25 October 2007

Medical students from The University of Queensland have spearheaded a team to become the 2008 national executive of the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA).

AMSA is the peak representative body for medical students in Australia and aims to ensure that all levels of government, as well as other relevant stakeholders in the medical education arena, hear their concerns.

The 2008 AMSA executive consists of 13 medical students, including seven from UQ.

Incoming National President Michael Bonning said his team would strive to make AMSA more relevant to medical students nationally.

“AMSA is a major stakeholder in any discussion regarding medical education and junior doctors.

“We represent 12,000 medical students and want to encourage the student body to know more about AMSA.

“We’re hoping to make AMSA more accessible to more students and put a greater focus on education and research,” Mr Bonning said.

The team went through a rigorous and lengthy selection process before being named the 2008 executive.

“We had to submit a bid document outlining the team’s proposal ideas for the next year, and for AMSA in the long-term,” Mr Bonning said.

“11 of us went down to Melbourne to present the document, and won.

“It’s hard to draw together 13 committed individuals so it was between ourselves and a strong team from Western Australia.”

Mr Bonning said the team was selected based on participation in university medical societies as well as practical experience.

“Our treasurer, for example, was a chartered accountant before studying medicine,” he said.

The new AMSA executive hopes to begin publishing a student journal as part of its plight to make the association more accessible to students.

“We want to start a peer-reviewed medical journal with all the content based on medical students’ research.

“It would be the first of its kind in Australia, and the second in the world.

“I only know of one other student journal, and it’s published in New Zealand,” Mr Bonning said.

The 2008 AMSA executive consists of 13 medical students, seven from UQ, five from Griffith and one from Bond:

President: Michael Bonning (UQ)
Vice President: Tim Smith (UQ)
Vice President: Chad Donnelly (Griffith)
National Coordinator: Ashvind Prabahran (Bond)
Treasurer: Faisal Kahn (Griffith)
Sponsorship and Marketing Officer: Chantelle Berenger (Griffith)
Sponsorship and Marketing Officer: Sarah Cash (Griffith)
Public Relations Officer: Carly Fox (UQ)
Publications Officer: Gemma Robertson (UQ)
Internal Communications Officer: Nicholas Jorgensen (UQ)
Global Health Officer: Jake Parker (UQ)
Rural and Indigenous Officer: Hayley Messenger (UQ)
Community Liaison Officer: Mark Friel (Griffith)

Media: Further Information, Michael Bonning (s4093756@student.uq.edu.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)