The organization envisions contributing to the world at large by first creating platforms and projects that will benefit the basic unit of the society- the family.

AMSA-SOMA embodies the will to be of service to others without having to expect anything in return except for the smiles of the people the organization has touched.

Asian Medical Students’ Association University of Perpetual Help Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University

Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) UPH-DJGTMU is an non-stock, non-profit, non-government association composed of medical students from different year levels. It is committed in promoting active participation of UPH medical students in medical education, social involvement, moral and ethical awareness and ensuring active involvement through advocacy promulgation and international and local exchanges. strengthen the internal and external capacities and capabilities of a UPH medical student that shall propel them to achieve a higher level of knowledge and awareness that will make them an extraordinary 5 star physician.

Meet our Member Organizations

Asian Medical Students’ Association University of Santo Tomas (AMSA-UST)

Asian Medical Students’ Associatio- West Visayas State University (AMSA-WVSU)

Community Development and Research Society

Established in 1985, the Asian Medical Students’ Association–UST continues to develop academically-competent, sociallyresponsible and globally-oriented students of medicine who have profound awareness and understanding of their critical role as future health care providers. AMSA-UST serves to mold groundbreaking leaders of society capable of instilling change by upholding and advocating humanitarian ideals, medical ethics, and Thomasian values, as well as a sense of responsibility about relevant social issues that affect health, medical practice, and the health care system. This pandemic has brought new light as we venture into virtual conferences, training, and events from across the globe. Opportunities await each member as we maximize technology and virtual encounters with various medical schools locally and internationally.

The Asian Medical Students' Association of West Visayas State University (AMSA-WVSU) is a non-stock, non-profit, community- oriented and student driven, college-based organization. AMSA-WVSU aims to develop the social eye of medical students of West Visayas State University in seeing the inequities of our time, especially in the field of health, and to serve as a training ground for them to exercise their curiosity, creativity, and innovativeness in responding to these social pains both locally and globally in the spirit of good faith, service, harmony, and excellence.

ComDRS is a non-profit, independent, community-oriented student organization that represents PLM in the AMSA Philippines network as well as its international affiliations. The organization is directed in rendering medical services to those in need, seeking to gain additional knowledge in the field of medicine, educating the people with right and adequate information, and managing and mobilizing the community to effectively combat illnesses and to produce a group of holistic and fruitful doctors of tomorrow that will bring positive change in the community.

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Meet our Member Organizations

Philippine Medical Students’ Association

The Philippine Medical Students’ Association (PMSA) is a non-profit organization composed of medical students of Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela.

PMSA is an affiliate of International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA) along with 140 national member organizations from 129 countries.

Our organization envisions to develop future medical doctors with a passion for excellence and a heart of service in providing unparalleled medical services to the underserved, as well as holistically develop aspiring physicians to be humble healers and movers of society through allegiance, competence, and solicitude guided by the principles of integrity, professionalism and solidarity.

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Sagip Bayan Student Group - St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine William H. Quasha Memorial

The Sagip Bayan Student Group (SBSG) is a non-profit volunteer organization of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial, with the purpose of cultivating the value of social responsibility and community service in the minds of our fellow medical students. SBSG is known to produce socially responsible, holistic, and passionate doctors with heightened interest for community service. We take pride in conducting events that promote our ideals such as medical missions, medical education, blood donation drives, and advocacy campaigns, among others. Alongside our impressive roster of activities, we do not forget the value of fostering the spirit of camaraderie among our members, because in Sagip, we are family.

Social Action Medical Students Association–San Beda

Founded by a group of Bedan student doctors who recognized the need for an organization to become holistic physicians.

This organization was established to inspire medical students to become social catalysts by making them equipped to serve while studying to be doctors through providing alternative learning activities geared towards health and basic life support; by promoting social awareness in San Beda through continuous exposure to the current health situation of our country and by strengthening the desire to serve.

Meet our Member Organizations

SANGGAWAD

Sanggawad is the premier organization of Bicol University College of Medicine that aims to promote disaster awareness and seeks to contribute in the creation of future physicians who are capable in assessing and mitigating hazards during disasters, helping in disaster response and recovery, and assisting to build disaster resilient communities and seeks to assist in promoting its advocacies and strengthening its linkages.

