:::JEMSA:::Journal of European Medical Students' Association

European Medical Students' Association

The European Medical Students' Association (EMSA) is a non-governmental non-profit organisation for medical students focusing on medical education, ethics and science in Europe.

About EMSA

EMSA was founded in Brussels in 1991. It integrates medical students in Europe through activities organised for and by medical students and representing them in Brussels. Faculties are members, not the individual countries. Since EMSA's foundation many medical faculties throughout Europe enrolled with EMSA. It currently unites 62 medical faculties from 18 countries across Europe. EMSA seeks to improve the health and the quality of care of the citizens of Europe by acting as a conduit for increased interaction and sharing of knowledge between European medical students in the areas of medical education, ethics, science and European integration.
EMSA is an Associated Organisation of the CPME Standing Committee of European Doctors.

Objectives

The objectives of EMSA, which has no lucrative aims whatsoever, are:

• To form a network between European medical students to facilitate European integration and develop a sense of European identity
• To represent and voice the opinions of the medical students of Europe
• To act as a forum for all medical students in Europe, to discuss topics related to the fields of medical education, medical ethics, and medical research
• To promote the highest standards in European medical education and ensure the quality of healthcare in Europe
• To promote training, activities and projects related to health in Europe to the benefit of medical students and society
• To facilitate intercultural understanding by organizing social and cultural events
• To cooperate with other student organizations and with organizations representing the medical profession

A couple of the activities EMSA organizes are: Teddy Bear Hospital, Twinning Project, Eurotalk, EMSA Summer Schools, EMS Council, WorldMaPS, and JEMSA (the scientific publication of EMSA).

History

In 1990 the idea to create a European Medical Students' Association was discussed during a symposium for medical students from all European countries organized by students of the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), Belgium. A working group was created and in the summer 1991 the European Medical Students' Association was founded in Brussels. This first EMSA General Assembly was under the patronage of Baudouin I, the King of Belgium and was financially supported by the European Community's ERASMUS programme. The statutes were officially established and published under Belgian law.
Meetings

Each year EMSA delegates meet at the "National Coordinators & Enthisiasts Meeting" (NCM) in the spring, and the "General Assembly" in the fall.

Governance

The main executive body of the European Medical Students' Association is the EMSA European Board (EEB). In the fall of each year EEB is elected during the General Assembly. The EEB is composed of the president, vice-president, general-secretary, treasurer, several directors, co-ordinators and liaison officers.

European Medical Students' Council (EMS Council)

All over Europe there are students' associations that work actively at a local level defending the interest of their students, without having a European body voicing the concerns and defending the rights of European Medical Students. In 2004, EMSA started the European Medical Students' Council in London. One of EMSA's most important aims with this project is to improve the cooperation and communication within the medical students in Europe. The EMS Council meets annualy in a different European city.

Objectives of EMS Council

• The EMS Council main objectives are:
• Represent the interests and opinions of the medical students in geographical Europe.
• Discuss and form joint policies on issues surrounding medical students.
• Defend the rights and interest of medical students across Europe.

EMSA Europe