Abbreviation swimsa Formation 1917 | Motto Have you Med me? Headquarters Bern | |
Type Student organization
Professional organization
Nonprofit organization Purpose Representation of all Swiss medical students on a local, national, and international level | ||
The Swiss Medical Students’ Association (swimsa) is an independent association represeting all medical students in Switzerland. It was founded in 1917, and currently maintains 17 member organisations, 6 of which are medical faculties and 11 are public health and awareness organisations/projects. All medical students of Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich are represented on a national and international level.
Contents
History
1917 the medical faculties of Switzerland were united to the Association of Swiss Clinicians "Verband der Schweizer Klinkerschaften" (VDSK).
In 1951 the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) was founded by the VDSK and associations of six other countries in Copenhagen, Denmark. From then on the IFMSA has been representing the interests of medical students on an international level. Later on the VDSK underwent a reform to become the Association of Swiss Medical Students (Verband der Schweizer Medizinstudenten) VSM, from which the organization IFMSA Switzerland had split, concentrating solely on professional clinical exchange for medical students.
In 2006 the VMS and IFMSA approached each other and decided to create a joined venture under the name swimsa - Swiss Medical Students’ Association. Nonetheless IFMSA-Switzerland mutated to swimsa Exchanges and remained a legally independent organization, still taking care of international exchanges. Further founding members of swimsa were the medical student organizations "Achtung Liebe", promoting sexual health and education, and "Gruhu", enabling medical students to volunteer for clinical electives in third world countries.
In 2014 the organization swimsa Exchanges was dissolved and formally integrated into swimsa.
Member Organisations
The student councils of the medical faculties of Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich are recognized as members of swimsa with voting rights at the national delegate assembly, which takes place twice a year. Other medical student organizations, also known as swimsa projects, are represented as members with voting rights as well. Currently there are ten such organizations/projects. Usually the organization/projects have their own constitutions and are as such de jure independent from swimsa.
Activities
Swimsa is the official representation of Swiss dental and medical students and has seats in various commissions, such as the Commission of Swiss Medical Daculties SMIFK (Schweizerische medizinische Interfakultätskommission) or the Ministry of Health BAG (Bundesamt für Gesundheit). In addition the swimsa organizes international exchanges and takes part at the activities of the IFMSA. The association collaborates with various projects and organizations on the topics of public health, medical education, sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and human rights. The SMSC – Swiss Medical Students` Convention- takes place twice a year and enables students throughout Switzerland to meet and exchange experiences and ideas. Furthermore once a year a trainings weekend is organized.
Awards
swimsa honors medical students with the "U ROCK swimsa Award" and the organizations with the "Projects Award".
The "U ROCK swimsa Award" is presented twice a year during the SMSC (usually April and November) to people who have shown excellent commitment and endurance. The candidates are chosen by the executive board to be voted on by the national delegate assembly. The following list shows the recipients since its introduction:
The "swimsa project award" is the equivalent award for outstanding work of a project/organization and is presented annually at a SMSC after being elected by a representative jury.