Future doctors get new perspective

Over the past few years, the role of doctors as social advocates has become increasingly apparent.

From the health of refugees and asylum seekers to mental health and bullying in the workplace and the opening of new medical schools, doctors have had to advocate for their patients, their rights and Australia’s healthcare system. A well-rounded doctor is one who takes clinical medicine as their starting point to advocate for broader health.

Earlier this year, medical students from the University of Melbourne ran the fifth MD Student Conference. With support and guidance from the Melbourne Medical School, students from all year levels worked together to craft an innovative, diverse and unique academic program. The final product was an expansive 116 sessions over four days, with more than 200 speakers for an audience of 1365 of our future doctors.

For the first time, the conference hosted an international guest, author Dan Savage. Known in America as a social commentator and activist on LGBTIQ rights, Savage spoke to the MD Student Conference about lesbian, gay and transgender rights and the important role health professionals have in providing a non-judgemental approach to their patients.

The conference gives medical students the chance to hear about themes relating to health and social issues that are not always central tenets of medical training, but which nonetheless every doctor should be exposed to.

Speakers included social commentators and advocates, alongside giants of medical research such as immunologist Sir Gustav Nossal and virologist Professor Ian Gust.

The conference covered issues important to emerging doctors such as transgender health, domestic violence, gender equity, innovative e-medicine and how to lead a balanced life beyond medicine. highlighting the breadth of a medical career and the necessity for a continually evolving medical education.

At the core of the conference vision is innovative medical education. In an Australian first, medical students are given almost complete control and invaluable resources to shape part of their own medical training.

This gives medical education a fresh perspective, one that is attuned to the current societal milieu and speaks to the relevant issues which would never make it past the hurdles of any clinical curriculum.

The innovation of the MD student conference relies on a very simple principle: give medical students the autonomy to shape their own education. The result is a kaleidoscope of ideas which expose the complexity of the medical profession and enrich our future medical practice.

Asiel Adan Sanchez is a third year medical student at The University of Melbourne. He was an academic day convenor for The MD Student Conference, President of MDQueer LGBTIQ Health Collective and LGBTIQ Health Officer for the Australian Medical Students’ Association.