ALINTA'TAW ————— THE oF FICIAL MARCH 2 |, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges - ‘Student Network (APMCSN) was founded during the in Cebu City. It was envisioned to be a network of Philippine medical Students working with the APMC to promote an active role for students in the development of medical education. The 14 medical schools involved in its inauguration were the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Cebu Doctors’ College of Medicine (CDC), Davao Medical School Foundation (UviS®), Far Easter University — Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (| ), Manila Central Unlversty (MCU), Mindanao Sate, Univerely (MSU), St Luke's College “of Medicine ( southwestern University (203, Unversy of the East Remon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (| ), University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM}, University of the Philippines “Sctiool of Health Sciences ( ), University of the Visayas (UV), West Visayas State University (WSU), and Xavier University (XU). ‘The first iteration of the student network was led by Dr. Ryan Guinaran, then a student at the UP College of Medicine. He was joined by elected representatives from UERMMCI, AUF, WVSU, and XU, who served as the regional coordinators for the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. In its fledgling years, the network focused on expanding member schools, and establishing inter-medical school activities, with their guiding thrust being — the Its subsequent years were marked by the inception of several competitions such as the Med Whiz, Palarong Medisina, MedGroove, and “MedRhythm, as, well a3 formative activities stich as workshops and medical missions. Two years after its foundation, the organization saw the ratification of its first constitution under Dr. Michael John Hilario's term: this would then be constantly revised throughout the following years. The student network's continued evolution saw the addition of more medical schools to its roster, the establishment of various local_and international Partnerships, as well as the conception of numerous Projects benefiting the medical student community and the general public. As of this year, the APMCSN proudly encompasses spanning with more schools projected to join in the near future. tis annual regional and national conventions reliably serve as venues for medical students to collaborate with like-minded individuals, as well as to leam from alumni and other health professionals. Despite the challenges presented by the current pandemic, the student network hopes to remain a APMC-SN NEWSLETTER ————— History of the APMCSN By Nikolai TubogNo organization has a seamless sail upwards and the store of experiences ~ its evolution and its progression within the wider contexts in which it has grown - has provided an appetite to lead with a sense of purpose Association of Philippine Medical Colleges ~ Student Network's resolve to process the inevitable bumps has resulted in the most unprecedented chronicle of its narrartive as the biggest medical student organization of the country over the past 20 years. After its birth and inception in 2001, we have watched it slowly grow with time and bloom in leaps and bounds along the crossroads. A tons of effort and determination, coupled with heart and soul, have always seen as its core as an organization APMC-SN's first. breakthrough in 2001 was the expansion of member schools and emphasis on student councils’ social accountability. It then involved sports and cultural tilts through Palarong Med and Medgroove-MedRhythmia in the following _year. Initiatives on the ratification of its constitution and regularization of monthly meetings among NCR medical schools were embraced on its 3rd year of service as a student network. The introduction of a series of measures to foster and cultivate awareness of medical students on its functions and to set up various discussions on how to improve organizational system and processes, served as a blueprint which strengthened linkages and amplified representation of the Visayas and Mindanao regional clusters in its early years. The virtuous cycle towards excellence complemented the organization's commitment to support the evolving needs of the medical students when the First Medical Students’ Summit took place in 2006, tackling relevant issues in the Philippine Medical Education. Social engagements and broader reach were laid wide open on the doorstep of the organization as partnerships to various organizations nd medical missions werein the succeeding years, calling unflagging teamwork of its leaders and constituents. The implementation of the membership fee as a source of funding for all APMC-SN activities and the establishment of the national disaster response arm of the network, tagged as “One Med for Juan” were made in 2009. On the same fiscal year, the first Luzon and Mindanao Medical Students’ Summit were steered to reinforce the camaraderie towards a truly one, inclusive organization. Year 2010 when the first Regional Conventions of Visayas and Mindanao, were started. Being inspired to continuously thrive in charting the roadmap for APMC-SN’s continuing development and progress, the first National Leadership, Planning and Training Seminar and first Team Building and Strategic Planning for National Officers, were directed, devising smart strategies on all spectrum of the organization. The adoption of the Magna Carta of Medical Students by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, Inc. (APMCFl), publication of a book written by APMC-SN members and securing a permanent seat in the APMCF Board of Trustees were historic milestones in 2011 and 2012. It was in 2013 when the APMC-SN has taken to a higher level after its official representation as ex-officio member to the APMCFI Board of Trustees. As a reflection ofAhe unrelenting revolution of serving the Filipino médical students, the Committee on Amendmenf and Constitutional Review was built in 2015 to ergpower and open more opportunities for leadership \t the regional and national levels. The crafting of the cWgrent logo to streamline the network's organizati@mal identity, launching of the students-led nationwide academic competitions, and drafting of the Magna Carta for Filipino Medical Students commenced in the same fiscal year. Moreover, interns’ welfare was promoted through campaign and implementation of the Electronic Internship Matching and proposal of "No 24 Hours Duty’ policy. Year 2016 when the student network co-organized the website national survey “Primary Care Experience in Medical Educatiggn Impact on Physicians’ Career Choice” and the Agila 50th Annual Convention with APMCI. Taking giant strides to ignite the most robust determination to launch the medical profession to the pedestal of greatness, the first wholly student-organized APMC-SN National Convention was held in 2018, alongside with the creation of the National Blood Drive Campaign Committee, conduct of the Mental Health Summits on all regional clusters and establishment of the Dr. Fernando S. Sanchez Ten Outstanding Medical Student Organizations (TOMSO) Awards. With the strongest desire to take a 360-turn to fill in the gaps and move forward and assail to the apex the following year, the Health Policy Committee and Students’ Rights and Welfare Committee were erected for greater thrusts on social campaigns and possible violations of students’ rights, respectively. Believing that beyond is a more than a goal, the introduction ‘of APMC-SN to the Department of Health in 2019 led to several collaborations and representation in the consultations for the Human Resource for Health Network Philippines. Taking political stands as an organization and strengthened __ internal governance from the national up to the regional boards were also included as the network's ingenuities during that time. After going beyond borders and limits towards holistic development, APMC-SN set forth to unearth the burning passion as medical students. National President's Special Committees, namely, National Communications Committee, National Medical Education and Research Committee and National Medical Interns” Chapter, were created in 2020. In conjunction with the conduct of the Regional Planning and Evaluation Seminar, local and international partnerships were made to provide opportunities to all student members, To have a dynamic drive to lead with a sense of history is not being slave to the past but rather to recognize its power — power for resilience and transformation and power for generation after generation. Indeed, APM@EGA's Greatest milestones arcadigetTy linke SM@iimmBceatest challenges,