Steve Sammut Alessi - MMSA

Dear fellow medical students,
My name is Steve Sammut Alessi and I am a second year medical student contesting for the
post of secretary general in the Malta Medical Students Association for the term 2013-2014.
By participating actively in various roles within this association for the past two years, I
noticed that there are still many students who have lots of potential and yet stay back from
involving themselves in this growing association. We have all witnessed many successful
events in this past year; however it is our duty to improve and build on what has been done,
in order to get even better results in the upcoming years. As a matter of fact this is one of
my main motives why I offered my candidature.
As a secretary general I would make it my duty and responsibility to encourage greater
student participation targeting the "to-be first years" and older students by organizing a
formative Training, Resources and Development workshop, which doesn't only deal with
leisure but also has one strong take home message "One Team, One Family".
I would also aim to make the secretarial system used by standing committees more
transparent and more accessible to all medical students. This would allow medical students
to be informed and to get involved in the various planning of events that go on throughout
the year
I also encouraged the creation of more roles within my plan of action since by having more
roles, more people get involved and more can contribute obtaining better results as a team.
I ask you to look through my plan of action, to understand exactly the changes I believe will
make MMSA a stronger and more integrated association.

Plan of Action
Along with the roles mentioned in the byelaws of MMSA, below is my specific plan of
action to encourage a stronger, more united association.
The training resources and development weekend (TRD) is one of the most important
events of the year, since it is an event which unites medical students together from different
years and is crucial in making people fit in the course.
This is crucial especially for the fresher’s since they are new to the system and need to
be backed up by the association. Freshers must feel welcomed in this association and
must feel part of the big family which constitutes MMSA. This can only be attained by
organizing a team building session aimed for freshers which would allow the students
to work together as a team and integrate with people from their same year. The teams
will be set up in a random manner allowing the first years to mix and get to know each
other.
The TRD weekend should be more specific to the year the student is in. one must keep
in mind that the training resources and development that is required by first year is not
the same as the training resources and development required by a medical student who
is in the clinical years. (a first year medical student would appreciate a more clinical
based seminar than a clinical student who spends most of his/her time in hospital).
Since it is more specific to the year, it would only make sense for the certification to be
different too. The certificate of attendance awarded to a first year shouldn’t be the
same as that rewarded to a fourth year for example, who has already attended this
workshop. This would also lead to another benefit; the student is subsequently
encouraged to attend the live-in again in order to obtain the second type of certificate,
rather than the same certificate twice.

I would also work hard to correspond with lecturers and doctors from the Faculty of
Medicine and Surgery in order to make the certificate even more recognized, by
encouraging doctors to sign it themselves rather than the secretary general as is. This
will put students who possess it, at an advantage during the interview in fifth year.
From a lot of feedback collected, I also came to conclude the fact that the majority of
students in the clinical years attend the live-in simply to enjoy the hotel resort and for
leisure purposes rather than the actual content of the workshop. This must change. As
we all know the course of medicine and surgery is not an easy one, and from year to
year it becomes more challenging and the material also becomes less bearable. This is
the reason why students take TRD as a holiday. However more motivating talks given by
speakers such as:
1. A member of the “Doctors Without Borders”, targeting the clinical year students
who are only a step away from their degree might not only be interesting and
beneficial but also life-changing.
2. A Doctor working in accidents & emergency and how he deals with time
management and his familial issues.
3. A doctor who works in rescue.
4. A doctor who is involved in positive politics.
5. A doctor who has interests other than his profession and is well known for them.
Keeping suturing in the agenda is definitely a must and should be endorsed. The
activities organized for the clinical years should not involve a lot of brain power but
should be entertaining as a whole. In fact what these students require is more
motivation to actually reach their goal in becoming doctors.
Also to unite the clinical years with the preclinical ones, a treasure hunt could be
organized with randomly mixed preset groups of medical students. The treasure hunt
would be based on the locality of the hotel.
Also together with the stands set up by the standing committees, a stand would be set

up by medical students from Kuwait. This would have two great advantages it would
introduce the Maltese students to this interesting culture, and it would also encourage
Kuwaiti medical students to get involved in the association too.
A session specifically for internationals - to ensure integration of international students,
a session by an international would be given. This session should be encouraging and
welcoming in order to encourage these students to participate and to have motivation
to go on in the course.
Rebranding the event is also very important to encourage more people to keep on
attending and thus aim to increase the number of attendees this year too. Rebranding
would involve changing the logo of the event to something more innovative and
professional.
Also a pre-TRD promotional video should be made in liaison with the media team in
order to make the students feel enthusiastic all the way from the summer months. This
video ideally should contain past footage from events organized by the association
including both leisure and public health ones. This should be ready before the scholastic
year started for freshers in order to be able to view it possibly before even entering the
university. Ideally this would make them eager to be part of the association from an
early stage. The video should end with a warm welcoming invitation to join the big
family. (Note that a post-TRD video would also be professionally made and shared on
social networks to increase publicity of MMSA)
Apart from the director of the OC another post should be created known as the
Feedback Co-coordinator. This person ideally should be sociable and outgoing and
would blend with the attendees and ensure the integration of students with members of
the BD, and with one another. It would also be his/her role to ensure integration of any
MADS students who might be attending the live-in. This coordinating role might also use
other social media in order to receive feedback like a Facebook group.
Finally by increasing the application fee by 1 euro, MMSA would also be able to donate

