The MSS Community Involvement Strategic Plan
Unifying Community Action through Communication, Education, and Student Empowerment

Sustainability and Strategic Planning

The MSS Strategic Planning Committee (First meeting: End of October -- Details on how to apply TBA)

• Permanent MSS Committee in charge of assessing the long-term objectives of the MSS and its constituents (through consultations, student-led studies, etc.);
• Constituted by the MSS Executive President, MSS VP Finance, MSS VP Executive, Class Presidents, and 1-2 students from each class;
• Will actively seek external input from Faculty Members, Alumni, and Community partners;
• Will aim to empower students/groups (e.g. MSS Clubs, Interest groups, inter-professional student teams) wishing to initiate innovative community-based projects to concretize their ideas;
• Will provide an official institutional support; share relevant contact information; offer counseling when requested; promote cooperation with already existing groups; refer to the appropriate resources within McGill University;
• In charge of analyzing projects submitted by students (individuals or groups), and managing the “Community Involvement Fund” allocation process (based on similar guidelines to the already existing “Conference and Initiative Funding” process);
• The nature and amount of the “Community Involvement Fund”, aiming to support student initiatives in terms of community involvement, remains to be confirmed – suggestions for potential sponsors/donors? E-mail us: community.mss@gmail.com. This source of funding will constitute an additional service offered by the MSS, rather than a reallocation of the funds reserved to the existing “Conferences and Initiative Funding”;
• Will aim to build a partnership with the Community Health Alliance Project (CHAP), an already established community-oriented group within the Faculty of Medicine, and facilitate the development of projects initiated by CHAP members in their respective community organizations;

Student-Led Studies

• Study on the level of community involvement of McGill medical students and the factors facilitating such initiatives;
• Potential longitudinal follow up assessing the outcomes of the MSS Community Involvement Plan;
• Potential studies initiated by students regarding the field of community action and the role of medical students (in cooperation with the MSS Strategic Planning Committee).

Visibility, Communication, and Education

The MSS Community Involvement Conference

• Saturday, September 10, 9 am – noon;
• All four years invited;
• Invitations also distributed within the Faculty of Medicine, other faculties within McGill, and the three Québec faculties of Medicine;
• Inspiring speakers, spearheading innovative projects in their community, both locally and globally (Dr. Anne Andermann, Dr. Samuel Benaroya, Dr. Gilles Julien, Dr. Saleem Razack, Dr. Tarek Razek, Mr. Larry Cheung, Mr. Kakwiranó:ron Cook, Ms. Noura Hassan, Ms. Paige Isaac, Mr. Simon Sun, Ms. Sophie Villeneuve);
• Presentation of the MSS objectives regarding community involvement and events during the year;
• Followed by a lunch.

The MSS Mini-Conference Series

• Week days, in the afternoon (some at lunch time, for Med-1 students);
• 2-3 per semester (Fall and Winter);
• Possible topics:

§  Ethical challenges in the context of community action;

§  Future of the Canadian health-care system and the role of medical students (especially relevant in the context of the renegotiation of the Canada Health Accord in 2014);

§  Patient care at the end of life – Is there a case for euthanasia? ;

§  Social determinants of health a key player in our future practice;

§  End of year “recap” conference and continuation of the MSS Community Involvement Plan;

§  Potential town hall meeting at the end of the year;

§  Other themes you would like to discuss? E-mail us: community.mss@gmail.com

·Workshops organized by the MSS in collaboration with our partners

• Workshop on fundraising skills in partnership with the department of Development and Alumni Relations, Faculty of Medicine;
• Workshop on leadership skills and advocacy (from students, alumni, faculty members, and community partners);
• Week days, in the afternoon;
• One of each (repeated if justified by student demand).

Cooperation, Unity, and Accountability

MSS Club Presidents’ Round Table

• Two per academic year;
• MSS Club Presidents/Executives invited to share successful projects and seek advice for specific challenges which other clubs may have already faced and solved;
• Workshops and discussion aiming to render the event most relevant and efficient for the participants;
• Promote alliance-building and cooperation between MSS Clubs and Interest Groups;
• Presence of a round-table moderator and discussion open to all medical students;
• Offer a second opportunity for students to join MSS Clubs and assess the validity of their work;
• Establish a transparent process whereby MSS Club Presidents can justify the utilization of their budget.

Community Celebration Dinner Prepared by Medical Students (Details on how to join the organization committee TBA)

• February-March 2012;
• A few months into the MSS Community Involvement Strategic Plan, this event will offer an opportunity for students to meet with members of various community-based organizations, Faculty members, and Alumni;
• Dinner and performances prepared by medical students as well as by our partners in the community;
• Invitations distributed within organizations in partnership with MSS clubs/individual members, the Faculty of Medicine, the three Québec faculties of Medicine, and partner faculties within McGill;
• Establish direct links with members of the community and promote the collection of feedback with respect to the initiatives upheld by the MSS and the student body.

DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING IS MISSING/SHOULD BE MODIFIED? PLEASE SEND US YOUR COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS at community.mss@gmail.com