AMSA’s 50th Birthday Issue Spotlight on the history of the Australian Medical Students’ Association The history of your Med Soc Panacea’s Bachelor of the Year What to expect in 2010 and much more... The American Express Gold Credit Card Summer Edition 2009-10 B:9>86AD;;>8:G >IÀHCDINDJG<:C:G6AEG68I>8:

MDFT3208_297x210_P.indd 1 20/11/09 2:45:53 PM contents Welcome from the Editor 2 Spotlight on the history of AMSA Volume 43, No. 2 Welcome from the Chair of the History American Express Gold Credit Card Project Working Party 5 Summer Edition 2009-10 AMSA’s 50th Birthday Issue Back to where it all began: the origins of AMSA 6 The 1982 guide to organising convention 8 Editor-in-Chief & Designer: Sally Ayesa Presidential letter to Panacea, 1968 10 Back from the brink: How AMSA was saved 13 Marketing: Jon Noonan & Jeff Ahn Years in review 14 Proof reading: Daina Rudaks & Tom Thanks for the memories: some of the best Crowhurst from the last 50 years of Convention 16 AMSA and Advocacy: Some important issues Panacea is published by the Australian we have fought for over the last 50 years 18 Medical Students’ Association What are the origins of your medical society? 20 AMSA & the AMA: A short history 30 42 Macquarie Street Barton ACT 2600 General articles Postal adddress: The year of living orangely: 2009 President’s PO Box 6099 Report 32 Kingston ACT 2604 Looking forward: 2010 President’s Report 35 Producing ethical doctors has to begin with Phone: +612 6270 5435 ethical education 36 Fax: +612 6270 5499 AMSA’s National Leadership Development Seminar 2009 37 Email: [email protected] Welcome from the 2010 Executive 38 www.amsa.org.au Panacea & AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year Competition 40 AMSA Major Partners 2009: It’s not Miss, it’s Doctor: A history of females in Australian Medicine 46 Aviation and Medicine: It’s all about the checklists 47 Opinion: The future of healthcare in Australia- Doctors should lose 48 The miracle of life 50 Four weeks in Mumbai 51 How I mastered time travel 52 MedCest: A how to guide 55 Medicine by the stars 57 Life in medicine 58 Welcome from

Sally Ayesa the Editor 2009 AMSA Publications Officer As a preface to this edition’s editorial, I must share that I have been agonising over this for days, if not weeks. I have made countless starts but nothing seemed to flow as I wanted. You may call it writer’s block, but I have a feeling it has something to do with me not being able to grasp the best way to introduce such an important Charlie & Sally Ayesa issue of Panacea – the one which celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the organisation which I have become so Perth Convention, 2006 fond of. and there have been tears and triumphs amongst my Currently, I am sitting in 40 degree heat at a bus stop, time in office. Regardless, three and a half years and four waiting to be taken to Geelong Hospital where I will Conventions later I can sit back and say that some of the hopefully spend an afternoon acquiring a little bit of people who make my life would not have been in it if it experience and knowledge. I have just gotten off the hadn’t been for AMSA. phone with my sounding board who commented that it might be appropriate to reflect a little on my life with So, in honour of 50 years, countless memories, countless AMSA over the past year, as my time as Publications friendships and all of the people who have had their Officer draws to a close. I have decided to go one better lives changed and driven forward by AMSA, I say Happy and reflect on what AMSA has given me over my five Birthday from a Geelong bus stop in the forty degree years as a medical student - my own personal history. heat.

My first taste of AMSA came at Perth Convention, 2006. I was one of the last people to get a registration, six days Some very big after it opened (which is near unheard of today). On my first night my costume was conservative, white pants, a thanks ... striped top and pigtails, with my brown hair completing what I thought was a fairly decent version of Mary Ann As you can appreciate this is no ordinary issue from Gilligan’s Island. As seasoned conventioneers would of Panacea! Some members of our extended appreciate, I started to gain a little more confidence community have dedicated their time and resources and lost a few clothes throughout the week, cumulating to help make this issue a true celebration of AMSA. with a corset and fishnets on Underpants & Overcoats night. Perhaps my most successful night ever, as this was Special thanks from the editor to James Churchill the night I hooked up with the tall, dark and handsome Cascade Cup Team Captain from Tasmania. I doubt the (who sat with me for three days scanning in articles scantily clad 20 year old from back then would have and pouring over archives) and Ross Roberts- believed anyone who told her that in two years time Thomson (for sharing his vast collection of AMSA that captain would have been jumping into the Lake at memorabilia and providing some great ideas and Albert Park after leading Tasmania to victory. Or that she insights whenever I needed guidance). A number would have married the man who she kissed when he of other contributors have donated their memories had a Tasmanian Devil safety-pinned to the front of his and they have been acknowledged within the underpants. pages that follow.

Before you accuse me of being sappy and contrite, Also, thank you to the entire AMSA History Project understand that my relationship with medicine or AMSA Working Party who have provided insight and ideas has by no means been without the odd bump in the road, along the way american express gold credit card summer edition panacea-half-page-ad2.ai 30/10/09 5:56:03 PM

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The Health Super Student Club is a club formed by Health Super Pty Ltd, the Trustee of the Health Super Fund, a leading industry superannuation fund for the Australian Health and Community Services sector. Membership to the Health Super Student Club is different to becoming a member of the Health Super Fund as you won’t hold any superannuation interest or any other right in relation to the Health Super Fund. To learn more about the Health Super Fund check out healthsuper.com.au. Prepared by Health Super Pty Ltd ABN 97 084 162 489, Trustee of the Health Super Fund (ABN 88 293 440 675). welcome from the chair of the history project James Churchill working party University of Melbourne Welcome to the Summer Edition of the AMSA Panacea, long time we’ve been having too much fun to think about this issue celebrating the 50th anniversary of the writing it all down! organisation. AMSA’s history is simply too important to leave to fade in Much has been achieved in AMSA’s 50 years. From the memories of its alumni. Leading the charge to collect humble beginnings in 1960 as a ‘Convention’ of a handful and organise this organisation’s rich history is the AMSA of students in sunny Brisbane, AMSA has grown to be an History Project Working Party. amazing and diverse organisation. Formed in 2004, the working party consists a group of Over the years, AMSA has seen changes in name, six current & past medical students, many of whom have different logos (that can be found), a New Zealand served on Executive teams and all of whom share a Convention and a host of weird and wonderful passion for this organisation and its rich history. publications. There has been advocacy on a wide range of issues, from two-year internships to the introduction of The goals of the History Project are to organise and seatbelts in cars. maintain AMSA’s archives of documents, photos, publications and paraphernalia, and to create exhibitions There have been times of great prosperity and times of of articles from these archives. the real prospect of AMSA ceasing to exist. Some of the material you see in this edition has been That AMSA has grown to be what it is today is a compiled by members of the working party and testament to the dedication of medical students past and contributed by AMSA alumni, for which all involved with present. Some of those to whom AMSA owes its proud AMSA’s history project are grateful. history appear on its honour boards of AMSA Presidents and Honorary Life Members. It’s through the generosity of those who have written in these pages, studied in these hospitals before us, that we These days, when one looks at AMSA, they see learn about the AMSA of years past. representation of our members to the highest levels of government and seminars hosted at Parliament House. So, if you’re reading this as a medical student, get They see community initiatives involving thousands of involved in the events, take action in the advocacy medical students and unprecedented engagement of campaigns and read the organisation’s various members with issues in Global Health. publications.

They see Conventions entertaining more than a thousand If you’re reading this as an AMSA alumnus, look back on proud delegates. AMSA now counts its members at more your AMSA days with fondness and consider joining the than 14,000, across 21 medical schools. new group set up for the AMSA Alumni - see page 60.

The lists of AMSA’s activities and achievements continue Most of all, to anyone reading this Anniversary edition of to expand, year by year. Some of its recent achievements Panacea, take pride in the AMSA of today, and the AMSA are detailed in this excellent edition of the Panacea – of yesteryear. itself a magazine dating back to 1968. Happy 50th birthday, AMSA! In all these achievements in the 50 years of its existence, AMSA has much to celebrate – the trouble is that for a

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 5 Back to where it all began

Members of the first AMSA Executive, 1960

The cohort of students at the first AMSA Convention in 1960 american express gold credit card summer edition Back to where it all began The origins of the Australian Medical Students' Association

Ross Roberts-Thomson University of Adelaide

It all started back in the 1950s when there was a feeling As part of the Constitution, an executive would be elected amongst medical students that there was a need for a by the Members - the Members being the Constituent national or Australasian Medical Students’ Association. Medical Student Societies - to transact the business of the The University of Sydney tried on three separate Association and to run the National Convention each year. occasions to create such a body but couldn’t gain the required interest from the other states. The pursuit of this From the 22nd to the 28th of May 1960, about sixty body was then taken up by an energetic committee from interstate medical students descended on Brisbane. the University of Queensland in 1960, and they were The week was comprised of interesting lectures from rewarded for their efforts by positive responses from the the leading professors and teachers in Brisbane with other states. “well chosen” social entertainment in the evenings. The program gave the opportunity for students to form The primary purpose of the meeting was the formation an opinion of their standard of medical education and of the Australasian Medical Students’ Association. The hospitals, as well as to make numerous lasting and term Australasian was justified by the future plans to beneficial relationships with students from other States. involve Otago, New Zealand. The first meeting drew up a comprehensive constitution which was approved by a Mr A. von der Borch summed up the feelings of the General Meeting. The aims of the Association were: Convention nicely by saying that “All delegates who attended the Convention are of the opinion that (1) To serve and represent the Medical Students of the Australasian Medical Students’ Association is a Australasia worthwhile organisation and if it fulfils its aims and (2) To promote co-operation and understanding amongst objectives it should be of benefit to us all.” Medical Students of Australasia (3) To encourage interchange of ideas in all fields of Based on an article by A. von der Borch, AMSS Review, Medical Education and Practice. August 1960 (4) When deemed necessary to co-operate with N.U.A.U.S. and other bodies having similar objectives. (5) To initiate any new activities deemed desirable. AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 7 The 1982 guide to organising AMSA Convention While delving into the vault we have found this gem of AMSA history, and we have pulled out some of our favourite nostalgic recommendations. Brought to you by the organisers of the 1980 Sydney Convention.... on setting up the office... Once you have got your basic committee, it needs an office in which to lounge. You are going to be collecting a lot of material as time goes on (e.g. 400 convention satchels) and a large office with lots of bench space was a great asset to us. The Dean was most helpful on this score, ordering the Pathology Department to make the vacant Professor’s office available (much against their will). You may not be this lucky but he will fix up something. As you will be leaving petty cash, etc. there, it must be able to be locked up. You will need it until six weeks after Convention, to finish off accounts etc, and it makes life easier post convention if your initial request includes this extra time.

A storeroom or something similar will be needed to deposit vast quantities of food and drink towards the time of the actual event and somewhere handy should be found. A monstrous freezer/cold room is also an asset. (We gained access to the gigantic freezer in the morgue of the Anatomy Department).

on the academic program... Generally, the Academic Program should be interesting and stimulating. Whether anyone is going to learn anything at Convention is debateable, but I think that the Academic Programme should at least attempt to present new ideas and teach new ways of looking at things.

on adealide at the boat races... “Suitable drinking vessels” seems ridiculous but a select group of imbeciles from a medium sized medical school (which shall remain nameless) to the west of Victoria and the east of W.A. (stripped to their jockettes) didn’t like the foam cups we provided. (They were hard to please - they weren’t going to drink the Guiness either) managed to destroy 500 foam cups and strew their remains the length and breadth of the paddock before we cottoned on to what they were doing. Tassy saved the day by going to the pub (10km away) and hiring beer glasses. Looking back, I have to laugh but at the time I could not believe their childishness. I nearly fell over backwards when one tried to explain that the foam cups had a larger diameter so that the angle of curvature was different from what they had practised on and it would not fit their lips properly! Therefore they were going to destroy every cup so it could not be held that day. It does not surprise you that the man from Guinness withdrew his sponsorship of the other keg, does it? american express gold credit card summer edition The 1982 guide to organising AMSA Convention

on cabaret i.e. the annual catastrophe... Each society puts on a short act, the best one of which wins the “Variety Cup”. The home team is at an unfair advantage and is hence not eligible to win the Cup that year. It has the potential to be one of the best events of the Convention Programme, but unfortunately it never seems to. Don Rose (Tas. ‘79) gave me explicit instructions on the Cabaret which I now recommend to you.

1) You need an old hall - if you have wall to wall carpet, start saving for your damages bill now. 2) Limit the amount of free alcohol - in Tassy there was free alcohol which people were pouring on the floor to make it slippery! We charged 20c/glass (ticket system) which is below cost and at least limited the amount sprayed on stage. 3) Limit the amount of food - half the sandwiches in Tassy ended up on stage, many in the piano. We supplied only potato chips and twisties which make very poor missiles. People were told to eat before coming. 4) Remove everything from the hall which is not bolted down or else it will end up on stage. 5) Don’t let any missiles in the door - we failed to detect a case of rotten tomatoes and then got flack from the DJ when he had instant tomato sauce dripping through his mixer. (Beware of beer cans and bottles too - they can be lethal). We only served people in foam cups or Convention mugs - the first is a poor missile and the latter is too precious to throw. 6) If the place has curtains on the stage, take them down and replace them with some old rags of your own or change your hall or be prepared to pay for new ones after you leave. They are certainly an advantage in putting on good acts so if even makeshift curtains can be rigged up, it helps. 7) Make sure you have an adequate P.A. system (40 watts/channel plus) with multiple microphones for the different acts. If you hire a mixer board and get someone who knows what they are doing to use it, you will improve the potential for the acts no end. 8) Know where the main fuse box is for the hall. At both Tas. (‘79) and Sydney (‘80) some drongoes turned off the power in the middle of the acts. You’ll then have to find the right switch to turn it on again - easier if you have found it before everyone arrives. 9) PRACTISE YOUR OWN ACTS! The only way to lift the tone of the evening is to improve the standard of acts. This is not hard if some thought goes into it beforehand.

on venues for the social program... The way I believe to do this is to do more yourselves and organise more private functions. It would be criminal to inflict an entire convention on any one person’s private house, but if people were entertained at the private homes of the host city students in small groups even for one night as was done in the early conventions, you will save a lot of money. The cabaret is also an inexpensive function but the general poor standard of acts tends to bring the adjective “cheap” to mind as well. As a result, it often becomes a revolting, drunken event. Picnics also tend to be less expensive as you can similarly do more for yourselves. In Barn Dances you can also get away with older venues, which are cheaper.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 9 american express gold credit card summer edition Eight years after the birth of AMSA came the birth of AMSA’s signature publication. The cover opposite came from the very first edition some forty-two years ago. All those years later medical students across the country, like yourself, are still reading Panacea (although now you don’t have to pay thirty cents for the experience!) In 1968 the President had a strong focus on strengthening bonds with medical students overseas and the organisation looking inward to see what improvements could be made.

Presidential letter to Panacea (Vol 1. No. 1)

Sir: It is indeed a great privilege to be able to address every medical student in Australia, Papua-New Guinea and New Zealand, all of whom are members of the Australiasian Medical Students’ Association, through the medium of this first Australiasian Medical Students’ Journal.

