The International Healthcare Initiatives for Medical Students Committee (IHIMS)

A) Mandate:  To promote interest in international healthcare among medical students and to provide accessible information and services to individuals interested in gaining exposure to healthcare on an international level.

B) Objectives:  1) Raise awareness of international health through seminars and campus events 2) Create ties within the international community through collaboration with local, national and overseas organizations 3) Raise funds for international health programs/charities through campus events 4) Provide an information network on international electives

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C) Membership: General membership in IHIMS is open to any student at the University of Alberta.  Students are considered automatic members when they sign up on the membership list and will be part of the IHIMS mailing list.  There is no membership fee.  Anyone who is interested in international health or wants to gain more awareness about international health is encouraged to join and attend IHIMS international health seminars and events.  

The Co-chairmen and Steering Committee members are part of the general IHIMS membership.

D) Steering Committee:  The Steering Committee has 6 different positions this year.  A total of 8 members will be part of the Steering Committee.  The positions for the steering committee this academic year (2001-2002) are as follows: i) Secretary/Treasurer ii) Webmaster iii) Electives Counselors (2) iv) External Liaisons (2) v) Speaker Series Coordinator   vi) International Health Promoter and events Coordinator

The duties of the positions are as follows:

i) Secretary/Treasurer shall:

-Record and maintain accurate minutes from both the Steering Committee                                                    meetings and the general meetings

-E-mail minutes of the Steering Committee meetings to the staff advisors who were not present at the meetings

-Maintain an annual record of the Steering Committees meetings

-Provide a summary of the events coordinated by the current Steering Committee at the last meeting of the academic year

-Maintain an updated list of the names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of members and staff advisors for the current term and distribute the list among the Steering Committee

-Manage the IHIMS finances

-Maintain accurate and appropriate records of all transactions for Steering Committee review

ii) Webmaster shall:

            -Create an IHIMS website

-Post IHIMS membership information and list of Co-chairs and Steering Committee on website

-Update website on a regular basis with new postings of IHIMS events and   speakers in addition to events held by other international student organizations

            -Post the international health round speaker series on the website

-Post an “International Health Links” site that contains information for individuals who are interested in international health

-Be in charge of the IHIMS email account (i.e. make sure that interesting forwards regarding international health are sent to members on the mailing list)

iii) Electives Counselors (2) shall:

-Be in charge of the international electives information package that has been set up and liaise with the staff advisor who is in charge of international electives

            -Post new international elective opportunities on IHIMS website

-Answer questions and help obtain information for those interested in pursuing an international elective

-Work with the Speaker Series Co-coordinator to recruit speakers who have completed international electives

iv) External Liaisons (2) shall:

            -Liaise with SIHA, CFMS, and any other international student organizations

            -Attend SIHA and CFMS meetings as representatives of IHIMS

-Publicize SIHA and CFMS events on the IHIMS website and relay external events to the co-chairs

-Contact other international health organizations such as MSF and WHO and publicize their events/projects on the IHIMS website

-Keep IHIMS informed on what is happening regarding international health around the world by posting issues/events/projects/speakers on the IHIMS website so that those interested can obtain further information

v) Speaker Series Coordinator shall:

            -Organize and schedule speakers who will discuss on international health issues

-Organize and schedule speakers such as medical residents who have done international electives to talk about their experiences

-Keep informed on speakers that give presentations through other international groups and post this information on the IHIMS website

-Arrange for refreshments; clean up, room bookings, and audio-visual equipment set up for the speakers

-Maintain a record of the speakers’ names, phone numbers, addresses, the topic of their presentation, and their involvement in international health

vi) International Health Promoter and events Coordinator shall:

            -Organize and schedule IHIMS special events

            -Work with CFMS to organize a joint international health week event

-Work with the external liaisons to co-ordinate international health projects with the other international student organizations such as SIHA

-Liaise with health promotion organizations within Edmonton and involve IHIMS in their projects/events/campaigns (i.e. TB vaccination campaign)

 The Co-chairmen shall:

-Oversee the daily activities of the organization

            -Delegate their powers to other members as required

            -Ensure the organization’s adherence to its mandate

            -Have signing authority

            -Assume responsibility for any positions within the Steering Committee that are

              not filled

            -Liaise with IHIMS staff advisors

            -Arrange for room bookings and audio-visual equipment for meetings

            -Conduct the Steering Committee meetings and general meetings

            -Each be in charge of 2 of the Steering Committee positions

-Keep the other Co-chairmen updated on the on-going progress of the Steering

 Committee positions that they are responsible for