University extension today: IFMSA Brazil on focus

Abstract

University extension is the process that joins teaching and research in order to achieve greater integration between university and society. This paper presents an institution that performs this type of activity in Brazil, IFMSA Brazil (International Federation of Medical Students Associations of Brazil), and the way it develops its partnership with universities, in addition to showing the main results of its actions. IFMSA Brazil is a student organization linked to the United Nations and is part of IFMSA, an institution formed by medical students from over 100 countries. The main activities developed by IFMSA Brazil are related to its standing committees, which range from clinical, surgical and research exchanges, at a national and international level to projects, campaigns and events aimed at areas such as public health, reproductive health, human rights and medical education. Within each local committee there is an administrative structure that establishes the relationship between the University and IFMSA Brazil, allowing the presence of exchanges, encouraging the training of medical students by their teachers and seeking improvements in the medical school’s medical teaching quality. The standing committees not focused at exchanges are the ones that make the communication of IFMSA Brazil with the society, through campaigns, projects and events. As a result of the quality of IFMSA Brazil’s activities, in 2014, this institution received the second place prize at the Rex Crossley Awards contest with a project that aimed at improving communication between the medical student and autistic patients.