In this brief letter some of the more enlightening aspects of A.M.S.A. activities will be discussed, as well as some of A.M.S.A.’s problems. In international student affairs A.M.S.A. has shown to be an active partcipant. For seven years it has been a full member of the International Federation of Medical Student Associations - I.F.M.S.A. and has taken part in some of its projects and has sent a delegate to its annual general assemblies. More recently, however, A.M.S.A. has concentrated on the South-East Asian region and it took the initiative to establish the Asian Regional Medical Student Association - A.R.M.S.A. and accordingly reduced its membership status in I.F.M.S.A. to that of associate member. The four foundation members of A.R.M.S.A. are the national medical student associations of Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. .... It is clear that there is a definite awareness amongst students in Australia and Asian countries of the need for international contacts and close cooperation between medical students of different countries. This is reflected by the establishment of the Asian Regional Medical Student Association and by A.M.S.A.’s involvement in it. The success of any such international student body depends upon the enthusiasm of the member associations and the contribution that the members are prepared to make.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 11 with thanks to A/Prof Warwick Carter, former UQMS Executive Member american express gold credit card summer edition Back from the brink: How AMSA was saved James Churchill University of Melbourne Throughout AMSA’s 50-year history, there have been times of great prosperity equalled by times of great hardship as an organisation.

One of these times of hardship came in May 1988, when it seemed that perhaps AMSA would cease to exist. Enter Mr Stephen Tudge and his team of unlikely saviours from the University of Melbourne and Monash University. Stephen had not previously been involved with AMSA, and attended the Council meeting in Adelaide on Sunday 15th of May 1988, as an observer whilst attending Convention.

It seemed as if AMSA was doomed. The previous Queensland-based Executive, led by John O’Sullivan, had reached the end of their term, and while there was some interest from the AMSA Council in continuing the Association, nobody was prepared to stand as President. The prospect of ending AMSA, including Convention and all of its activities, was real.

Stephen put up his hand to offer to take on the Presidency where nobody else would do so. He quickly gained the support of a handful of University of Melbourne students, who formed his Executive team, and received the approval of the AMSA Council.

The 1988-89 Executive was born, despite the fact that none of the team had had any exposure to AMSA other than the Convention they had been attending. Their leadership during that 12-month term was crucial to the survival of AMSA.

In this time, AMSA advocated on issues including compulsory GP training programmes and two-year Internships, and two members of the Executive represented AMSA at a meeting of the African Medical Students’ Association in Liberia, focussing on AIDS in Africa. The full Melbourne 1988-89 Executive was: Stephen Tudge (Melb) as President, Michael Yeoh (Melb) as Treasurer, Most importantly, at the conclusion of the Melbourne Chris Jackson (Melb) and Julian Elliott (Melb) as National Executive’s term, AMSA was in a strong position and Liaison Officers and Chris Barnes (Monash) student interest in the Association had been revitalised. The Melbourne Executive successfully handed over to Mr Tudge is currently an ENT surgeon in Melbourne, and a Sydney team, and Stephen continued to serve on the for his contribution to AMSA, was granted Honorary Life AMSA Council as the representative for the University of Membership in July 2009. His name is inscribed on the Melbourne. Honour Board hanging at the AMA Federal Office. AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 13 years in review Ever wondered what worried the AMSA of recent history? When certain changes were made and what was important to students? We The AMSA Executive has developed (or is developing) have tracked down exerpts from presidents’ comprehensive statements and discussion papers in several fundamental areas. As well as being used as reports years not so long ago... the basis for student debate in our publications, they can all be disseminated electronically. Beyond just canvassing2000 issues, any policy statement must yield its own initiatives that encourage students to participate in events, or alternatively be used to underpin AMSA representations to decision-making authorities. The issues for AMSA in 1995 included gradually changing Essentially, policy must be acted on. It must enhance the blokey, beer swilling party image of AMSA Council student life or advance the years immediately after (not to mention Convention) and the introduction of graduation. Currently, we have four areas to focus on: words such as “financial accountability” and (believe it or 1995not) “budget” into the AMSA lexicon. Much of this work • Workforce and training regulations of professionalising AMSA was started by David Evans and example of action: lobbying to government, his team in 1994, and was continued in 1995 and 1996. politicians and medical colleges; • Medical school and internship accreditation, The relationship between Convention and Council was evaluation and curriculum formalised, the advantage being that Convention ‘Go action: lobbying to Postgraduate Medical Councils, sick in Vic’ was held in Melbourne in 1995, and the Deans of medical schools, presentation to CPMEC Convention coordinator was also on the Executive. This and AMC; organizing forum in September to canvass was the first year of the alcohol optional night at AMSA, issues with stakeholders. with a voucher system in place. Convention was a roaring • Medical student registration success, with ‘Remier League’ making its first national action: representation to state authorities drafting appearance thanks to the work of the boys from Adelaide guidelines and registration and of course ‘Joke’, ‘Farce’ and ‘Introitus’. In its original • Rural health, education and training form it was required to be (p)ants down or bras out in action: high school education project; representation order to (p)lay, and the chair had absolute authority, only to universities, government, colleges challenged by the word of the “thumbmaster”. The University of Western Australia and Notre Dame The AMSA also went ‘online’ in 1995 with the purchase University started exploring the possibility of a of a ‘modem’, which when connected to our top of the new medical course in Perth earlier this year. Good range Macintosh 2ci let us connect to the ‘internet’. We for graduate students in Perth wanting to study splashed out that year and also bought a third computer medicine, but what are the implications for current to go with our desktop and our laptop - exciting! AMSA medical students? also paid for a mobile phone for the president, but not for the Executive. The inaugural debating competition will be staged at this year’s Convention in Adelaide. More than ten teams, one from each university will be selected and participate in this knockout debate, and receive a travel subsidy to attend Convention. I hope this will not only stimulate ideas and provide entertainment at Convention, but add to the attractiveness of the week to those who want to do more than socialise. Come along and watch the profession’s future orators present their case. american express gold credit card summer edition with thanks to Andrew Perry years in review Chair, AMA-CDT

I guess I have one final question for all of you. Have to the AMSA President, who in an unprecedented step you gained something from AMSA this year? The reply had taken the year off medicine to focus full time on may not be resoundingly affirmative - but I hope this is the presidential role. Many within the AMSA Council largely due to poor communication, and students being interpreted the AMSA Constitution to prohibit any unaware of many of the new initiatives to assist with life payments to Executive members for carrying out their 2000 as a student. Our biggest task is to better communicate roles. After a tense July Council meeting the Council the raft of services and the representative work that voted to both suspend the honoraria payments and to the Executive, the office bearers, and councillors now censure the AMSA Executive for the decision to make perform. AMSA is no longer just a magazine, a convention such payments. In a stunning turnaround, and with much and mini-AMA-type representation. debate, the AMSA Council reversed both its decision to require the AMSA President to repay the honoraria payments and in an 8 – 4 split ( the 2/3 majority needed to make a constitutional amendment) to amend the constitution to allow payments of honoraria.

As the demands on AMSA grew both from a membership The AMSA brand was also given a facelift with a point of view (increased total number of medical rebranding strategy centred around a new logo with the students, increased number of medical schools each AMSA colour changing from green to bright orange and with a seat on Council) and in terms of complexity and the creation of the motto “Connect. Inform. Represent”. quantity of issues it became clear that AMSA’s old and This was accompanied by a change to AMSA’s flagship 2004relatively sparsely resourced model of operations needed thrice-yearly publication both in name – from AMSA changing. The size of the Executive was greatly increased Antics to Panacea – and in its logo. This change was as mentioned earlier and by the end of 2004 it was clear actually a move back to its original title and logo, as that such an increase needed to be maintained. Two discovered by the Publications Officer Jan-Paul Kwasik other strategies were proposed to the AMSA Council to who had a productive search of the National Library increase the professionalism and capacity of AMSA to archives for back issues of AMSA publications. Further serve members which were polar opposites in terms of developments included a facelift of the AMSA website controversy. and the origin of AMSA Embolus.

The first suggestion was to create a permanent In parallel with this reinvigorated commitment to secretariat, possibly based at the AMA’s federal office international engagement 2004 also saw the origins in Canberra. This was agreed to by the Council as being of the medical student global health movement. In a worthwhile initiative and the first steps were made in a classic example of the benefits that AMSA provides this direction with the fruit not being borne for another of shared ideas the then Vice President Andrew Perry 18 months. This meant even closer ties to the AMA and noted that a small number of medical schools had small a possible threat to AMSA’s perceived independence groups focussed on international health and other but the Council felt the benefits outweighed what was socially responsible areas of medicine. This lead to the perceived to be a relatively small negative. proposal for AMSA to facilitate a national international health conference to be held on the weekend before The second suggestion was for the AMSA Constitution to Convention in the same city as Convention and in August be amended to allow for Executive members to be paid 2004 the first meeting of students from Sydney interested an honorarium to carry out their roles. This was a very in organising such a conference was held. In 2005 this divisive issue for the AMSA Council, partially because the conference was held at the University of Sydney with 2004 Executive made the decision prior to consulting with great success, with a sellout attendance of 280 students the AMSA Council to provide a $20,000 honorarium and with the event providing the impetus for many medical schools to set up international health groups if they did not already have them.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 15 ThanksSome of the best from for the last 50the years memories... of convention Dear Mum, I feel much better now, but I’m not sure how that girl got in my bed last night. I had a good time on the pub crawl, especially the ride in the shopping trolley, although I think the policeman disagreed. Today in the lectures I had Advertisement for a great time (once I had a couple of glasses of water). I Convention 1979 deided to join the army as well! I hope that’s cool with you. The afternoon had great hands on stuff with massage AMSA Antix, techniques and stress management. There were these funny guys at the pub with an everlasting beer, although March 1979 I don’t really know what all of that was about. I have just been shopping at a lingerie shop for my costume tonight. I’ve decided to dress as a girl. “Letters to Mum” (from AMSA Convention) AMSA Antix, March 1995

AMSA’s cut-out and keep guide to contraception Convention Guide, 1989 american express gold credit card summer edition Thanks for the memories...AMSA Convention has been the birth of many a legend over the year… La Hei, Pearce, Silbert, Aslan, Dale. But very few medical students can truly overcome the demands of relationships, study and illness to show the commitment for six con- secutive years of dedication. Comley fell to Berger’s Disease, Plastic melted, and many others fell by the wayside. THE LAP OF THE MAP recognises those brave souls who have shown loyalty to the Convention cause over the entire medical course. Yes, it’s a special kind of Conventioneer that finishes the LAP:

- Able to sub twice your plasma volume in beers, for seven consecutive nights, and still wake up ready for at least six more - Brave cerebral vasoconstriction and nausea to actually make it to half the lectures, and then stay awake - Learn to be at one with your environment – burn those crates, joust with those goalposts, climb that Harbour Bridge, piss on that policeman - Be prepared to Hawaii Five-O on the sidewalk as the sun rises - Funnel beers and scull croissants, sorbet and mousse on demand

Of course, the actual requirements stretch far beyond this narrow window of the enigma that is AMSA Convention... just ask the latest inductee into the AMSA Convention’s Hall of Fame, Dr Matt Howard from Sydney (1992).

The rotation is Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Sydney ... are you tough enough? You have to go to Conven- tion in each year of the course, or all six as an undergraduate, whichever comes first. Well, keep it in mind boys and girls, something to aim at. Forget path prizes, that SCUM assignment, that yellow fever and walk the path to greatness. Lap of the map Convention Guide, 1993 1. “Now everyone will think that we’re not Convention Sluts”... Dear AMSA, anonymous UMMSS President making a formal complaint to Hutchy in I am a boy from Adelaide. How do I become a reference to Melbourne’s portrayl as 99%TER and 1% personality in the man in time for Perth Convention 2006? Convention introductory video 2. “What... you think I’m easy because I am black?” (as above) Boy from Adelaide 3. “Now that our breasts have touched we can be best friends” Teresa – to random girl in toilets after ramming her with her yams. Random Guy Answers: Unfortunately, 4. “After this week, perhaps I should be reconsidering my sexuality” Lis – Convention is only a couple of months away, so after having won the lesbian kissing competition on pub crawl night. there’s probably not enough time to actually 5. “With that suction baby, you could climb glass walls.” Hutchy after become a man. What you could possibly do is getting a small taste of the McFrog. make yourself appear to be manlier than you 6. Pas&Jen: “Hey, we need to complete the ANU leg of our Lap of the actually are. Here are a few ideas: Map...” Bec: “Pick him... he’s hot and easy.” 7. “I only got FARM and Pas ate two of my BUSHES” Referring to the - Shave a receding hairline and use the hair as ambiguous labelling of our dinner meals. tufts of body hair peeking out from beneath 8. Pas, when introduced to Monash Jesus “Dude! I’ve read all your your clothes books!’ - Pay your female friends to talk up how manly 9. “His name is irrelevant... he’s just a statistic.” Justification for forgetting you are. Get them to say things like “(your your pick up’s name name) is so manly” or “(your name) is much 10. Lust night ‘sexy’ SMS message: “Roses are red. Violets are blue. I’m more manly than (some really manly guy’s gonna take a Dump on You” Only a Melbourne boy name)”. 11. “AMSA begins at the airport” either referring to the fact that half the plane was filled with convention delegates, or that upon arrival at the - Record your favourite phrases from the Virgin Blue terminal in Hobart there was a “PICK UP POINT” (referring of manliest actors you know e.g. James Earl Jones course to baggage- but for someone gearing up for Convention means or the guy from Shaft, then at the appropriate something else...) moment play each phrase on a cassette player 12. On the last night, Jesus also miraculously was able to convince you have hiding under your shirt Tasmanian locals that all those in the venue wearing ‘yellow name tags’ - Whatever you do, don’t dance, comment on were in fact contestants on a new series of Temptation Island being fashion or drink anything raspberry flavoured filmed in Hobart. Fools. They washed his feet in Cascade. Quotable quotes Letters to AMSA Panacea vol. 2, 2004 Panacea vol. 1, 2006 AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 17 AMSA and Advocacy: Some of the important issues we have fought for over the years

Sally Ayesa “Why do medical students, interns, residents and registrars drink so much? UNSW Are they trying to escape the natural horrors of clinical medicine, with Medical student wellbeing which they have to deal with as much What should we do with detachment as they can muster? Do they continue this habit once they are out in the drunken student? the world as GPs and specialists, either AMSA Antix, January 1993 in private, hospital or academic practice? Unfortunately they do, but figures are, Wellbeing has long been a focus of AMSA, with the alarming rates of mental illness and suicide among of course, hard to come by.” students and junior doctors something that has become Dr Peter Arnold difficult to ignore. Over the past few years, AMSA (in cooperation with the New Zealand Medical Students’ At the time of writing, NSW was in the process of Association) worked to publish the results of the Medical reforming the Medical Practice Act, which was to make Student Wellbeing Survey, with a new publication more provisions for students to study and perform currently in the works aimed at informing students in duties of ascending complexity and importance as they Australia and New Zealand of the importance of their progressed through medical school. With this in mind, own health. the issue of drug and alcohol use among students became increasingly relevant in the context of their new In January 1993, an article was published in AMSA Antix responsibilities. If the student was to conduct themselves looking at the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse in inappropriately, they could be subject to government medical students and junior doctors. The author, Dr Peter inquiry, just like any other senior clinician. Arnold, expressed concerns that for the three generations of medical students in his family, there had been little Perhaps this article represented the beginning of a new paradigm shift when it came to the recognition of mental individualised focus on student health and wellbeing. health and drug and alcohol abuse in students and junior doctors. Although he did recognise that there was less of a propensity for constant binge drinking among students, something put down to the ever increasing ratio of women to men in the profession, there was still an alarming rate of problematic consumption in the ranks.

