Fostering Interprofessional Collaboration: WCCS at IFMSA’s 12th Youth PreWHA
By WCCS
Published On: May 28, 2024
This year, our Director of Public Relations, Michelle Fontana, after a rigorous application process, was selected to participate in the prestigious Youth PreWHA 2024 hosted annually by the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The contact between chiropractic and medical students was initiated long ago. Since IFMSA organized its first-ever Youth PreWHA in 2013, a few WCCS members have had the opportunity to apply and attend the preparatory event leading to WHA. They have learned from high-level speakers and developed their skills in speech, leadership, and advocacy.
Representing the WCCS, Michelle had the chance to broaden her horizon on topics such as public health care, universal health coverage, and many others that go beyond the university curriculum. The event featured many interesting high-level speakers and interactive workshops on Public Health, Universal Health Coverage and Primary Health Care, Youth Engagement, Digital Health Summits, and more. Some of her favorite sessions included:
- Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Pandemics by Dr. Ana Hoxhaby Dr. Ana Hoxha (Epidemiologist, Alert & Response Coordination – WHO Health Emergencies Programme). This session provided background knowledge on infectious disease emergencies and emphasized the importance of aligning our health system to be resilient and capable of withstanding these challenges. An inspiring quote from Dr. Hoxha: “Think global, but act local!”
- Building Back Better – Health Systems Resilience and Strenghtening by Mahdu. This session highlighted the concept of resilience, the importance of preparedness and recovery in the health system shock cycle, the challenges facing health systems resilience and strengthening (HSRS), and the need for a primary health care-oriented system to combat re-emerging public health emergencies of international concern.
- What Makes Successful Advocacy? by Dr. Arwa Hani (WHO Liaison of IFMSA). This workshop explored what makes advocacy efforts successful and the skills and strategies needed to enhance advocacy plans. Participants analyzed past powerful advocacy campaigns like “Me Too,” “I Can,” the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” and more.
- Profit Over People? Commercializing Health by Prof. Sharon Friel, Maik Dunnbier, and Laura Salgado. This panel discussion explored the concept of commercial determinants of health, critically analyzed the role of the private sector in global health promotion, and identified necessary directions toward valuing people above profit.
- The Art of Small Talk by Inês Costa Louro. Participants practiced their networking skills, public speaking, and elevator pitches. Effective advocacy requires expertise, good planning, and strategy, as well as the ability to represent stances fluently and pitch ideas to high-level stakeholders.
- WHA Simulation. Participants explored the inner workings of the World Health Assembly from different global health actors’ perspectives, consolidating the skills and knowledge gathered over the past weeks through case studies.
This opportunity is immensely valuable to the WCCS and all participants because it offers the chance to network and create connections, potentially leading to more interprofessional collaborations in the future. It provides the opportunity to educate other health care professionals about chiropractic and its role in achieving common public health goals and universal health coverage. Participants gain insights into policymaking, meet high-level health care professionals, and possibly change their future career paths. Additionally, they learn more about Universal Health Coverage, Public Health, Primary Health Care, Planetary Health, and how healthcare workers can help achieve these goals. The event also provides opportunities to meet high-level speakers and advocate for the chiropractic profession.
I‘d like to take the opportunity therefore to thank IFMSA for organizing this event and creating the possibility to connect and work in an interdisciplinary way.
