Media Invitation - 90 Countries Represented at International Medical
Students' General Assembly: A Canadian First

MONTREAL, July 29 /CNW Telbec/ - July 31 to August 6, some 800 medical students from across the globe will descend onto the Palais des Congrès de Montréal to participate in the annual August Meeting of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA). This gathering, known as Montreal AM 2010, will mark the first time that an IFMSA General Assembly will be held in Canada and is the biggest event of its kind ever to take place in the country.

During the week, 70 volunteers and 750 delegates from some 80 countries will have the chance to participate in dozens of conferences, working groups and plenaries. Throughout these sessions, students will develop multinational projects and build partnerships in the areas of medical education, advocacy, public health, human rights, reproductive health, and global health.

"Montreal AM 2010 is a landmark event for both Canadian and international medical students. It's a key opportunity for future physicians to meet, learn and discuss major health issues and challenges in their country and to establish priorities and goals for the upcoming year," explained Alexandre Sigouin-Duquette, President of the Organising Committee and a fourth-year medical student at the Université de Montréal.

Canadian medical students have been making a splash on the international stage through the IFMSA. At the General Assembly in Macedonia in August 2009, the representatives from Canada and Quebec wowed their fellow delegates by presenting a policy statement on indigenous health, facilitating a working group on ethical guidelines for international electives, and launching a survey on reproductive health education.

Montreal AM 2010 is a joint initiative of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) Global Health Program and IFMSA-Québec, the international division of the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ). The FMEQ represents 3,700 students from four medical schools in Quebec and the CFMS represents over 7,400 medical students from 14 medical schools across Canada.

The Organising Committee is entirely made up of volunteers. The event was made possible thanks to over $200,000 in sponsorships, mostly from student societies, Canadian medical schools and tourism offices.

The IFMSA represents over one million medical students from 90 countries worldwide, and is the official recognised student body of the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.

Details:

Event: 59th General Assembly of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
Dates: Saturday, July 31 through Friday, August 6, 2010
Location: Palais des Congrès de Montréal, 201 Viger Ave. West, Montreal
A pre-conference will take place in Ottawa from July 27 to August 31, 2010

The press is invited to attend the opening ceremony on July 31st at 7:30 p.m or to drop by any of the events. For more information:

WEBSITE
www.montrealam2010.com

For further information:

MEDIA CONTACTS

Alexandre Sigouin-Duquette, Organising Committee President
514 702-4872, [email protected]

Sarah Fung, CFMS Representative for Montreal AM 2010
780 904-7957, [email protected]