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Blood borne viruses and compulsory student The ‘Tsunami’ and the rise in medical student numbers testing Increased student The Bug, the Blood, the numbers: how our medical Government and the schools have ballooned of Student late AMSA Antix, May 1993 Panacea, Vol. 2, 2006 Today we perhaps take for granted the gravity of the HIV epidemic of the nineties. Blood borne infections, In 2006 we saw the coining of a new catchphrase – the including HIV as well as hepatitis B and C, were brought medical student ‘tsunami’. The Federal Government had to the forefront of media attention and therefore public announced the creation of 600 new medical student knowledge. places across the country; a mix of new places at existing universities and the creation of entirely new programs At the commencement of 1993, medical students from (both graduate and undergraduate). the University of Sydney were informed that if they were infected with HIV, hepatitis B or C they may not be able These positions came in response to lobbying by state to complete the necessary components of their degree governments who were pushing for extra staff to be to become qualified as a doctor. This was because of new trained to alleviate the pressures of the current workforce laws set by NSW Health stating that employees infected shortages. In response AMSA representatives voiced that with these viruses were no longer able to perform with such a shortage of doctors such a staggering increase “exposure prone procedures” in the healthcare setting. in numbers would put a drain on an already struggling system and reduce the quality of medical education, and Unfortunately, there was no definitive definition provided thereby the quality of graduates. as to what an “exposure prone procedure” actually was, and confusion and public outrage ensued. AMSA Antix Others argued that the large-scale influx of students (May 1993) published a piece on the issue. into the health system could create bottle-necks at various points of clinical training. This not only included There was outcry from the NSW Anti-discrimination the availability of accredited intern positions at the Board, the AIDS Council and students alike. The University completion of the degree, but also ensuring that all of Sydney hit back saying that there would be no move students had the proper clinical training and experience to introduce compulsory testing of medical students, to allow them to complete the requirements of their although they should feel a moral obligation to know degree in the first place. their status when it came to blood borne viruses. Public debate around liability and student rights followed: “The recent massive additions to the medical student population have far- reaching effects. We must lobby State “Cries of discrimination are still heard Governments to ensure that clinical in Sydney, and the Sydney University training is well supported and that the Student Representative Council quality of our education remains high. lodged a complaint under the Racial It would be grossly illogical if this big Discrimination Act of 1975 and the ticket solution to the medical workforce Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, shortage ended up doing very little to against Sydney University.” address the problem.” David Evans & David Gracey Andrew Baldi

Naturally, AMSA came to the table on this issue, AMSA continues to lobby on this issue, with the focus describing that they were collating policy documents switching to ensuring that there is equality amongst from stakeholders in order to formulate their own policy, intern allocations for graduates, the rights and outcomes while inviting students to voice their opinions. for Australian trained International students and that the quality of Australian graduates remains high.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 19 what are the origins of

your medicalWhile you may be looking frantically through Panacea for Med School reports, fear not! For they are right here!

In honour of the 50th Birthday of AMSA, and the focus on history in Panacea, your society? university representatives have worked tirelessly to bring you the history of your medical program and medical society. american express gold credit card summer edition Adelaide Medical Students’ Society Flinders Medical Students’ Society Sam Whitehouse Alistair Hustig An inaugural general meeting of the Medical Students’ Society was held at the Medical Theatre of the Adelaide Flinders, the best of both worlds, can be considered University on Thursday March 21st 1889, 2pm. new by the old and old by the new. Whatever your view, Flinders has established its own reputation and continues So begin the minutes of the first ever meeting of the to give unique opportunities to all its students. AMSS, at which a handsome group of finely-garbed bearded gentlemen, speaking in ye olde tongue and The naming of Flinders is truly appropriate for its marvelling at their status, proclaimed ‘that a society be location. Matthew Flinders explored and surveyed the formed’. South Australian coastline in 1802 and it is this that our campus looks out upon with scenic ocean views. His ship, It’s quite exciting to discover a dust-covered leather Investigator, and book, A Voyage to Terra Australis, make bound volume with such things hand-written by some up our coat of Arms. stranger 120 years earlier. And find them we did, during one of many adventures a group of us had in the Barr But let’s talk medicine. Flinders Medical Centre was the Smith Library Special Collections over the last year. Led by first fully integrated public teaching hospital in Australia our AMSS Historian (an official vote-holding position on for which building began in 1972. The 62 inaugural the AMSS Committee) and enthused by the imminence medical students started in 1974 under the guidance of of our 120th Anniversary, we set about reclaiming the Sir Gus Fraenkel. His legacy remains with our medical history and nostalgia of our glorious enterprise. And what library named after him. Patients then started arriving in a history it’s been… April 1976 and so the stories and legacies begin. These only get better with the establishment of the Flinders Some highlights include: Medical Students’ Society in 1979.

- The group of Adelaide delegates in the 1960s who Flinders has gone on to establish itself as a leader among took a three-day cruise to Perth for Convention. As their Australian Medical Schools.It created the first Problem report in the AMSS Review attests, not one of the bunch Based Learning program in 1996, while also becoming the remembers disembarking the boat after a debaucherous first Graduate (only) Entry Medical Programme. Its wide few days at sea. rural program began in Renmark (the Riverland) in 1997 - The fact that, until amended in the 2005 official with guidance from the now Dean Paul Worley. Today documents review, there existed a position of Stablehand Flinders students can undertake clinical placements in on the AMSS Committee. This portfolio had full voting a wide range of areas in South Australia, the Northern rights and the mandate to “tend the Medical Dean’s Territory, and Victoria (Hamilton). Perfect for the taste of horse”. any medical student we can go for wine (Barossa Valley), - The copious rumours that persist regarding the AMSS’s and water (Riverland), hot (Darwin, Katherine & Alice premier event, Skullduggery, including gross university Springs) or cold (Greater Green Triangle). damage, deaths and police raids. There could never be enough space to pass on the packed While our MedSoc has celebrated 120 years in 2009, the history that Flinders has achieved in 36 years. Looking to faculty itself turns 125 in 2010. Many important people the future there will always be change and new initiatives have passed through the corridors of Frome Rd: Howard at Flinders – but these are what we are famous for! Florey – the patriarch of penicillin; Basil Hetzel – who discovered the vital role of iodine in the diet; Nobel Laureate Robin Warren; and Andrew Southcott – Federal Member for Boothby.

We love our heritage and we love the fact that we have such easy access to the stories of our past. It enriches us as a society and has entertained us for countless hours. Here’s to the next 120 years!

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 21 UNSW Medical Society Medical Association of Notre Dame Vekram Sambasivam Sydney MedSoc is UNSW’s Medical Students’ Society and was founded to represent the views of the 1500 medical Sarah Lyons students at the university. Approaching fifty years of service, it represents, supports and protects the The Notre Dame Sydney School of Medicine was academic, social and political interests of each student as established in 2008 and on the very first day AMSA well as the alumni of UNSW. helped get the ball rolling in establishing our medical student society. In the first few weeks constitutions were The society has evolved from its humble beginnings drawn up, name and logo competitions were run, and by as a handful of enthusiastic, idealistic and aggressive Week 5, MANDUS was born. medical students in the sixties documenting their work in the quarterly MedSoc journal ‘Anal Colic’ (which The first committee worked hard to set the foundations of unfortunately, is no longer in publication) to the well- a successful medical society, running a number of events established society it is today functioning in academic, that brought the year closer together (in more ways than social, representative and charitable domains. Pooling the one as several romances were established…). Some of the talent of much of the east coast, MedSoc has a fantastic social successes included a cruise, end of exam parties, cohort of academically, culturally and sportingly gifted but without a doubt the highlight of the year was the men and women. inaugural medball. With an overwhelming number of staff and students present, entertainment that showcased We are proud to have a huge number of distinguished student and staff talent and a passionate guest speaker, alumni – three of whom were keynote speakers at AMSA’s the ball went far and beyond anyone’s expectations. 50th Convention this year in Brisbane. And who knew Prof Alperstein could sing AND dance like that!?!?! There have been challenges throughout MedSoc’s history such as the MedRevue fiasco of 1992 which lead to the Rogue publications such as “The Chat” which provided formation of MedShow soon after, and more recently everything from fashion tips and food reviews to a with the three new medical schools in NSW and the gossip and scandal column kept the students talking medical student tsunami. at lunchtime, although sadly (perhaps some would say thankfully??) The Chat has ceased production as many of Having a dynamic and competent selection of medical the editorial team pack up and move down to Melbourne students, Medsoc will be able to surmount these for their clinical years. The Chat also hosted the 2009 challenges and push for further advancement for our Welcome Back party, threatening MANDUS’ stance as the medical students and the community at large. ultimate party organisers. 2009 saw the medical student numbers double in size, and whilst competition over the PBL rooms was hot, their academic ability was even hotter. Or so we were told at every given opportunity. In ’09 the focus of MANDUS shifted slightly with more of a focus on academic events and advocacy on the students’ behalf. The International Health Study Project was overwhelmingly successful as were the GPSN club and surgery society.

Many lessons have been learnt along the way but we hope that the hard work that has gone into building events, interest groups, sporting teams over the last 2 years will help build traditions that will be enjoyed by students in years to come.

american express gold credit card summer edition University of Newcastle Medical Hippocampus, Publication of the University of Newcastle Medical Society, 1981 Society Some exciting news..... Vicky Phan Congratulations to University of New England which has become an independant Medical Society on AMSA Council as of October Council. In 2010 the University of Newcastle Medical School We look forward to seeing more of our newest society! enters its 32nd year. Established in 1978, the medical school’s creation was the result of a Federal report which identified that Newcastle would be the most suitable place for the creation of a new cohort. Starting in 1974, Sydney University Medical Professor David Maddison, the then Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney was appointed in 1974 by the Newcastle University Council, before Society making the move up the east coast in 1975. His vision was Chloe Boehm-Wilcox simple and heartfelt – “a need for a medical school more educationally sophisticated, [and] which concentrated The Sydney University Medical Society began in 1886 much more on learning than teaching; a school which with a vision for “the intellectual and social improvement related much more closely to its community and one of the members” and has now amassed a long history which attempted to better equip the doctors of the of doing just that (with the added bonus of generously future”. discounted textbooks).

At the time such ideals resulted in a course somewhat The Medical Society went on to set up the Sydney revolutionary – to quote a 1981 newspaper article University Medical Journal around 1908 and though it has Newcastle “[turned] the traditional method of doctor had its peaks and troughs, the current Council hopes to training on its head.” Teaching was no longer limited revive and retain this important piece of our history and specifically to sciences in the preliminary years – our Society. Newcastle medical students were introduced to patients in their first term, a concept previously almost Not to be deterred by international hostilities the Society unheard of. The attitude of revamping course structure continued to expand during the Second World War would continue, with such initiatives as the problem adding to the ranks of Council. The Society represented based learning method, student candidate interviews, RMOs in industrial disputes during the war and in the introduction of the UMAT test, and the Joint Medical years that followed, created Innominate and in 1951, the Program (JMP) also initiatives pioneered by Newcastle. beloved Medical Society Bookshop was born.

The accompanying University of Newcastle Medical Over the years, we have seen positions come and go (and Society, established shortly after the commencement come again in some cases). Council included a librarian of its corresponding course has similarly followed a (without the minor detail of a library) and by 1919 had a dynamic route. The UNMS was initially created with “Representative of Women Students”. Of course, about the intention to “play an active role in communicating thirty years later the position was made “redundant”, students’ opinions and desires relating to the course to only to be resurrected about fifty years after that in the staff”, and “helping to bring about effective change and guise of the current Career Equity Officer. improvements.” Since its creation it has successfully continued to do so, and added portfolios geared towards The Council endeavours to remain faithful to its creators’ student wellbeing, events and publications in addition to vision, delivering educational and social opportunities advocacy. (and a bit of karaoke) to its members.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 23 Australian National University Griffith University Medicine Society Students’ Society Katie Buzacott Though only five years old, the Griffith University Medicine Society Tim Lovell (GUMS) has grown faster than bamboo into a thriving MedSoc with us branching (pardon the pun) into academic, social, community, Six years ago, in a purpose built city, advocacy and other integral roles. Our executive numbers and roles somewhere far far away from Melbourne… have been constantly evolving with changing demands, so we have and a little less far away from Sydney… ANU added an extra social representative as well as a publication and welcomed its first cohort of medical students. community liaison officer. In those six years, ANU Medical School has witnessed some amazing and tremendous In 2005, Drew Cronin was appointed our inaugral president. He so students that have laid the foundations for our far has proved to be the only male leader – who says there is a glass societies and their traditions. ceiling? He was followed by: 2006 Sarah Cash 2007 Alicia Smith The ANUMSS has consistently kept students 2008 Jessica Clark 2009 Hollie Casey connected and entertained with a scrub 2010 Laura Stitz, leading us ... crawl, a mixer, a trivia night, and an amazing graduation ball at parliament house. We have Into the future! The next step for GUMS will be the formation of retained our autonomy from faculty, garnered different subcommittees, which will help harness the invaluable their respect, and have successfully advocated resource which is first and fourth years! First years cannot be in on behalf of the students on numerous the executive currently due to electing the new executive before occasions. they enrol, and fourth years generally avoid nominating themselves because the timetable is crazy with several electives and selectives ANU’s rural medical society, ARMS, had 75 meaning they may be out of the state or country for many months. members within 18 months of starting, and in 2009 had over 160 members. Those with a So keep your eyes on GUMS ... evolving faster than that leftover curry passion for rural medicine have arranged Rural that’s been in your fridge for 3 months! Show Visits, Speakers Nights, ski trips, and the extremely popular Bush Dance. Our global health group has been an inspiration University of Wollongong Medical Students’ to watch grow. Although our youngest society, its flagship event was the Fiji Village Project that continues to run. They also organised Society Teddy Bear Hospital, the Laughter Doctors, a Global Health Debate, and more recently, Helen Freeborn ANU’s first RedParty that raised more than $20k for a FACS counter for a hospital in the In 2007, The University of Wollongong Medical Students’ Society Philippines. (WUMSS) was established by committed and (some may say) slightly mad inaugural first year students. Our logo was created by the And what about the ridiculously talented combined creative efforts of Jeff Masters and Hamish Lunn, with medical students in our MedRevues!? The the husband of one of our academic’s converting it into the graphic first was titled March of the MedStudents, the it is today. WUMSS’ provides students with many channels for second, the Surgeon of Oz, and the third, Star communication between year groups and with the faculty. In the past Wards: Return of the Medi. ANUMSS has been three years, an amazing array of academic and social functions have a proud backer of the shows, and looks forward been organised to cater for our diverse student population. 2010 to next year’s, which is already being written!! brings what will surely be the start of a fine tradition, the inaugural WUMSS Med Revue. ANU’s AMSA Convention attendees have been a small and proud bunch. One of our largest In this short period much has been achieved, from our successful cohorts was in attendance for AMSA’s 50th and Global Health Group (Wollongong University Health Over Wealth our slogan won us best dressed at Melbourne’s (WUHOW) raising over $3000 for the ‘Bairo Pite Clinic’ in East Timor) last Convention. to our impressive showing at NLDS, GHC and the past three AMSA Conventions. Looking forward to the future and its possibilities! WUMSS in 2010 has new challenges, as we welcome our fourth cohort, taking our medical school for the first time to full capacity. University of Melbourne Medical Students’ Society Rahul Khanna

Don’t let the good looks fool you. The Melbourne Medical School is not just a pretty face but also the oldest medical school in our fine nation. Beginning as the wet dream of Anthony Colling Brownless, the first cohort landed in 1862. Dear Brownless insisted that proper medical education needed at least 5 years at a time when the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and Ediburugh all operated 4 year courses. The foundation of our fine school was so monumentous that Pope Pius IX conferred the knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great on Brownless, later making him the night commander of the Order of Pius.

