Swiss Medical Students’ Association

In 1917, the medical faculties of Switzerland unites to form the Association of Swiss Clinicians (Verband der Schweizer Klinkerschaften, VDSK).

In 1951 the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) was founded by the VDSK and associations of six other countries in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1][2] From then on the IFMSA has been representing the interests of medical students on an international level. Later on the VDSK underwent a reform to become the Association of Swiss Medical Students (Verband der Schweizer Medizinstudenten) VSM, from which the organization IFMSA Switzerland had split, concentrating solely on professional clinical exchange for medical students.

In 2006 the VMS and IFMSA Switzerland approached each other and decided to create a joined venture under the name of Swiss Medical Students’ Association (swimsa). Nonetheless IFMSA-Switzerland mutated to swimsa Exchanges and remained a legally independent organization, still taking care of international exchanges. Further founding members of swimsa were the medical student organizations Achtung Liebe, promoting sexual health and education, and Gruhu, enabling medical students to volunteer for clinical electives in third world countries.

In 2014 the organization swimsa Exchanges was dissolved and formally integrated into swimsa.

The student councils of the medical faculties of Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich are recognized as members of swimsa with voting rights at the national delegate assembly, which takes place twice a year. Other medical student organizations, also known as swimsa projects, are represented as members with voting rights as well. Currently there are ten such organizations/projects. Usually the organization/projects have their own constitutions and are as such de jure independent from swimsa.

Swimsa is the official representation of Swiss dental and medical students and has seats in various commissions, such as the Commission of Swiss Medical Daculties SMIFK (Schweizerische medizinische Interfakultätskommission) or the Ministry of Health BAG (Bundesamt für Gesundheit). In addition the swimsa organizes international exchanges and takes part at the activities of the IFMSA. The association collaborates with various projects and organizations on the topics of public health, medical education, sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and human rights. The SMSC – Swiss Medical Students` Convention- takes place twice a year and enables students throughout Switzerland to meet and exchange experiences and ideas. Furthermore, once a year a trainings weekend is organized.

swimsa honors medical students with the "U ROCK swimsa Award" and the organizations with the "Projects Award".

The "U ROCK swimsa Award" is presented twice a year during the SMSC (usually April and November) to people who have shown excellent commitment and endurance. The candidates are chosen by the executive board to be voted on by the national delegate assembly. The following list shows the recipients since its introduction:

• 2008
  • Karin Helsing
  • David Eisner
• 2009
  • Carla Gürtler
  • Patrizia Kündig
• 2010
  • Gaby Moser
  • Sergej Staubli
• 2011
  • Nicola Rüegsegger
  • Alexandra Leuenberger
• 2012
  • Samuel Zweifel
  • Roland Fischer
• 2013
  • Alexandre Moser
  • Rainer Tan
  • Samuel Heiniger
• 2014
  • Clara Sailer
  • Anna Wang | Zurich
• 2015
  • Andrea Mauracher | Zurich
  • Noémie Boss | Berne
  • Mirjam Ryter | Basel
• 2016
  • Eleonora Frau | Fribourg

The "swimsa project award" is the equivalent award for outstanding work of a project/organization and is presented annually at a SMSC after being elected by a representative jury.

• American Medical Student Association (AMSA-USA)
• Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA-AUS)
• Turkish Medical Students' International Committee (TurkMSIC)
• New Zealand Medical Students' Association (NZMSA)
• International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)

• Official website in French and German Swiss Medical Students` Association