Saint Louis University - Future Physicians For Health and Human Rights

University of the Philippines - Medical Students for Social Responsibility

The Future Physicians for Health and Human Rights (FPHHR) is a nonpolitical and non-profitable medical student organization located at Saint Louis University- School of Medicine. It seeks to instill social responsibility, cultural competence, and professionalism among medical students, transforming them to become catalysts of change and agents of social transformation who uphold the traits of a 7-star Louisian physician. This organization initiates, organizes and supports meaningful projects and activities that aim to address relevant local, national, and global issues affecting health, medical practice, healthcare system, human rights and the environment.

The UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility (UP MSSR) is an advocacydriven organization of Filipino medical students dedicated to service, education, and research in addressing various facets of health and its determinants. UP MSSR cultivates social consciousness and responsibility to its members through awareness, involvement, and engagement with multiple fields relevant to health. At the same time, the organization ensures that its members are equipped with both local and global perspectives through collaborations with affiliate organizations.

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Meet our Member Organizations

Tambal - University of St. La Salle -College of Medicine

TAMBAL, the student formation committee of the University of St. La Salle - Bacolod College of Medicine, aims for a united advocacy in health care awareness that will drive medical force to attain equity in health care. Bothered by the current issues and people’s apathy towards such, TAMBAL commits to provide opportunities for awareness and options to respond.

Specifically, the committee seeks to mold students to strive for academic excellence, exemplify global competence in our chosen fields, share our passion in the pursuit of better health care, manifest emotional maturity and social responsibility and recognize that we are merely instruments of God who is the master healer.

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AMSA-Servus Nova Medicinae

AMSA-SeNoM is a student-led organization in Southwestern University PHINMA – School of Medicine who are competent, willing to serve the community and contribute in the progress of future physicians towards a better community.

Meet our Member Organizations

Candidate Member Organizations (CMO)

AMSA - Accentuating Lives through Service and Advocacy

AMSA- Student Advocates for Public Health and Environment

The Asian Medical Students’ Association - Accentuating Lives through Service and Advocacy (AMSA-ALSA) is charitable, non-stock, non-profit organization, which promotes the welfare of local and global communities by empowering the students and alumni, and the members of the community through medical, surgical and educational services.

Student Advocates for Public Health and Environment (SAPHE) is a nonprofit student organization committed to the advancement of public health and environmental advocacies. In the pursuit of producing well-rounded doctors, SAPHEMHAM has continually worked on providing different opportunities to all its members with the intention of providing advanced knowledge and skills that not only equip them as future physicians but in turn can help shape a greener environment and a better public health for all.

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Meet our Member Organizations

Observer Member Organizations (OMO)

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Agile Service Through Reliable Advocates

Association of Emilian Medical Students

ASTRA is a student-led organization from the Gullas College of Medicine, Inc an organization from the Gullas College of Medicine Inc. which aims to upgrade the quality of life of future physicians that promotes global competence, enhances multicultural collaboration and integrates values formation. We also work towards educating communities about the relevant health issues in our society, extend health care services to the less fortunate and protect our environment.

The Association of Emilian Medical Students is a medical organization of Emilio Aguinaldo College, established in the year 2018, that respectfully adheres to the core Emilian values of Virtue, Excellence and Service; striving towards holistic leadership, clinical competence and community-driven service whilst upholding the philosophy, vision, mission and core values of the school.

Meet our Member Organizations

Driven Advocates for Sustainable and Innovative Goals

Medical Missionaries for Social Responsibilities

DASIG is a student-led organization that aims to promote humanitarian ideals among medical students and aspires to produce driven medical advocates and leaders who are professionally competent, socially responsible, and have initiative to cultivate and implement sustainable and innovative goals in the medical field, community, and in the nation as a whole.

DASIG provides medical students an avenue for them to initiate, support and participate in global, national and local efforts, inside and outside the medical field, so as to contribute in resolving medical issues and other issues relevant to our society.

Medical Missionaries for Social Responsibilities is a postgraduate professional group under the supervision of Adventist University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Puting Kahoy, SIlang, Cavite. As future physician missionaries, believing that the healing of the mind and body is equally important with the healing of the soul, AUP MMSR, aim to emulate the health ministries of their Great Master Physician, Jesus Christ; Empowering their members to develop their social aspect through participation in different programs and projects by the college, the university, and other organizations, nationally and internationally.

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