In 1887 we had the first cohort of female doctors graduating from Melbourne, some of whom went on to found the Victorian Medical Women’s Society and the Queen Victoria Hospital, a hospital for women operated entirely by women.

The Melbourne Medical School was blessed with a fine MedSoc in 1880, one that has endured two world wars and shows no sign of tiring. We hope you’ll agree that we University of Western Sydney age like fine wine. Medical Society The Medical Students’ Society of Paran Nadeswaran Bond University UWSMS began operating in early 2007 as a result of the initiative of more than half of the first intake of medical Saul Felber students at UWS. By mid-year the organisation was welcoming its foundation president, Gokul Tamilarasan, The Medical Students Society of Bond University is only 5 and his executive team. The executive teams at UWSMS years young beginning with our inaugral cohort in 2005. It have not let inexperience hinder them in any way, having began with some assistance from AMSA and a lot of hard already coordinated two Medcamps, two Medrevues, work from the initial executive. three Medballs, a successful tilt at the NSWMSC Sports Day, and claiming the Vampire Cup in its first year of We are in the process of creating traditions that we hope operation. will carry through for many years to come. These include the annual MedBall reaching its 3rd year this January, Still in its infancy, the face of UWSMS is constantly as well as Medcamp which becomes bigger and more changing. The organisation continues to take on more memorable each year. We have developed a healthy roles, manage more and more events for its members, rivelry with Griffith University which allows for many and represent medical students on a wide range of issues. sporting and intellectual competititons as well as some Its standing in the community has risen remarkably social convening. since its inception, and UWSMS continues to thrive on the ideas, input and volunteerism of its members. If the As our inaugral cohort has just graduated we look forward vision and productivity of UWSMS continue to grow at to growing bigger, learning more from our established the same rate as they have over the past three years medsoc friends and providing even more for our conservative estimates would suggest that UWSMS will students. own a small country within the next decade.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 25 Tasmanian University Medical Students’ Society Chris Hercus

The University of Tasmania was the site of Australia’s Tassie Cascade Cup, then and now eighth medical school. 1965 marked the first intake of students who were to receive the remainder of their medical education at the University. The establishment of a Tasmanian medical school, at the time a ‘bad economic proposition’, was justified by the fact that for a number of years the Tasmanian health system had been reliant on graduates from overseas immigrating to the state to staff its hospitals, and it was thought this could be remedied by Tasmania training its own doctors.

The Tasmanian University Medical Students’ Society (TUMSS) had its beginnings in late 1965 when a group of students from the first intake formed a committee to draft a constitution for the proposed society. The Society was officially formed in March 1966 with the approval of Tassie Presidents, then and now this constitution. Its membership at the time numbered The modern TUMSS also provides educational about sixty. support for students by providing them with tutoring in skills relevant to examinations, student mentors, The activities of the Society in its early years were valuable learning tools and financial assistance to primarily limited to social functions and the like. However, attend worthwhile conferences. It has also been able it was recognised at the time that the Society had the to contribute to the wider community by running potential to do so much more. Don Cameron, 1967 fundraising events for various charities and previously TUMSS President, used his Centaur report of that year to through IMPACT, a former TUMSS subcommittee stress that although the social side of medical school life dedicated to global health issues, which was so is essential, the Society should aim for higher ideals both successful they ended up becoming a standalone society. within and outside the Society, and look to do more for members both academically and educationally, as well as In 1967 the inaugural dean of the Tasmanian Faculty of ‘contribute something to help other people’ in the wider Medicine wrote a message in Centaur which included the community. following: In the years since, the Society has grown at an astonishing A snobbish officer once asked a newly-commissioned rate, to the point where it has now achieved much of lieutenant: ‘Who are your ancestors?’ what Don Cameron saw as possible. It has continued ‘I have no ancestors,’ replied the young officer, ‘I have to run social events of the highest quality, with some only descendents.’ attracting up to 600 students, but in addition to this runs a large number of annual academic and student wellbeing The twenty or so Tasmanian medical students who are events, such as medical careers expos and sporting approaching the clinical phase of their training [the first events. intake of medical students at the University], forerunners of future generations, can give the same proud answer. TUMSS now also provides academic representation for the more than 550 medical students at the university Indeed these twenty or so students who would now be on a number of different levels, after having first gained approaching the twilight of their careers, as well as every representation on the faculty in 1970. It is also in group of students since, are the forerunners of TUMSS; the unique situation of representing not just a single and if the 550 or so current Tasmanian medical students university’s medical students, but the students of an were to be asked the same question today they could entire state, and so the responsibility of representing answer just as proudly with ‘people who started, and Tasmania’s medical students to Government and other continued, a Society we could be proud of.’ external groups has also fallen on the Society. american express gold credit card summer edition 2007: SANTE had a Red Party – it was very red – and James Cook University Medical successful too; JCUMSA modifies constitution and restructures Executive in Preparation for 2008; Huge Cull takes place – core Executive positions slashed left, right Student’s Association and centre; JCUMSA Places 3rd at AMSA Emergency Cup Challenge Christine Pirrone & Dani Bersin 2008: JCUMSA’s core Executive consists of 8 people, one of whom (the IPP) isn’t even a medical student anymore! Presenting Complaint: JCUMSA revitalises Med Revue – no-one knows when it 10 Year old Med Soc from Northern Australia presents first began or disappeared – it’s a mystery really. with increasing severity of Post-Vacation Depression 2009: JCUMSA Places 2nd at AMSA Emergency Cup challenge; HeadFest changed to be charitable event to HPC: raise funds for Headspace; Probably won the Vampire Roughly 800 medical students represented by JCUMSA Cup, like in its early days. AMSA still owes JCUMSA a BBQ have descended on JCU and its clinical schools to from way back, which somehow made its way to New continue their pursuit of a medical degree. At 9am York. No-one will admit, but JCUMSA knows – there will 11/01/2010, nearly 200 students commenced orientation be blood, lots of it! for clinical years. At 9:01am, the holiday highs of many had been shattered, secondary to the boring droning of Social Hx: associate professors and clinicians. Signs and Symptoms Med Ball since 2000; Clinical Party since 2000; Med Camp included: snoring, reminiscing the sights and sounds since 2002 – it gets better and better every year; Maggie of sun-soaked beaches and snow-covered terraces Island, Airlie Beach, Mission Beach and that place outside and experiencing an orange visual aura. Post-Vacation of Charters Towers; Halfway Dinner; Trivia Night; Sign-on Depression as a diagnosis was made all the more likely by the very emphatic wish of students that they wanted to EtOH: be “anywhere but here.” 5-10 “Hell Punch” Bins/night/event – moderate consumption? Past General Hx: 2000: JCUMSA was born – unsure of exact DOB (N.B. Psych Hx: get 5th year to perform MMSE - ?Psych referral); AFL HEADFEST: JCUMSA Mental Health Awareness Week Match b/w JCUMSA and TROPHIQ. No score is recorded, (2002, 2007, 2009); Dr Sally Cockburn (aka Dr Feelgood) but little doubt JCUMSA won – it’s just that awesome.; visits JCUMSA on the sunny shores of North QLD (2007) JCUMSA got itself an AMSA Rep – perhaps one of the greatest positions ever created on a Med Soc Executive Summary: 2001: JCUMSA created a logo and constitution – 10 year old Med Soc from Northern Australia that has both have since changed, go figure! First JCUMSA been growing rapidly and steadily, both in academia and Merchandise: Stubby Coolers – once again, just that social interaction. The achievements of the Med Soc to awesome; First “Femoral Pulse” newsletter published; date indicate it is well grounded to expand and thrive in First contingent to AMSA Convention all its endeavours in the coming decade. 2002: 1st Med Camp – HUGE success; Ectropic Beat – The Post-Vacation Depression appears to be a transient annual publication 1st Halfway Celebrations for Class of frame of mind and will be cured by engagement in 2005; JCUMSA Annual Debating commences – where JCUMSA Sign-on’s, Clinical Cocktail Parties, AMSA legends are made and reputations forever tarnished Debating Series and a celebration of 10 years of 2003: JCUMSA applies to be incorporated Australia’s favourite Med Soc. 2004: JCUMSA incorporates. Still doesn’t have much of an idea what this means or its implications, but it seemed Plan: like a good idea at the time.; JCUMSA successfully lobbies 1.Arrange JCUMSA “Sign-on’s” at all 4 sites by end of JCU to move Faculty of Medicine Health and Molecular February Sciences Graduation ceremony to December from 2005 2. Med Camp in early March onwards. 3. Elect new representatives for the 1st year freshers – 2005: 1st Graduating Class of JCU MBBS Degree; JCUMSA they don’t know what they’re in for! Website launched – it’s very Green 4. Celebrate 10 years of Australia’s favourite laid back 2006: Enormously huge Executive now consists of 21 Med Soc – all siblings welcome! people; Otherwise not much... 5. Do NOT admit – we don’t need QLD’s hospitals filled with even more medical students!

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 27 Western Australian Medical Students’ Society Claire Meyerkort

The year was 1946…the Hills Hoist was invented, the bikini was unveiled, Australia beat England in the Ashes and the inaugural meeting of the Western Australian Medical Students’ Society (WAMSS) was held. The story of WAMSS is a unique one, as the medical students’ University of Queensland Medical society came to fruition before the university had actually founded a medical faculty. Society Western Australia had long been sending its budding Jonathan De Silva young medical students over the border to study in Adelaide, Sydney or Melbourne, as WA was without The University of Queensland Medical Society was its own medical school. Following World War II it was established in 1936 as the Queensland Medical Students decided essential that Western Australia educate and Association (QMSA). Changing its name to the University train its own future doctors. Therefore the first medical of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS) in 1943, its students’ committee was formed. Several prominent terms of reference was, and continues to be “To advance members of UWA and the Western Australian community and protect in all ways the interests of graduates and at large banded together to “investigate the possibility undergraduates of the University of Queensland.” of establishing a Medical Faculty in the University of Western Australia in 1947.” Through passionate medical The UQMS was established by a concerned and driven student efforts - campaigning in newspapers and on radio group of medical students which included, among others, - and with the help of the community to raise funds the Russell Neville (QMSA Foundation President), Douglas vision was realised and a Medical Faculty was established Gordon (later Dean of the Faculty of Medicine), Max ten years later. Now, over half a century later both the Hickey (later Professor of Anatomy and Warden of Union UWA Medical Faculty and WAMSS have grown and College), and Fred Schwarz. Their foresight was a first continue to flourish. step in the establishment of the undergraduate society, which was to become, and remains, the most significant While the society in the early years was very different to and professional of all undergraduate bodies within the the WAMSS that exists today, it is also fascinating to note University of Queensland. some of the traditions that have continued on through the years. In 1962 the annual Boat Trip was held, with The UQMS was also the trail-blazer in equity for resident over 300 students attending. Three-dozen ‘vessels’ and medical officers. In 1944, it was a proactive stakeholder six jugs were broken and the event ran at a significant in the Queensland Industrial Court, helping to secure loss, prompting the despairing committee to consider better working hours and rates of pay for first year “eliminating supper” or “reducing beer provision” in resident medical officers in the Brisbane and South future years. This year (47 years later) over 300 medical Coast Hospitals. Since then the UQMS has maintained students attended WAMSS’ Rivercruise, where ‘vessels’ a vigorous and respected voice in the development of were broken, damages incurred and we (the somewhat service conditions, collegiate outreach and professional despairing committee) are again looking at ways to curb standards in the broader domain of medicine. To this enthusiasm in the future. Surely WAMSS will find a help achieve this, the UQMS established the national solution sometime in the next 47 years? Australasian Medical Students’ Association in 1960, expanding the promotion of the Hippocratic spirit of medicine and support for medical students, from a state to a national level.

The UQMS has also maintained a significant charitable role throughout its history, providing an “in house” training infrastructure for young graduating doctors wishing to serve their colleagues as well as advancing opportunities for self-training and extended experience in the collegiate medical world. american express gold credit card summer edition Monash University Medical Undergraduate Society Dan Yore

A Medical Society (MedSoc) can come a long way in just five years. Even though its heritage dates back over a number of decades, its the society’s recent history that Medical Student Association of has seen it propel itself into the stratosphere of medical student representation in Australia. Notre Dame Fremantle While always being a successful and powerful MedSoc, The School of Medicine was granted ongoing the MUMUS of the early “noughties” represented a accreditation by the Australian Medical Council in 2004 society that was fragmented into autonomous pre-clinical with the first cohort of 81 students beginning the MBBS and clinical societies and lacked adequate representation program in 2005. As a Problem Based Learning (PBL) to represent its members optimally at both a student and course the subject matter is integrated rather than being faculty level. in discrete components and is delivered in such a way as to be clinically relevant. There is an emphasis on social The 2005-2006 period saw a number of progressive justice including a service component. Students also committees - that ultimately turned out to be littered enrol in theology, philosophy and bioethics as part of the with future AMSA leaders - who took it upon themselves university’s core curriculum. to look inside the heart of the society. By 2006 MUMUS had reorganised itself into one streamlined organisation spanning all five year levels. MeDUSA - Deakin University The years immediately following the creation of “MUMUS Inc.” saw a considerable refinement of committee Steve Kunz roles and responsibilities. The society’s constitution, governing rules & regulations, financial organisation With the birth of a medical school comes the birth of a and relationship with the central Student Union were all medsoc. For Deakin, the 7th of February, 2008, saw the substantially overhauled. delivery of a 220 kg 3 person bouncing baby steering committee, guided through labor by a visiting AMSA One of the greatest successes over this period has been contingent. This committee, consisting of Daniel Alban, the development of a robust representation structure Lauren Boucher and Mary McKinnon, was given the with the Medical Faculty. A truly synergistic relationship neonatal milestone of creating the structure, position has been thus garnered between the two groups with descriptions and electoral process for the mature MUMUS sitting on more of its faculty committees than committee. any other MedSoc in Australia. Through various meetings, discussions, debates and The 2008-2009 period saw yet another flux of growth controversies as symbolic of childhood as of politics, the with the institution of number of successful society final structure was decided upon, an impartial returning initiatives that have already established national clout officer appointed, and the 18th of March was decided and ilk. The Monash University Surgical Interest Group on as judgement day, or the showdown at the KA3.406 (MUSIG), The MUMUS Community and Wellbeing Corral. Speeches were made, votes were cast, and by the Portfolio and the AMSA ThinkTank have immediately end of the day we had a 10 person committee eager to captured the imagination of the Monash medical student take its first steps. community with a number of other interest groups in the pipeline for the years ahead. Their major task, beside deciding on a name other than the vehemently rejected DUMS, was creating a The society is currently in the phase of successfully constitution, becoming incorporated, and doing whatever building capacity and empowering its members with the it was that Medical Student Societies do. For MeDUSA, ultimate aim of achieving sound engagement with the this proved to be a ball, end of exam parties, wellbeing student community as well as ensuring the society’s long- evening, sports sessions, charity events and med revue, term sustainability. and it has been building on this foundation ever since.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 29 AMSAAMSA & the & AMA the AMA: A short history A short history

On July 11th and 12th 2009 the AMA Council of Doctors status that each organisation has given the other to in Training (AMACDT) held one of its four annual face- attend its meetings and Councils. The AMSA President to-face meetings in Brisbane. The location and timing sits on AMA Federal Council and since 1993 has been a of this meeting was very deliberate – the location was full voting member. This is no small deal – the Federal that of the AMSA Convention for that year and the date Council is the highest authority within the AMA and was that of AMSA’s 50th Anniversary celebrations at governs what the Association does. Every Federal Convention’s Gala Dinner at Movie World on the Gold Council meeting the AMSA President submits both Coast. a written and verbal report to this Council and casts their vote to help determine the direction of what is Why was it that the AMA went to such lengths to organise indisputably the most influential medical lobby group one of its meetings around a medical student function? and what many observers describe as the most powerful The short answer is so as to enable all the AMACDT union in the country. members to attend, pay respects to and celebrate AMSA’s 50th, and the long answer is the subject of this article in The AMSA President, or their nominee, also sits on the this special 50th anniversary edition of Panacea. majority of the AMA’s many committees and councils. The committee at which their input is often of greatest The AMA and AMSA have a long history of working impact is that of the AMACDT, of which this author is together to represent doctors and those who are about the chair. AMSA and the AMACDT share many common to become medical practitioners. It is no surprise that issues such as quantity and quality of intern places, access the AMA is intensely interested in medical student affairs to supervision and teaching, and curriculum standards – what happens to medical students can and does have a for prevocational doctors to name a few. Through the profound effect on the future of the medical profession AMACDT AMSA and the AMA are collaborating on a joint and these students are the future members of the publication entitled “A Guide to Working Abroad for Association. Australian doctors and medical students”.

