welcome to MedSIN UCL, UCL's global health society

What is MedSIN?

MedSIN once stood for Medical Students International Network, but the name is somewhat outdated; for many years, the global health community has relied upon engineers, political scientists, geographers, mathematicians, anthropologists, biochemists, computer scientists, economists and many, many more professions to improve health outcomes. We're hoping the soceity can grow to reflect this interdisciplinary approach, and are already teaming up with different societies to make this a reality. This is not just for medics, we need everyone to join!

Why Health?

Health remains a universally acknowledged human right, and is the directly related to three of the eight Millenium Development Goals (and indirectly related to most of the others). Yet despite this priority place on the agenda of many international summits, life expectancy at birth in 2009 varied worldwide from over 87 in some countries to around 31 in others. Such deep inequalities are what drives MedSIN.

What do we do?

If you've found your way here, you're probably already interested in the health of populations around the world. As students, we have the energy, the convictions and - lets face it, for some courses - the free time to build upon these interests in many different ways: the time, passions and verve to "Educate, Inspire, Act". To achieve these aims, we run many different activities including the fantastically educational Perspectives Magazine (which gives you a chance to write about the issues you care most about), inspiring and engaging presentations, events, talks, workshops and films from people working in global health or people affected by health inequities, and of course the envigorating campaigns which tackle specific global health problems and can achieve international action and positive change.

Traditionally, MedSIN UCL has followed the mantra of "Educate, Inspire, Act", a worthy tagline as raising awareness and campaigning are central strands of MedSIN. But now, more than ever, I think we need another one: "Get Educated". Getting educated is our duty as students, after all, and MedSIN will try to facilitate this by arranging activites to engage you and get you thinking. To start your education, get down to our first event: "What Can Students Do For Global Health?", where top names in international health will discuss the role of you, me and MedSIN as a whole in improving the health of people world over.

Who are we?

This years committee is especially friendly. Come and speak to any one of us about anything and we shall try to help. If you would like to get involved, with any aspect of our work, just sign up to the mailing list or email medsin.ucl@googlemail.com.

neha passi, medsin ucl president 2011/2012
september 2011