The Colombian Society of Medical Students' Associations (Spanish: Asociación de Sociedades Científicas de Estudiantes de Medicina de Colombia - ASCEMCOL) is a non governmental, nonprofit organization that aims to promote medical research, community service and integration into the academic field of health in Colombian medical students. It was founded in February 1989, and currently maintains members from 35 medical schools across the country.
History
The first constitutions and bylaws of ASCEMCOL were approved in its first General Assemblee held on Barranquilla in February 12th 1989, in which representatives of eight medical schools signed the act of constitution.
The first members of this new organization were responsible for making the first contact with the Latin American Federation of Scientific Societies of Medical Students (Spanish: Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades Científicas de Estudiantes de Medicina - FELSOCEM), after attending the 1st Latin American Scientific Congress of Medical Students on August 1989 in Lima, Peru.
From June 30 to July 2 1990, the provisional board met in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia. Medical students from 6 Schools of Medicine (Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad de Caldas, Universidad del Quindío, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Universidad Nacional de Colombia y Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira) were present and developed new constitutions and bylaws that were in force until 1995. In Neiva, Huila, Colombia, from April 27 to April 28 1995, a commission was appointed to review the reform proposals to constitutions and bylaws developed by local committees from three universities (Universidad del Rosario, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada and Universidad Nacional de Colombia). This committee met on 28 and 29 May 1995 in the city of Manizales, for the final drafting of the new Constitutions and Bylaws, in force until 1998. Within the framework of the XI Colombian Congress of Student Medical Research (Spanish: Congreso Estudiantil Colombiano de Investigación Médica - CECIM) on Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia, the Constitutions and bylaws were modified again.
Since 1994, ASCEMCOL has full membership with FELSOCEM. In 1991, the Medical Students' Scientific Association of Universidad de Caldas (Spanish: Asociación Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad de Caldas - ACEMCAL) performed for the first time in Colombia the FELSOCEM's International Scientific Congress (Spanish: Congreso Científico Internacional - CCI) which was attended by 1500 medical students from 12 Latin American countries. In 1998, the Medical Students' Scientific Association of Universidad de Cartagena (Spanish: Asociación Científica Acta Médica de Cartagena - ACAMC) performed the 13th FELSOCEM's International Scientific Congress in Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia.
In 2004, ASCEMCOL contacts with the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and in 2005 ASCEMCOL is named Full Member, with right to voice and vote in the IFMSA's General Assemblies. Since 2005, ASCEMCOL joined to the IFMSA Professional Exchange Program and since last year, ASCEMCOL also has joined to IFMSA Research Exchange Program.
Throughout the last years, ASCEMCOL has worked so hard in Human Rights and Peace, Reproductive Health and AIDS, Public Health projects, health brigades, Medical Education and research projects. For all the above-mentioned, ASCEMCOL is the most representative organization of medical students from Colombia.
In 2014, ASCEMCOL performed the Commemorative Ceremony of its 25th Anniversary under the 25th Colombian Congress of Student Medical Research, hosted by the Medical Students' Scientific Association of Universidad del Quindío (Spanish: Asociación Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad del Quindío - ASEIMUQ). On this occasion, a special recognition to Jorge Enrique Gomez-Marín M.D., Ph.D. was performed for his trascendental work and support to the organization from its foundation to present time.