In recognition of these mutual interests the AMA and AMSA always sends a delegation of predominantly AMSA have over the years forged strong links, both Executive members to the AMA’s annual National formal and informal, which enable each to better Conference and has now established a traditional represent and advocate on behalf of its members. highlight of showing an AMSA video, something started in 2004 by then president Matthew Hutchinson. The most obvious link is that of official representative american express gold credit card summer edition In turn the AMACDT Chair is an official observer at and events where this work is done. They continue to all AMSA Council meetings, and is invited to present impress me with their dedication and experience beyond at AMSA events such as AMSA Conventions and the their years. And as a past member of the AMSA Council, annual AMSA National Leadership Development it was very special to be able to attend AMSA’s 50th Seminar. Further collaboration includes the opportunity Anniversary last year. I have no doubt that AMSA will to contribute to AMSA publications like this one so as continue to play an important role for medical students to raise awareness of issues relevant to both medical in the years to come, and that the AMA and AMSA will students and junior doctors. continue to benefit from their close relationship.

In what is a further example of the formal links between Dr Andrew Perry the AMA and AMSA, Shayne McArthur, AMSA’s inaugural Chair, Council of Doctors in Training Executive Officer since 2007, is based at the AMA’s Australian Medical Association Federal offices in Canberra which increases the synergies between the two organisations. Inaugural AMSA Life Member 2007 AMSA Vice President 2004 As Chair of the AMACDT I get to witness first hand AMSA AMSA Sponsorship Officer 2002 playing a critical role in the medico-political and medical AMSA Council Member 2002-2004 education arenas in Australia by attending and working Founder and member of the AMSA History Project A short history alongside their representatives at the multiple meetings Working Party

From AMSA to AMA...

Many prominent AMSA members have gone on to be elected to significant positions within the AMA further reinforcing the common issues that make people members of both organisations. Examples include:

Dr Tony Lawler, spent 2 years on the AMSA Council from 1994-95 as the University of Tasmania representative before graduating and joining the AMACDT as the Tasmanian delegate whilst an intern. Tony went on to become the AMACDT Chair from 1996-1998 representative and in a feat not accomplished before or since was elected to the AMA’s Executive Council in 1998, made up of just 6 people. Tony subsequently became the President of AMA Tasmania in 2003. He is now the Deputy Medical Director of the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Dr Chris Merry, a University of Melbourne graduate, started his AMSA career in 1994 as AMSA National Coordinator (then a paid position for a medical student willing to take a year off)before becoming AMSA President in 1995. He went on to become AMACDT Chair in 1999, and was AMA Victoria Vice President in 2006. He is now a Cardio- Thoracic Surgeon in Melbourne.

Dr Sarah Whitelaw was AMSA President in 1996 whilst a student at University of Queensland. She was the AMA CDT Chair from 2000-2001, and subsequently joined the AMA Queensland Council. She is an Emergency Medicine Physician at the Gold Coast and is heavily involved with the Qld Health’s Queensland Medical Education and Training unit.

The 2010 AMACDT Council is chaired by a former AMSA Vice President Andrew Perry, and has three AMSA Presidents (Dror Maor from 2005, Rob Mitchell from 2007 and Michael Bonning from 2008).

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 31 The year of living orangely Words from the 2009 AMSA National President, Tiffany Fulde It was the year that Frank Macfarlane Burnet was jointly conditions for our international students, and tried to awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine, and became the contribute to advocacy and education on some of the big inaugural Australian of the year, John F. Kennedy defeated issues for healthcare such as health reform, and climate Richard Nixon, becoming the youngest man elected U.S. change, with an educational campaign that has received President, and a little-known English band changed their international praise and interest. Global health is an name to The Beatles. But far more importantly, against ever-increasing part of our activities, this year focussing this revolutionary backdrop, at around the time that on the Millenium Development Goals. Harper Lee released To Kill a Mockingbird, our favourite 1960s icon was born – AMSA, the Australasian (now AMSA has continued to grow in 2009 both publicly, and Australian) Medical Students’ Association. within, with the launch of new publications, the launch of our Alumni Association, and the continued development As you can tell from this special edition of Panacea, we’ve AMSA’s structure, so that it best represents and connects turned 50, and we’re very excited! This year has been with our members. a very special year for AMSA – our golden jubilee. It has been a time to take stock and celebrate our past, our The beauty of AMSA is that there is something in the achievements and our traditions. organisation for every one of our 14,500 members. From our publications, to our events, our advocacy Over the year, as I have travelled around the country, I and representation to our community projects, and have heard countless fond memories of AMSA, heard member benefits, AMSA is for all of us. We are a dynamic tales of train-rides in the 70s, possible connections organisation and are looking to you to help us shape the to the CIA in the 60s, rallies and debates, and various next 50 years of AMSA. shenanigans. One thing that has struck me is the regard and respect that students of the past (now doctors) and Over the year, many people have remarked to me on the present hold for AMSA. evident camaraderie between medical students. AMSA is very proud to have a role in forming these friendships, As much as this year has been a time to mark how far and bonds that can last a lifetime. we’ve come in fifty years, it has also allowed us to realise how much the AMSA of today has in common with the To those of you who have just joined the family, AMSA of the past. As ever, we are a group which exists welcome, and to everyone who has been part of AMSA to connect, inform and represent Australia’s medical over the last fifty years – thank you for making it into the students. peak representative body for medical students that it is today. In 2009 AMSA’s top advocacy priorities have been the availability of quality training places, in light of the A special thank you must go to the 2009 Executive, our increasing numbers of medical students, and raising Executive Officer Shayne, AMSA Council and the many awareness and overcoming the stigma surrounding AMSA Committees who have helped AMSA to connect, the pressing issue of medical student wellbeing. We inform and represent Australia’s medical have achieved greater awareness in both these areas, students in 2009. and were the only student group to present at a recent conference on Doctors’ Health. Incredibly, when I spoke The issues facing medical students and the future of to Professor David Scott, the first AMSA President, at our health care continue to grow, but with more of us birthday bash in July, he said that these were two of the than ever before, we have the chance to have an even main issues which inspired the formation of AMSA in stronger voice and shape the medical education 1960. and care that we want to see for the next fifty years.

This year, we have also placed increasing focus on Best of luck for the coming year and Happy Birthday!! american express gold credit card summer edition The Royal Australian College The year of living orangely of General Practitioners Words from the 2009 AMSA National President, Tiffany Fulde Supporting your medical education

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Looking forward Words from the 2010 AMSA National President Ross Roberts-Thomson

What do the handheld calculator, the computer mouse political sway than the AMA or any trade union, but there and silicone breast implants all have in common? Not are some more realistic objectives that I think AMSA can only have I held them all in my hand sometime this actually achieve. week,they were all invented after AMSA began! It is crazy to think what happens in fifty years. Apart from becoming financially and legally secure (which is sooooo boring!), I think AMSA can truly become the Let us leave aside fifty years of change for just a moment, experts on medical students. It sounds stupid seeing and consider the changes medical education in Australia as we are students, but we need to have the evidence has seen in the time that I have been a medical student. and data to back-up our claims and policy. We live in an When I was a bright-eyed first year (just six years ago) evidenced-based world, and AMSA needs evidence in there were no private medical schools, no full-fee order to advocate for all students effectively. Evidenced- places, and bonded medical places had only just been based AMSA will be coming to an inbox near you soon. introduced. There are now five private medical schools, bonded places are everywhere and full-fee places have We also need to invest more in students. Whether it come in and are on their way out again. All that in just six is through wellbeing advice, interest groups or events, years! Multiply that by 8.3 (recurring) to appreciate the AMSA should be part of every medical student’s magnitude of change that AMSA has seen in its – our – overall education. AMSA already has had some great lifetime. achievements in these areas, for instance, you may not be aware that AMSA currently has many global health So where will AMSA be in another fifty years, or even activities and information available to students through another six years? I have my own personal thoughts that the Global Health Network, which is gaining more and include a massive pimped out building and having more more momentum with every passing day. Also, our rural, indigenous and international student activities are set to grow in the future as well, with new initiatives already in the pipeline for 2010. But, of course, there is more that AMSA could do for students here, so watch this space.

Finally, AMSA needs some direction, some forward planning. With the turnover of Council and Executive occurring annually, we need a strategic plan to set and maintain us on a straight and prosperous course. It’s something we’re looking to do very soon. This process will require input from all medical students to make it relevant and worthwhile. This strategic planning process will start in 2010 and will involve every AMSA Rep, every MedSoc and every student, so make sure you keep an eye out for your opportunity to be involved!

After these first 50 years of AMSA there is a lot to reflect upon. I’d like to thank the 2009, and all past Executives and Councils for their hard work and successes. In 2010 we’re looking to build another prosperous chapter into AMSA’s history books, all the time remembering that every success could only have occurred because we have been able to stand on the shoulders of giants.

Happy 50th AMSA!

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 35 Producing ethical doctors has to begin with ethical education Jamie Alexander, AMSA National Vice President 2009 AMSA knows that the issue of intern positions for “I was under the impression when I applied to Medical international students is important to Australia’s medical School that it would be relatively straightforward to stay students. Many internationals come to Australia to study on as a doctor as this was a profession that was (and still medicine with the expectation that a job will be waiting for is according to a July 19th statement from the AMA) in them at the end of the degree. However the doubling of great demand here.... I have spent a great deal of money medical students from 2005 by 2012 has meant that what on tuition and feel quite a bit cheated that I might not get was a sure thing is no longer. AMSA and Australian medical a chance to work as a doctor in a country that I have come students care about this issue, but apathy from government to see as home (and where I have met my partner)..... My is difficult to overcome. job prospects in Canada are bleak. My home province of British Columbia only takes on 18 international medical AMSA has been inundated with comments from our graduates” international colleagues recently. They complain that they have been kept in the dark about the difficulties likely in When you consider these factors, it is easy to realise that receiving a job. They comment that they are surprised that studying medicine in Australia is not as attractive as it there is a job shortage since they always hear that Australia once was. Given that these students often pay upwards of requires more doctors. It is hard to disagree given that the $200 000 for the privilege of studying medicine and then doctor shortage was behind the massive increase in medical contribute around another $100 000 to the economy for students. the cost of living over this time, it makes sense to choose a country which will guarantee a job upon completion of the Government sees the public of Australia saying “so what? degree. This of course, becomes problematic for Australia. Why would this concern us?” and so with little political consequence, does nothing. AMSA answers these questions Consider these comments made in an open letter to John by presenting a number of reasons that it should concern Della Bosca (NSW Health minister) by another international Australians for two reasons. Firstly, the futures of many student: of these students become clouded if they are unable to receive a job at the end of their degree. There is potentially “We began our degree and nearly finished it under the nowhere for them to practise and at the least, will force impression that we would receive internship training them into relocation. Secondly, and this reason will appeal in Australia. Without internship we cannot achieve to those less concerned about the ethics of the situation, registration. Without registration, our degrees are useless this problem risks causing a large dent in Australia’s third and we cannot work as doctors – here or anywhere else. largest export: international tertiary education. There are very few countries that accept overseas trained graduates into internship placements” Universities make a large amount of money from international students, and medical students are no What would be the costs should internationals decide exception. Due to relatively poor government funding, to take their money elsewhere? There are no exact income derived from these students funds research, figures available but if we assume that the average cost teaching, and infrastructure projects. Universities can ill of a medical degree is $200 000 over 4-6 years for the afford to lose this valuable income. approximate 2700 international medical students that reside in Australia then it calculates that they bring in over Understandably, universities seek to protect this income. $100 million dollars in tuition fees to our economy per Unfortunately this has resulted in a lack of obvious year. The costs of living increase this figure substantially. transparency regarding future job prospects. Whereas in the Not a number to be sneezed at anytime, especially not in past an international medical student could expect a job at the middle of a financial crisis. Any decent superannuation the end of their degree, the tsunami of medical students has firm will tell you that this level of income requires ensured this is no longer the case. protection!

Many graduating international students will have difficulty In the future, solutions need to be found, and the best practicing anywhere if there is no job available here. solutions in the eyes of government will be the ones that Consider our North American cousins. Australia is home to are cost neutral or cost minimal. AMSA has a number of over one hundred Canadian medical students. I received ideas, and will be discussing these at stakeholder meetings a letter from one recently which I thought illustrated the in 2010. situation perfectly: american express gold credit card summer edition AMSA’s National Leadership Development Seminar: Victoria Cox University of Adelaide Canberra 2009 On the evening of the 6th of September, 72 troops from sample of the evening’s festivities. The third and final around Australia gathered at the Nation’s capital, eagerly night began with an AMSA Riverside Rave (glow-sticks anticipating the acquisition of as much knowledge as included) after which the AMSA contingent moved to an could be condensed into the following three days at underground karaoke bar. After preparing Hawaii Five-O the annual National Leadership Development Seminar on CD, USB and via Bluetooth, it became clear that it was (NLDS). literally impossible for the venue to play our anthem on stage, even after a cash bribe. Consequently, plan E saw The wealth of knowledge and experience that the 30 delegates acquire the microphone and launch into an speakers presented throughout the three days was acoustic rendition of Hawaii Five-O – until said individuals what made the seminar so beneficial. Plenary speakers were quite literally thrown off the stage. included: The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing; Professor Jim Bishop, Chief Medical Officer What a fantastic couple of days – we definitely got (Commonwealth); Dr Andrew Pesce, Federal President, amongst it Burley-Griffinside. Every medical student Australian Medical Association; Dr Christine Bennett, should endeavour to attend NLDS, it is an amazing Commissioner, National Health and Hospitals Reform opportunity to learn with likeminded individuals from Commission; Mr Hugh Evans, Director, Global Poverty across the land and sea. Special thanks must go to the Project; Dr Peter Spitzer, Director, Clown Doctors – The AMSA Executive and Shayne for hosting us for an inspiring Humour Foundation and Dr Mick Adams, Chair, National couple of days. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

These were amongst many plenary speakers eager to inspire delegates with many stimulating messages. The quality of questions saw many of the speakers take the time to stay back and entertain enthusiastic delegates. We were lucky to have such a broad variety and depth of individuals who together, have and will continue to influence the many facets which build the Australian Health Care System. Our afternoon session in Question Time of Parliament House saw a personal acknowledgement from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd! High- five!

