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The ANU Medical Students’ Society (MedSoc) is an engaged, active and influential community of medical students who are dedicated to supporting and advocating for their peers.

The 2020 President, Mr Sam Gerami explains, “The MedSoc committee brings a team approach, a can do attitude and genuine concern to supporting our fellow-students. We are fortunate to have members who go above and beyond in giving their time and effort.”

In the wake of COVID19 the committee’s role has been more important than ever. Although interaction with peers has shifted to online rather than face-to-face, they have continued to respond to the changing conditions, and worked hand in hand with the Medical School to advocate for students as contingencies were being put in place during the lock-down.

As the COVID situation has begun to shift, they are slowly expanding their work beyond crisis mode to coordinate more events for students, including many peer-led tutorials; and they’ve expanded their advocacy to include longer term issues beyond COVID – with a focus on lessons learnt this year.

Their efforts cultivating external relationships with other medical student societies across the country, NSW Medical Student Council and the Australian Medical Student’s Association has put them in a good position to learn and share ideas.

“It’s all about collaboration, from both students who are on the MedSoc committee and also those who aren’t. Our Academic and Advocacy Officer and our Academic Reps have organised many learning opportunities. Students, such as our Wellbeing Officer and General Reps, have supported the welfare of our students. Students have happily given their time to support the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery program, including the creation of an informative video for the ANU Open Virtual Week and the creation of videos highlighting all the wonderful and exciting experiences of being a rural stream medical student in Bega, Cooma, Cowra and Goulburn and Young. I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone on and off the committee who has contributed to the many important conversations and activities we’ve had this year,” states Mr Gerami.