Medical students gathered at Weill Cornell Medical College on October 30 to discuss global health care at the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Regional Annual Conference. This year's conference, entitled "With the World in Mind: Envisioning Health Care From a Global Perspective," brought together more than 120 students from New York, New Jersey and beyond to discuss domestic and international health issues, and how their roles as future caregivers will affect their communities here and abroad.
"Health has always been a universal issue that affects everyone regardless of ethnicity, geographic location, socioeconomic issues, or spiritual beliefs," said Bernard Ashby, '07, chapter president of SNMA at Weill Cornell. "The purpose of the conference was to enlighten all who attended about domestic and international issues in health care to facilitate a more global way of thinking."
Dr. Robert Fullilove delivers the keynote speech at the SNMA Regional Conference.
Bernard Ashby, '07, chapter president of the SNMA at Weill Cornell.
The daylong conference included addresses by Weill Cornell students and faculty; a keynote speech by Dr. Robert Fullilove, associate dean for community and minority affairs and professor of clinical sociomedical sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University; and various community service events, including a canned-food drive for victims of Hurricane Ivan in Grenada.
Students also attended workshops with medical professional who have worked internationally and nationally with minority patient populations. Dr. John Mitchell, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, presented a slide show of his medical experiences in the third world and the challenges of working in an environment with limited resources. Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell, shared his experiences working in Haiti and how students can get involved with international medical outreach. Other workshop topics ranged from reproductive health in the developing world, overcoming language barriers in health care, and even a discussion with a voodoo priestess about alternative medicine.
Students also attended workshops with medical professional who have worked internationally and nationally with minority patient populations. Dr. John Mitchell, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, presented a slide show of his medical experiences in the third world and the challenges of working in an environment with limited resources. Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell, shared his experiences working in Haiti and how students can get involved with international medical outreach. Other workshop topics ranged from reproductive health in the developing world, overcoming language barriers in health care, and even a discussion with a voodoo priestess about alternative medicine.
Aaron Horne Jr., national SNMA president.
For many of the student attendees, the conference provided them with a greater understanding of health issues around the globe, as well as their roles as future physicians.
"All nations of the world, particularly those that are underdeveloped, have health issues that not only need to be discussed but also need contemplation and meaningful reflection," said Weill Cornell student Shannon Prograis, '08. "We gained a deeper insight into the vast complexity and depth of medicine at its most basic level of treatment and care."
Dominique Bayard, SNMA regional director.
Weill Cornell student Michael Ford, '08.
Photos by Challon Perry.