One of the highlights of the Seminar was when delegates had the opportunity to go head-to-head and debate the passing of hypothetical bills. The evening was chaired by a retired senator in Old Parliament House. This was once again an entertaining spectacle with humorous arguments presented from both sides of politics. One of the more light-hearted debates was whether or not Tasmania should be removed as a state of Australia - and saw the role-playing Deputy Prime Minister call for a vote of no confidence in the PM and proceed to cross the floor with nearly the entire party! It was also in this sitting that the artistic skills of our delegation were immortalised with a version of Hawaii Five-O in Old Parliament House – coming soon to a Facebook screen near you.

An AMSA report could never be complete without a AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 37 As the AMSA Executive for 2010, we are very excited about what the future holds for this wglorious Association.lcome!! We love AMSA as much as you do (although perhaps Ross does a little more thanE everyone else) and this year it’s our aim to engage, educate, evolve and excite to ensure that the AMSA you know and love remains successful and relevant. and your ideals for the future. Engage We want to better represent you, but we’ll need your AMSA IS ALL ABOUT YOU - the medical students of help. To have your voice heard and to find out about Australia. In 2010 we want to re-invigorate the AMSA other ways in which AMSA is evolving check out Subcommittees at each of your local MedSocs. We want amsa.org.au. to get you excited about AMSA. We want to hear your AMSA Rep voicing your opinions at National Council. In fact, we may as well cut to the chase: Excite We want you! Get prepared to be surrounded by videos, posters, So head along to amsa.org.au and make it your home newsletters, magazines, flyers and every pick-up line page, or not, but do check it out and SUBSCRIBE while we can muster – there are opportunities-a-plenty to you’re there. get involved in AMSA and meet medical students from around the country...so where the bloody hell are ya? Educate Stay alert for a calendar of MedSoc event dates from around the nation, so that you can take advantage Do you prefer House to Harrisons? Want to stay informed AMSA’s Open Door policy and crash MedBall in but don’t like reading? Want to look 10 years younger in Tasmania. They love visitors down there, and who 10 days? Well, in 2010 AMSA’s got you covered (maybe knows? Maybe you’ll spot someone from across the not the 10 years younger part, but who wants to go back party; hopefully, they’ll only have one head and be your to high school anyway?). There’s a revamped website Knight in shining armour. Check amsa.org.au for the waiting for you at amsa.org.au, as well as episodes of details. AMSAtv, waiting to inform you of AMSA’s Big Issues at the comfort of your own desk. 2010 is going to be e-normous (get it?). We can’t wait, and we hope you can’t either. Coming to you later this year will be a guide on Working Abroad and an Electives Database, so you can toss the UBD and get yourself some Lonely Planet guides instead. Plus, there’s plenty more in the pipeline. Ending One final thing we should mention before we go: we just are, from rAdelaide! Actually nobody calls it that in Evolve Adelaide but anyway, it’s heaps good. We live in an evidence-based world and we practice in Any questions? [email protected] / www.amsa.org.au / an evidence-based profession. It is therefore no longer go there! sufficient for AMSA to just be the peak representative body on medical students in Australia – we must evolve Looking forward to a jam packed 2010 with you. to become the peak authority on medical students in Australia. This drive is termed our Evidence-based AMSA Yours, initiative, and it means we will be doing everything we can to learn more about you, your opinions, your issues, The 2010 Executive american express gold credit card summer edition AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 39

Throughout the dying months of 2009 one competition captured the hearts of medical students across the Panaceacountry. You nominated them, then voted&AMSA’s for them, wasted valuable study time and now we are pleased to Bachelor of the bring you the winner and the finalists for Panacea’s first Bachelor of the Year Competition. Congratulations and thank you to those who were nominated and those who were chosen as finalists, and to one very special Tasmanian who has been crowned Panacea’s Bachelor of the Year for 2009. Swoon! And the winner is... Davidd Ransley

TasmaWhy should niayou be Panacea and AMSA’s first Bachelor of the Year? Apart from being a genuine, honest and nice Tasmanian boy, I have represented Australia at world championships for sailing, have a pilot’s licence, and volunteer for a number of charities from St John’s Ambulance to the Red Cross. I captained the Tasmanian Debating Team to a controversial second place at Convention ‘09, was a member of the Tassie Cascade Cup team and am the logistics portfolio holder for Convention 2010. In my spare time I train for triathlons, meaning I have a swimmer’s trunk and cyclist/ runner’s legs, as well as a sailor’s tan.

What will you do if crowned Panacea and AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year? I would occasionally drop the bomb when I needed a bit of extra help. “You like long walks along the beach? Oh cool. Well I won AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year. Single? Why, yes I am.”

What is your idea of the perfect first date? Chicken breat with red wine jus, and pumpkin and haloumi risotto. There is probably not a better smelling combination, plus it is quick and easy to cook and doesn’t demand all of your attention. american express gold credit card summer edition Panacea &AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year Competition But we can’t forget our other nineteen finalists Congratulations guys!

WhatAmit would Verma, you cook Monash a girl if you had her over MyAniket best moment Nadkarni, in medicine UNSW was when... a for dinner? nurse confused me for the paediatrics registrar Dessert - I make the best baked strawberry and and subsequently gave me her number and chocolate cheesecake, ever. asked me out for coffee. My most embarassing moment was when she found out I was a medical student.

HowBod would Vickers, you like toUSyd save the world? MyChris best momentParker, in medicine Monash was... having a My philosophy is most problems can be solved ninety-something old lady say that if she was with a hacksaw, or a swift backhand to the face. ten years younger and I was ten years older I’m not sure how effective that would be on a maybe I’d have a chance with her. global scale though.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 41 Panacea&AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year Competition

WhatDavid is your McGillivray, idea of a perfect first date?UQ DoingEd medicineCooper, has beenUSyd my dream and goal A nice sunset dinner at a restaurant perched on a for as long as I could remember. To finally be cliff overlooking the ocean followed by a moonlit studying what I love - I can’t imagine anything walk on the beach, and then sexy times. better. I am a volunteer Surf Life Saver, I work with the RPA Liver Transplant Unit and like to keep my life balanced with a run each day.

WhatFalk would Reinholts, you cook a girlUWA if you invited her MyJames most embarassingChurchill, moment Melbourne in medicine over for dinner? A steak. It’s the perfect test was... sleeping through two alarms to arrive 45 really because if a woman can’t appreciate a minutes late for a 3 hour neuroanatomy exam. well cooked piece of prime meat then things The impressive feat was taking only 6 minutes are probably not going to work out between us. from bed to desk.

Joel Menzies, UNDS Kieran Owens, UNSW My best moment in medicine was.... My best moment in medicine was... Discovering the word gubernaculum, it’s a real Probably during my brief palliative care rota- word! tion. I was awed by the sensitivity, competence My most embarrassing moment in medicine and awareness of cultural rituals displayed by was... I have no shame. the palliative care staff I was placed with. american express gold credit card summer edition Panacea&AMSA’s Bachelor of the Year Competition

MyLucas best momentBailey, in medicine Wollongong was... WhatMarcus would youHandmer, cook a girl ifUWS you invited her The patient was hospitalised, recently over for dinner? widowed, elderly and lonely, yet had a beautiful Duck à l’orange, a salad nicoise and a glass of story to tell. All it took was the time for moët. Herb bread on the side. Phone off the someone to listen and I felt privileged to hear hook. it.

MyMichael most embarrassing Shun, momentDeakin in medicine ApartNelson from Granchi,being breathtakingly Adelaide handsome I was... I turned up on the first day to find am a very well rounded individual. Apart from someone else from my interview group completing my first clinical year I performed completely gob-smacked that I actually got in. both on stage and in a band at the AMSS Med She immediately got on her mobile phone and Revue and Adelaide University Medical Orches- called her mum. When we later became friends tra concert (playing that lady-killing instrument, she told me that conversation literally started the trombone). with “Oh my God, Mum. You won’t believe it, that guy from the interview I told you about somehow got in...”

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 43 HowNicolas would youJorgensen, like to save theUQ world? WhatPhil would Jaksa, you cook ANU for a girl if you invited I suppose the world does have a conspicuous her over for dinner? I don’t rate myself as a lack of dinosaurs at present - so I guess that chef. Knowing me I’d probably try and cook could be improved upon. I’m not saying it’s something really elaborate and fail. In which going to be like Jurassic Park or anything, but I’ll case we would end up having sandwiches. So probably watch the movie a couple of times to my answer is sandwiches. get some ideas.

HowRick would Davis, you like toMonash save the world? HowSam would Murray, you like to saveNewcastle the world? Ideally, remove the poverty, starvation and MacGyver style - in less than an hour I’d end illness. Realistically, I think starting small, poverty, cure disease, reverse global warming working in remote rural communities and and outwit an evil tyrant hellbent on world making a change to their world would be a domination, armed only with a Band-Aid, a good start. gumboot and a blonde mullet.

If you could inviteSimon six people Harley, from throughout Adelaide time to dinner, who would they be? Jamie Oliver to cook. Ricky Gervais to be the master of ceremony. Nelson Mandela to say grace. I think having both the Spartan King, Leonidas and the Persian King, Xerxes, at the same table would be interesting too. Mr. Mandela could bring a friend, I would trust his judgment. american express gold credit card summer edition

It’s not Miss.. it’s Doctor. A history of females in Australian medicine as opposed to speciality areas. These differences allow a Elise Coker more unique and varied workforce, which is beneficial to AMSA Public Relations Officer patient care.

University of Sydney In recent times however, both universities and specialty colleges have been working towards aiding females in When I tell people that I am a 23 year old their career pursuits. Areas that were once predominantly male dominated, are addressing women’s needs and female medical student, very few people laugh, concerns; most important were flexible hours and an improved lifestyle. In 2002, the Royal College of Surgeons became committed to ensuring that female students fall off their chair or even gasp in horror. were at no disadvantage to their male counterparts. This Yet this would not have always been the case. In 1885, has resulted in a large increase in female surgical trainees. Australia’s first female medical student was admitted to study at the University of Sydney. However, Dagma Berne The increase in female medical students has seen the was criticized so heavily, that she was forced to leave development of women’s medical societies and surgical Australia and complete her degree in Edinburgh. groups. These groups exist in universities across the country and allow students to discuss the role and Females now represent 55.8% of medical students across options for females in medicine, and to meet inspirational the nation; a huge increase from 43.6% in 1989. This women in this field. increase in student numbers is resulting in an increase in female practitioners- yes they are passing the course! Great progress has been made for women in medicine Women’s career choices and employment characteristics since the first female medical student began in 1885, as differ to those of men; females tend to work in a result of many inspirational and motivated women, as metropolitian areas and favour general practice well as the support and initiatives of universities and specialty colleges. Yet, more must be done to ensure that females are accepted and supported across all fields of medicine.

As a representative of all Australian medical students, AMSA believes in equity for female medical students and encourages that we continue to work towards this goal.

american express gold credit card summer edition Aviation & medicine: it’s all about the checklists David Ransley University of Tasmania

Before medicine, my first love was aviation. I was flying planes before I could drive a car. Mum used to have to drive me to the airport so I could go flying on my own. Aviation and medicine are both difficult professions, the lives of others rely on your skills and knowledge. But aviation has a different approach to preventing mishaps, an approach that is only now starting to pervade the medical field.

Most pilots will have heard the story of the Boeing Model 299. In a sky populated by twin and single engine planes, the Model 299 was revolutionary in its complexity. Its four engines and myriad controls and gauges made it a difficult plane to fly. In July 1934 it was being tested in front of the top brass of the American military, making a normal takeoff roll, rotating and beginning its climb-out. Then, before the eyes of those watching, it stalled, rolled onto its side and plummeted to the ground. The accident 11.3/1000 catheter-days to 0, staff were understandably investigation found the cause to be a gust-lock not being surprised. Checklists similar to this have been trialled at disengaged, “pilot error”, with many conceding it was too a range of US hospitals this year, with staggering results. complex to fly. But the pilots wanted this plane, it was But does the medical profession have the humility to faster, and could fly further, than any plane of the time. accept that a simple checklist can have such an effect on The pilots needed to find a way to make sure everything patient care? If a drug company made a drug with effects was done in the correct sequence, with nothing being as drastic as this it would revolutionise treatment, but overlooked. Their solution to this problem was to make a maybe the simple approach is better. checklist, or more correctly four checklists: takeoff, cruise, pre-landing and post-landing. The Model 299, or as it was Like aviation, medicine places great emphasis on correct later named, the B-17 “Flying Fortress” went on to fly procedures. Whether it is scrubbing-in for surgery, filling over 2.8 million kilometres without a serious accident. out paperwork, or putting in a central line. Unfortunately for pilots, there is no scope for clinical judgement, the Checklists are a great idea in the aviation industry, but flight is either safe or it is not. The aviation industry has do we need more pieces of paper to fill out while saving an amazing focus on safety, and even though it would lives? Catheter infection rates vary between ICUs, but be almost impossible to apply in the medical field, we to say that one in ten central venous catheters will can learn some of the lessons that pilots have. Checklists become infected when left in for ten days would not be might mean more paperwork for already overworked unreasonable. An intensivist in the US has come up with a doctors, but when they produce such astounding results supposedly novel idea, to use a checklist. It goes like this: in activities seen as routine and simple, their effect 1) wash hands with soap 2) clean skin with chlorhexidine cannot be overestimated. A culture of safety, with 3)place sterile drapes 4) wear sterile mask, hat, gown significant funding for programs to increase safety, has and gloves, and 5) put a sterile dressing over the catheter given Australia arguably the safest aviation industry in site. Then what? That’s it! Oh, and the nurses were told the world. While changing the practices of doctors is to make sure ALL doctors followed the checklist, a role difficult at the best of times, the numbers truly speak they took on with fervour. When this trial lowered the for themselves, checklists save lives, and are coming to a infection rate at Johns Hopkins Hospital from hospital near you.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 47 Gabe James University of Sydney The Future of There’s a rash of healthcare reform happening. It’s reform that begs questions - what will healthcare look like in 20 years? What will doctors be doing? What will my specialty of choice be? The medical student ‘tsunami’ had a palpable impact Healthcare in on our awareness of medical workforce issues. But until many students lost internships, few realised how serious it was. Is it possible that as doctors we are guilty of sticking our head in the sand? Or are we blinded by the illusion of our invulnerable status?

The impending tsunami of Nurse practitioners will expose Australia: our folly. Australia has 250,000 registered nurses capable of becoming nurse practitioners with only 1.5 years of training. They will be prescribing and treating in a range Doctors Should Lose of therapeutic areas if the USA and UK are any indication. It makes the medical student tsunami look like a splash in the bath. an opinion piece As a future doctor I welcome this development. It has been made possible by legislative changes introduced by the current labor government after years of intense As we speak, health care practitioners are bickering over Nurses Federation lobbying. But it also marks the first who should be able to prescribe, treat and - generally - step in the evolution of healthcare in Australia towards a make the most money. We talk about multidisciplinary more consumer-oriented and market-responsive industry. care, but as soon as nurses try to do something I very much hope it breaks the cycle of futile regulatory innovative, we shove our stethoscopes down their changes. throats. We call for change in healthcare, both to limit burgeoning costs and to address shortages, but can Since the introduction of Medicare in 1985 there have government reform deliver this change while we hold been at least 20 major reviews of Australian health them to ransom? systems. They’ve created and disbanded structures, toyed with MBS payments, and introduced various tracking Systemic reviews of the health system all identify the lack systems and quotas. Yet the core structures and service of money, poor hospital planning and weak primary and delivery is unchanged. preventative care as our biggest issues. They go on to propose solutions. But these solutions offer more of the Compare this to any other service industry. In the last same - burdensome government regulation. 20 years has the way you service your car, ordered your computer or planned your holiday changed? Most Let’s look at this example from the National Primary certainly. You get better service for less. But to see a Health Care Strategy. It proposes we improve primary doctor is harder and more expensive than ever. Why? health by:

Healthcare is over-regulated. While other markets evolve 1. Better rewarding of prevention. to meet consumer needs, healthcare is a political and 2. Promoting evidence-based management of chronic professional guild turf-war. In the name of quality, we disease. doctors restrict our training numbers and control the 3. Supporting patients with chronic disease to manage market. In doing so we have created a secure cocoon their condition. that prevents us understanding the health consumer and 4. Supporting the role GPs play in the health care team. ‘gaps’ in the market. We are like a central bank with no 5. etc etc etc competitors. american express gold credit card summer edition The Future of Healthcare in Australia: Doctors Should Lose an opinion piece

Who could disagree? medical error is caused by us). But the bottom line is that consumers are sick to death of waiting in surgeries But how do we achieve these blue-sky ideals? Ultimately for hours just to get a script or a referral they knew they are all top down attempts at changing a complex they needed. They will flock to any new services and system and a myriad of patient and healthcare provider technologies that usurp our control of healthcare and behaviours. NSW health has increased bureaucracy begin to decide for themselves what works. staff by 70% this decade. Yet little reform was achieved. Doctors carry on unruffled. Around the world new models of primary healthcare are emerging to cater for such gaps in the market: ‘minute- This stagnation led to recent calls for one decidedly clinics’, pharmacy vaccination services, mobile clinics and different approach: pay-for-performance. This, they hope, a raft of consumer oriented technology. will create incentives for better service delivery. Most doctors are oblivious to these developments. I’m not an economist, but the concept of incentives is Indeed, how many of you know the Revive Clinics fairly obvious to anyone, as are the perverse incentives in in Western Australia? Next year they plan to launch healthcare. While introducing an NHS style performance- hundreds of clinics delivering basic medical services - all management system might increase quality marginally, staffed by nurse practitioners. Did you know that as of we are still stymied by an inflexible workforce. Even November 2010 we should have around 1200 nurse the USA, paragon of the free-market, has excessive practitioners with MBS and PBS rights? regulations around medical workforce. As in Australia, they are a consequence of doctors dominating health It’s time doctors understood market realities. As a group legislation. we have to think more about meeting patient needs. We need to restore the imbalance of power between doctors That is why the advent of nurse practitioners is a and patients by empowering them with information and significant coup. treatment choices. Only then will the cost of healthcare decrease and Jo Citizen’s sense of motivation and Doctors whine about how bad nurses are and how little investment in good health grow. experience they have (while blithely ignoring that most AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 49 words and artwork by Antionette Mowbray University of Newcastle american express gold credit card summer edition elective report four weeks in Mumbai Aniket Nadkarni, UNSW Mumbai, India, is the loudest, liveliest, most colorful, entering the MICU. The MICU is a strange place where the smelly and busy city in the world. doctors and nurses were relaxed despite the desperate conditions where nearly every single patient monitor is Although I was born in Mumbai and have visited many blasting alarm bells and there is barely standing room times since, working in one of Mumbai’s general hospitals between each ICU bed! There is no such thing as ‘the was a completely different experience. Being posted 5 moments of hand hygeine’ at this hospital and 10 under the medicine department at KEM hospital I was minutes of the ward round were spent one morning with based in the medical intensive care unit, the emergency the head of ICU appreciating the latest alco hand wash department and the medical outpatients’ clinics. pump bottle.

There are some simple differences between Australia and The best example of the inability to maintain hygiene is India which made working in Mumbai a great learning the four legged visitors roaming the hallways. The dogs experience. and cats that made the hospital their home often had me wondering if there was a veterinary ward somewhere First of all there is the sheer patient load that exists due that I hadn’t noticed. One day I arrived at MICU only to to the population. The entire population of Australia see a rat-catcher there showing me his prize in a mouse- could fit into the city of Mumbai and it would probably be trap. less busy than it is now. The result of this is that diseases that occur 1/1,000,000 don’t seem so rare when you have a city with 20 million residents. The best example “Chuva!” he said to me - the Hindi word for mouse. is the OPD clinic where the small waiting room is filled “Ap ke pas hain esa?” - do you get this over there? - he with at least 400 people at any time of day. The doctors asked me. are forced to often see two patients at once, while a third “Nahin. Hospital meh nahin rath hain” - not in the patient will be rushed into the room because the waiting hospital, I told him! room outside is filled to capacity. Academically however, it was very interesting to see patients with conditions like It was the first time I had seen a rat in a hospital. Tetralogy of Falot, cavitating tuberculous lesions, cerebral malaria and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Finally there is the matter of economics, in which India is a relatively poor country compared to Australia. Despite The second basic difference is hygiene and infection. this, my hospital treated the thousands of patients that Medical education for patients from low socio-economic came under its roof each day for free. With the limited backgrounds involves telling people they shouldn’t money that the hospital had, they made sure every urinate or defecate in front of their houses and they resource was spent on the patients, from the machines, should wash their hands before they eat. Even with the instruments and medicines that would help treat them better educated population the sheer number of people all at no cost. Anyone from the children in the slums of per household and the climate allows diseases like Dharavi, to medical staff themselves could walk in to Tuberculosis and Malaria to spread very easily. receive the best medical care the hospital could provide.

I was completely put off on my first day by the infection It was a completely humbling experience being at KEM control protocol, which in a seemingly Hindu manner hospital. It certainly made me realise what I take for demanded that everyone remove their shoes before granted in Sydney, it taught me a lot about medicine and was a hell of a lot of fun! AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 51 How I mastered time Jared Panario University of Adelaide travel Newton guffawed at the idea. Einstein thought it So I was stranded in the present. A proverbial boat impossible. Hawking denounced it as heresy. Oh yes, without a fourth dimensional paddle. I had reached time travel has been beyond the grasp of the ordinary a crisis point. If I didn’t rectify the issue, I would be genius for millennia. Many have attempted. None have the laughing stock of the medical student populace succeeded. Until now. of Australia. I wouldn’t be able to show my face at Convention forevermore, for a wave of rotten I, only I, have discovered the true secret of time travel. tomatoes and vile glares would rain down upon me. And I feel it is my duty, nay privilege, to divulge this My professional career would be in tatters, and the momentous discovery to the sacred brethren of AMSA. only option left would be to move to a remote Siberian For what use is climbing the peak if there is no one with province and open up a scented candle store. Sure, the whom to share the view? living would be meagre, but it would be honest. And maybe, in time, I could court the postmistress Svetlana You may begin pondering why your incoming Publications and rear 16 aquiline children who would eventually take Officer has spent all his spare time devising such utter over the chandlery business. innovation. My mind wandered onto this idea some months ago. After writing the article about watching But I digress. TYYITD (10 Years Younger In 10 Days) I came to be aware of the grievous error of ever watching this abhorrence in You can see I was quite perturbed by the situation. After the first place. I am deeply scarred, a mere shell of the sitting under my thinking tree for hours teasing my man I once was. Ah, the halcyon days pre TYYITD. Those noodle (and also thinking a fair amount), I came up with a were fairer times. How could I make this better? How sore noodle, but absolutely nothing associated with time could I ever be the upstanding man I once was? travel.

You can imagine me sitting in a loft apartment in Krakaw In exasperation, I collapsed on my bed. All night, I tossed in the middle of a bitter snowstorm. The loose, exposed and turned. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the time slate shingles let in blasts of cruel air, with a ragged troubles. With every new answer, there were thirty hessian sack my sole insulation. Maybe the scene is in more questions that needed answering. Finally, in a fit of black and white or something equally noir and wanky. I exhaustion, I collapsed into an inky sleep. It was then that smoke my last cigarette and whisper “Por que?” before I had a most curious vision. the light extinguishes in my eyes. Fin. Ok, so that’s not actually happening. But it is happening to my soul. I was walking through a yellow wood, and came to a divergence of two roads. I chose to take the one less After months of obfuscating procrastination, mindless travelled by, and that made all the difference. After meandering and fruitless research, I came to an epiphany. following this track for some time, I came across an open There was only one solution. I mused, to fold the field filled with opium poppies. My lids grew heavy. spacetime continuum to accommodate my being into a Drifting off, I heard the faint sound of a tacky American past world and prevent myself from ever watching that sitcom theme song playing. A ball of pink smoke curled revulsion in the first place. Sheer genius. towards me from the shade of the trees. At first I was alarmed and wanted to run, but its sinuous movements In my mind, nothing made more sense. Feverishly, I pan were so alluring. Like a lava lamp, like a lava lamp. scoured the internet for every last glimmer of hope of time travel. Black holes, worm holes and cosmic strings Of course, the pink smoke solidified into Barbara Eden, were abound but alas, each of these came up wanting. who pseudo-belly danced her way over to me and did Singularities, like Convention, are not conducive to that blinky thing with the noise that she does. Suddenly, real life, cosmic strings are the hippie crystals of the the blueprints to the perfect time machine were in my sky, and the less said about putting parts of myself into hands, and I awoke in a daze. unknown holes the better (I’m just thankful the axolotl relinquished). american express gold credit card summer edition It was so simple!! Hurriedly, I grabbed a napkin and drew It all works upon subatomic particles that I like to call ghooch the rough outline for the time machine. And all I needed particles (which are halfway between hanus units and khlam was: quarks). These particles regulate the fourth dimension of time - one plastic flamingo, hot pink in a heptamerous fashion as follows: - 30m of garden hose - Hannah Montana: The Movie CD sin{1 - x ( b u ) x ^ (x – 1) - x - the carrot from a snowman’s nose (u - f) (e (a b (u – f ^ ξ) - a (u - f) x) + (β.u - f) )} - masking tape [u = ------] - cigarette lighter Ω/x - 2 ice cream waffle cones (empty) Where u = the velocity of time, b = the median instantaneous - 47 paper clips waveform of electron particles in given medium, and so on - several felt cut outs of the numbers 0-9 and so forth. It follows from here then that in an accelerated - 1L petrol (by open microwave) inert environment (argon) compressed - cylinder of Argon (Ar) to a triangular helical pattern (as shown on the flamingo) u - 42L microwave, front door removed begins to fluctuate weakly. - pink glitter (optional) Then, with the accentuation by the attached conical First things first, take the HM CD out of the cover, and structures with undulating surface (i.e. the waffle cones) u take it to a well-ventilated area away from thoroughfare. becomes wildly variable. However, without a circumlocutory Douse disc in petrol and burn that spawn of Satan into inhibitor, ghooch instability is soon negated by the larger molten PVC. It doesn’t have anything to do with the time khlam quark waveforms. This is where the irrefragable machine, I just think we all need to do our part to rid the biometalloid roundment comes in (also known as the chain o’ world of terrible taste. And while you’re at it, burn any paperclips n’ hunk o’ carrot). albums containing the following artists: Lil Bow-Wow (or is he just Bow-Wow now?), Taylor Swift AND Kanye West, This prognathous apparatus deflects the inherent khlam and last, but by no means least, Scandal’us. Even if it’s wave, whilst at the same time directs seaborgial hanus just one song on a Christmas album. In fact, especially units through the cylindrical ring of activated ghooch if it’s on a Christmas Album. I get made to listen to a particles. This, according to the new teachings of thallasocrat plethora of these come every December. Paul McCartney Zwitterion, gives unstable u values direction. has marred Christmas forever. Wings can bite me. Thereby use of stylised felt numericals within the cylinder, With that out of the way, return to the shed and get an exact ghooch state is actuated. Glitter particles ensure a cracking on the design shown: smoother transition of spacetime, but are not essential.

And hey presto, a working time machine is in your hands. Just straddle the flamingo, turn on the microwave for 90 seconds, and you’ll be in the time of choice. NB: make sure alfoil pants are worn to avoid microwave damage to fascia.

However, I have an ethical crisis on my hands. I have not yet used the time machine, FlaminGoer ™, and question its place in our world. Do I simply go back to before the last edition and achieve my initial goal, or go further? If so do I use this creation for altruism, or self?

And if I choose to use it, how can I ever be an accurate Publications Officer? How can the annals of history ever be taken seriously ever again if I have the power to change them? Do I deal retribution out for wrongs not yet done, meet my past, or future self? How will my actions affect spacetime? Will I in using it create alternate universes from which there is no escape?

I don’t want to end up like Sliders (anyone remember that Ensure waffle cones are at exactly 45 degrees, if even show? Had the guy from Crossing Jordan in it). Please help a second out there will be dire consequences for all me fellow AMSA members, the FlaminGoer™ and I need your involved, i.e., tearing of spacetime fabric and ending of guidance. existence of all matter.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 53 FelicityMedCest: Rees A How-to Guide Ten easy steps to MedCest... 1. Attend a med function. Options include a medball, any MedSoc Monash University function, or of course Convention... anything social with med The phenomenon of MedCest students in attendance. And preferably with some free/cheap drinks is more than just folklore; it on hand too. is an empirically observable 2. Wear something that you would not normally wear to uni. behaviour and, indeed, a (Interpret as you will). necessary part of your medical 3. Have a drink. education (and as of now, a 4. Have another drink. proper noun, capitalisation 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you feel deliciously seductive. compulsory). Whether you just 6. Lower your standards. Who do you think you are to refuse a fellow want to try before you buy or meddie, anyway? All MedCests are equal. Well…, most are, anyway. (I you are a commitmentphobic am confident that all readers can think of one or two that were …well… repeat offender, it is vital to not quite so publicly acceptable). approach a prospective fellow 7. Choose your target. This is one of the most important steps in MedCester without shame. this tried-and-true method of MedCest. To maximise your chances of We’ve all been there, done that, success, it is recommended that you select someone that you have after all. observed drinking but is still sober enough to dance/talk coherently (also minimising the chances of this person vomiting on your dress/ For starters, let’s make shirt/shoes/face.) For further advice regarding subject selection, see one thing clear. There is no the “Tips and tricks for the struggling MedCester” section below. excuse for not participating in 8. Manoeuvre yourself into a potential MedCest scenario. The author MedCest. The sole exception to recommends the following: this is rule is an individual in an - The dancefloor. (An old classic). established relationship at the - A secluded corner ‘chatting’ with your prospective fellow beginning of their degree that MedCester. lasts until after they graduate…. - If applicable, outside in the beer garden/courtyard etc. and then, well, they could The following are not recommended (but by no means disallowed!): always go on a break. If you - The bar queue (though this is not impossible). think you are too good/classy/ - Amongst a large group of fellow meddies (again, this has been dignified/sober for your fellow done). meddies/MedCesters, then - At a dinner table (yet again, a precedent has been set for any of you think again (or drink more). who wish to set yourself a challenge). - Maccas on the way home after the function (surprisingly commonly To help those of you who are utilised). new to med, or at least new 9. Indicate your intentions to your target. Start off subtly; brushing to MedCest, I’ve used the your hand on your target’s hand/waist is all that’s necessary as an observations I’ve made of my initial icebreaker. Escalate the contact – from a more lingering touch friends and colleagues (not to a permanently placed hand to the inner thigh etc. to mention my own personal 10. Commit MedCest. Take advantage of a moment of physical experiences) to construct a proximity to make eye contact with your target. (While dancing this step-by-step guide so that you is quite straightforward. During conversation a good moment is when too can experience MedCest you are both laughing – simply lean forward towards your target and success. make eye contact at this point. Then lean even closer. Try not to fall over.) From this point, there’s no looking back…... american express gold credit card summer edition MedCest: A How-toNow that you’ve achieved MedCest, you can take it Guide where you will…your place, his/her place, the cubicle with an ‘out of order’ sign in the ladies’ room…use your imagination.

Now that you are ready to go out into the world and reignite the MedCest flame, I would like to offer some words of advice regarding appropriate post-MedCest conduct. By all means glow inside with pride at your efforts, but it is not, however, advised that you boast to others about your accomplishments. MedCest is something that we must be modest about, as is true of all the great achievements in life. The only exception to this is the highly acclaimed (yet still not officially recognised) true ‘Lap of the Map’. In this scenario, it is recommended to merely state the university of origin, theme of the night and at which Convention the incident took place. In all other situations, however, the author recommends the following. While debriefing about the night, avoid mentioning your fellow MedCester’s name, instead only Tips and Tricks for the commenting on other MedCestuous incidents. If asked directly whether you achieved success yourself, the best Struggling MedCester... reply is simply “No comment” or “I don’t recall”. (Not only is this modest and unassuming, it also supplies you - If you’re having trouble finding a potential with a slightly enigmatic air, which is alluring and places MedCest target, look harder! If you’ve ever seen you in good stead for future MedCest with your fellow that person in a lecture theatre, in the common debriefers…or just illustrates you as the binge-drinker you room, or sleeping at the morning’s plenary probably are). session, they are fair game, so go for it! - MedCest does not require you to be gender With this method, every single one of you can achieve specific. Broaden your horizons. It could be fun. MedCest success. If you are still having trouble, however, do not despair. We offer you some handy hints to make It could make Katy Perry happy. MedCest that much easier to achieve. - If you’re struggling to get back into the MedCest game after a previous backlash, then maybe the Secret MedCest is for you. MedCest can be a private affair as well as a public one, after all. And next time, maybe don’t select someone from your tute, or who you carpool with… - And when all else fails…, turn to liquid courage.

The author would like to add that MedCest incidents in which you were unaware that the other individual involved was a med student until after the incident took place are known as fate-determined MedCest, and are normally a strong indicator for true love.

Good luck, and remember, MedCest responsibly.

AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 55 I didn’t know who I was or what made me happy, but the psychologist helped me deal with it.

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✆ 1300 22 4636 for the signs to your friends’ about what’s together of depression americanexperiences expressgoing on gold card summer editionbeyondblue: the national depression initiative medicine by the stars Katie Buzacott Griffith University Pisces Psychiatry. Obviously anyone whose star sign is Having trouble deciding which represented by a couple of fish going around in circles is going to be a little bit loopy. If you can’t beat ‘em, join speciality to pursue? Don’t ‘em and charge ‘em dearly for the privilege! worry, it’s all in the stars. Aries Sheep are woolly. Jumpers are made from wool. Old LIBRA people seem to wear and knit a lot of jumpers, so Clearly gynaecology. Apart from the obvious connection logically Aries should become geriatricians. with a leading brand of tampon, unless decades of  dodgy sanitary pad TV advertisments have lied to me, menstruating involves copious amounts of blue liquid. Taurus The birthstone for Libra is the sapphire. Sapphires are Stubborn to the end, lazy, and knows where money is to blue. The circle is complete. be made. Dermatologists love dealing with stubborn skin lesions.  Scorpio Scorpions are pretty poisonous, so David Attenborough Gemini has lead me to believe anyway. If you’re bitten by one, The Twins. Geneticists love twins. Maybe you should be I imagine you should go to the emergency department, a geneticist? where your friendly Scorpio ED doctor will be only too glad to cure what ails you (but only for the next half hour or they’ll get bored and be distracted by something shiny  – oh look, kidney dish). Cancer Oncology. Too easy. My 2 year old cousin could’ve figured that one out, and he’s not the brightest lightbulb Sagittarius in the microscope. Some guy riding in on his horse, randomly shooting  arrows into people? If that’s not a general surgeon, then I don’t know what is. Leo Apparently these people are firey and stubborn. Obviously going to go into medical adminstration, where  they can roar and preen their manes, while the rest of the Capricorn Hard workers who go about their day with goat driven herd goes about its business, trying not to get eaten. motivation. All physicians must therefore be Capricorns. Just don’t let them eat your pocket or stethoscope. Virgo  This is an earth sign, so maybe that means you’ll be Aquarius treated like dirt? If so, then your calling clearly lies with a Urology. Having trouble with your waterworks? Who bulk billing GP superclinic. better to see, than an Aquarius, the water-bearer? Replace that big urn that you see with all Aquarius figures with a bedpan, and you’ll be getting the picture.   ’ page 57 AMSA s 50th Anniversary Issue Life in Med icine time consuming discussion groups. More intriguing in Kevin Phang medicine is the assumption that information relayed to us UNSW will enter our brain by simple diffusion. Now would you find it hard to relax?

From the title, it is beyond obvious that the next few Coming back to the interview, it was forty minutes thousand words of this essay would only be the very tip of serious interrogation. The question of what made of the iceberg of what the author will experience as he you choose medicine is almost inevitable. My motives progresses further into the realm of medicine. Before were clear cut, that I was interested in the teachings you go any further, take a step back....this bloke seems to of orthodox Western medicine, and most importantly be an inexperienced freshman who just wants to blurb applying them to practice as a career. It may seem about his hectic life. Would it be worth my spending the too idealistic but obviously other factors influenced next few minutes reading a ridiculous story that has only my choice of such a career; genuine intention to help just begun? So, the warning was outright lucid and frank others, relatives who are in the medical field, inspiring and what seems to be medically ethical has already been television programmes , a stepping stone to a myriad of put forward. Out of your right to informed consent, non- other specialisations, honestly... a decent pay and the maleficence, utilitarianism, you have just been politely notion that being a medical doctor is a noble profession. prompted to consider the greater good of your time with Through several years of medicine, these goals have been no intended harm prior to reading this essay. revisited and transformed with objectives on a wider scale. What do I mean? Henceforth the life begins with a medical interview, the euphoria of successfully getting into med-school, I figured that mentioning my clinical experience here ending abruptly with the first step into the lecture hall. would be ideal, mainly because it has been the most I just realised that I stumbled into academic quicksand. exciting and stimulating experience on my part. Clinical The notion of being sucked into a dark endless pit of training in hospitals has revealed the true value and information is simply horrifying for any student. How worth of being a doctor; an indispensable driving force do you stay afloat in quicksand? Simple, just relax... working in symphony with the entire medical team and Now I begin to wonder which doctor quipped, “Listen allied health professionals for the homeostatic balance in boy, the hardest part of medicine is getting into med- public healthcare. Somehow one of the most important school.” That 60 year old paediatrician must be mad. He terminologies in medicine just slipped my mind and probably got paid too much to be a kid again and now snugly placed itself into the previous sentence. That is he is going bonkers. Or, the way I see it his textbook was right, ‘homeostasis’ is one of the fundamental goals of half as thick as mine now. What is the whole point of medical treatment, to bring the human body back to its studying medicine if according to my dean at the first optimally balanced state. Somehow, the norm always plenary, “80% of it is going to be forgotten when you gets surpassed with financially thirsty pharmaceutical graduate”? I guess it happens to most students when companies infringing on the medical community like an they graduate. No one remembers every detail they insatiable vulture. It is all about optimal performance, learnt in kindergarten but they certainly did know how to improving health and the life where more is good. write and count. That is the beauty of learning. So, miraculous treatments such as nasal delivery technology are constantly churned out to improve your It is awfully easier said than done when it comes to the performance... in bed. Vitamin supplements come in real situation. If students abhor studying, why are they megadoses to increase the value of your urine, weight called students? I would agree with a note that students loss concoctions to burden your liver and a plethora of enjoy learning, especially with my highly appreciated other ‘alternative’ medical therapies. The question is, medical course. The content was infinite but definitely do you believe in evidence-based or testimonial-based appealing to any med-student, boring interesting lectures, medicine? Following 48 hours of endless work, the literally gross and fascinating anatomy tutorials that may already stressed out doctor have just been mutilated induce cerebral hypertrophy from information overload, even more by a patient complaining of useless drug complicated laboratory practicals and partially useless prescriptions or unbearable side effects. What about those St. John’s Wort, garlic or ginseng supplements your american express gold credit card summer edition Life in Med icine

spouse or parents gave you? How about the 8 hour plane streets are chock-a-block with nothing, not even a ride and bungee jump after complaining of a backache? shadow of a living Homo sapien. Alright, maybe I was The one human quality I must criticise and even of myself over exaggerating myself but even the slightest cough is our non-compliance, which is the bane of all medical or sneeze is taboo. Hospitals will be bursting with treatments. coughing patients, already violating the principles of public health. Those who think they have the swine, They never warn you about the impending ‘medical bird or some ‘animal-named-after-just-so-you-will-not- student syndrome (MSS)’ that will constantly plague eat-it’ flu contract it while those who really have the flu any sane individual who decides to study medicine. It spread it. How harmonious would it be then, spreading happens when you experience 3 out of 5 symptoms and the contagious ‘love’ to everyone? Now that is a definite according to the DSM-IV you self diagnose positive for entry into heaven. The “take home message” which is disease? Thus the never ending paranoia a med-student the only phrase when students pay attention during has and one of the reasons why we practise hedonism lectures is to gain more knowledge on major health when it comes to end of exams, “drink and be merry issues such as infectious diseases and visit the GP with for tomorrow we die.” Sadly speaking, we wake up the progressively worsening symptoms. Aforementioned, next afternoon with a hangover, mild fatty liver and half the social stigma about refraining from consuming an the knowledge of what we knew yesterday. Did you animal with a flu named after it is also due to the lack of know that it would also be possible to tell what med- education in the community. On the other hand, it might students are learning that semester by their lifestyle? just be of the notorious influence of the media to blame, If Johnny cuts his drinking habits while Liz starts to go as animal named flu has been coined up and somewhat on a Mediterranean diet, chances are that they are unrecognised by the medical community. studying about alcohol related diseases and obesity. Although short-lived, I must admit that this MSS induced Alas, you have successfully made it to the conclusion and lifestyle change has brought on a higher level of self- I must say that the past 7 minutes of your time is only consciousness. Too often we take our bodies for granted a small inkling of life in medicine. There is a multitude these days, until the onset of worrying symptoms which of knowledge, experiences and tribulations I have yet will set the layman or MSS afflicted med-student off to encounter. I have not had the luxury of relaying frantically to the GP expecting a miracle cure. Needless much about ‘uni-life’ but it is an integral part of any to say, we should also expect Saint Peter to let us through medical graduate given the enormous magnitude of the automated gates of heaven. diversity in people of different cultural backgrounds and personalities we interact with and the eccentric student As far as you have come reading this essay, you might operated activities we carry out all count towards the notice that I have been bombarding you with provocative doctor of tomorrow. Nonetheless, certainty remains that questions. So let me just rhetorically state that all of us completing med-school only marks the beginning of the are meant to kick the bucket one day, it’s just the matter real journey into the life of medicine. Now that was not of how and when. We humans are so afraid of suffering too far-fetched, was it? and disease that whenever an influenza pandemic strikes, AMSA’s 50th Anniversary Issue page 59 So...you’re graduati ng and leaving your student days behind? Well, just because you are making your way in the big wide world doesn’t mean that the Associati on you have grown to know and love throughout your years in medical school has to disappear too! Introducing the AMSA Alumni We are excited to bring you AMSA Alumni - a new way for you to keep up with what’s happening with AMSA, and your recently graduated colleagues alike. AMSA Alumni is open to every Australian and New Zealand medical graduate from 1960 onwards, providing a network that will connect former members of our proud Associati on well past their graduati on from medical school. Plus it’s a great way to give back to the Associati on as doctors that gave us so much as students.

Not only will you receive updates from AMSA, but a specifi c AMSA Alumni Newslett er will be coming your way, along with invitati ons to reunions. Where do you sign up, we hear you ask? Simply visit www.amsa.org.au/alumni and join today.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up and be a part of this new national networking opportunity! www.amsa.org.au/alumni

A PANACEA BOOK REVIEW A Primer of Clinical Psychiatry David Castle Darryl Bassett A Primer of Clinical Psychiatry is a concise text aimed at providing a comprehensive yet accessible resource forRRP: those $69.95 undertaking study in psychiatry.

Informati on is organised into four parts: The Tools of Psychiatry, The Syndromes of Psychiatry, Treatments and comprehensive coverage of the knowledgeSpecial required Groups throughout, giving a junior medical training.

This oft en complex area of clinical training is further broken down into easy to digest and disti nct chapters. There is a focus on providing clinical ti ps and summaries in order to assist the student in applying This text is available from: the content to everyday practi ce. Case studies further enhance the Elsevier Australia correlati on between the writt en word and the ward. Ph: 02 9422 8500 The text gives a clear and concise jumping off point for students to Freecall: 1 800 263 951 start their explorati on of psychiatry or a well-structured review tool. Website: www.elsevier.com.au So...you’re graduati ng and leaving your student days behind? Well, just because you are making your way in the big wide world doesn’t mean that the Associati on you have grown to know and love throughout your years in medical school has to disappear too! Introducing the AMSA Alumni We are excited to bring you AMSA Alumni - a new way for you to keep up with what’s happening with AMSA, and your recently graduated colleagues alike. AMSA Alumni is open to every Australian and New Zealand medical graduate from 1960 onwards, providing a network that will connect former members of our proud Associati on well past their graduati on from medical school. Plus it’s a great way to give back to the Associati on as doctors that gave us so much as students.

Not only will you receive updates from AMSA, but a specifi c AMSA Alumni Newslett er will be coming your way, along with invitati ons to reunions. Where do you sign up, we hear you ask? Simply visit www.amsa.org.au/alumni and join today.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up and be a part of this new national networking opportunity! www.amsa.org.au/alumni

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