money to the charity “Puttinu Cares” at this same event.
In order to make the freshers feel welcome, it is of extreme importance to recognize what a
vital role “Freshers’ Week” plays.
The role of coordinator of freshers week should be created. It would be his/her role to
ensure that there is always someone present at the stand. This is of vital importance
since students will be going round the stands and visiting university for the first week. In
order to ensure that the stand is attended to, a roster with buddies could be set up
(who take part in the SCOME buddy system) to stay with the stand. This is of importance
since the students would feel welcomed from the very beginning. Preferably a member
of the OC standing committee would also be present with the stand in order to promote
the TRD and receive the application forms given.
A grayscale welcoming brochure designed purposely in black and white with a
professional touch should be made. It would be a very clear eye-grabber that would not
contain excess details but would simply welcome the student to the University of Malta
in general and more specifically to MMSA. This would be cost effective and printed on
one sheet of paper on both sides. The intention of this brochure would be to encourage
student participation within the association.
The brochure mentioned above would be translated into Modern Standard Arabic
(MSA) that is the official language of the State of Kuwait. It would contain a welcoming
message, which would also invite them to participate in the association.
Also applicants that apply for TRD at the stand would be given the opportunity to
suggest a theme – in a competition for one of the two theme parties organized during
this live-in. This would make the student the protagonist and would make the applicant
become part of the planning process.
There should also be appropriate planning of the stand with a high table and a stool put
in the corner (just in case the student in charge might get tired). The formal desk style

should be changed to an informal yet professional set-up which ultimately would make
students feel more at ease.
Not to have a lot of chaos at the stand, online applications for the TRD would be
encouraged.
Also a strategy encouraging student application will be devised. It would be similar to
mobile network marketing strategy. The idea would be that if a student managed to
encourage another number of students to join, points would be awarded.
The letter to the first years would also be another important key to making medical students
feel welcome in MMSA. I would ensure that the letter is actually sent to first year students.
Unfortunately from the feedback of past first years, several claimed that they never
received the letter. The letter should be welcoming, encouraging and motivational and very
importantly proof-read. This letter would also be written in two languages, English and
Maltese (overleaf) this is extremely important, in order to appeal to medical students who
would prefer to speak the Maltese language. This letter would also contain an invitation for
TRD.
The newsletter is an extremely important tool which is used by the association. However it
is not as effective as it once was especially since Facebook was created. Its design is to be
reviewed – the newsletter should have a simple format that would allow it to move on with
the times. The use of Facebook should also be encouraged possibly even creating an
MMSA-recognised Facebook group with about 3 students per year who would be awarded
points to share the official MMSA status issued by the secretary general. This would ensure
the message would reach a wider range of people that usually tend to overlook emails due
to the large amounts of emails which are received.
The Google calendar with events which is normally set up would be available for medical
students. Possibly these students will then be able to enrol for a notification system which

will involve sending of a message to them for free by Google directly to their mobile phone
in order to remind them of the events occurring throughout the week.
In order to further increase transparency in the secretarial system and encourage more
participation in the planning process of MMSA events, all the secretaries of the standing
committees will be added to a Google calendar in which they would schedule all event
meetings and update it regularly. This Google calendar would be available for all medical
students encouraging them to see the time and place of a particular meeting for a particular
event. This would give the medical student the knowledge of what would be going on in the
association and the liberty to join in the planning and get involved.
A new system of mind maps would be encouraged to be used apart from meeting minutes,
especially for intense meetings. This mind map system would be brief and direct acting as a
skeleton of the most important mentioned points throughout the meeting.
For an association like MMSA to grow stronger and be more inclusive it is essential that the
members of the BD show gratitude and appreciation to the respective secretaries, co-
ordinators and officers. In order to make this more possible I am proposing the idea to
organize for the very first time “An Appreciation Night”. This event would be organized
after the exams of the second semester and would entail a certificate giving session in which
a recognized guest would give a certificate of participation to all medical students who
contributed to MMSA (members of the BD, coordinators, liaison officers etc...). (Note that a
correspondence would be made to get all the certificates signed by doctors). This suit and
tie event would invite the Dean of the Faculty, Minister for Health and lecturers, giving a lot
of media exposure to the association. It would be a perfect opportunity to close the year as
colleagues, friends and team mates.
As new Sec Gen I would carry out my role by being open to all suggestions and
complaints concerning MMSA. I will then carry these on to the MMSA EB, in anonymity if

necessary and requested by those issuing the complaint. In this regard I also promise to be
contactable at all times via mobile, Facebook, Twitter and email.
I want to coordinate with all the respective team officials in order that I am informed of all
upcoming events of MMSA. By doing so, I will be able to maintain a close personal contact
with all the event coordinators and instruct them in submitting their event reports in a
timely and accurate manner as required. This will ensure that MMSA events keep on
being organized in a high standard, for the organization’s best interests.
I would keep on working on the revision of the ccorporate identity, by suggesting much-
needed changes that are esteemed to make MMSA more well-recognized on a national
level. These changes would also give MMSA a more professional look as required, allowing
it to be an association that moves on with the times.
I would ensure the keeping and publishing of minutes during EB meetings. Note that as
secretary general, meeting minutes must be taken accurately and appropriately for both the
executive board and also for the team of officials.
I would also encourage the secretaries of the standing committees to upload minutes by not
later than three days from the happening of the meeting. This would encourage more
transparency and will make MMSA more professional and organized.
Also before the commencement of an AGM, the chairperson or another person assigned
will give a brief explanation of how the general meeting system works, and also the
actual definitions and differences between statutes and byelaws. This would encourage
more active participation and sound understanding of what would be going on.
I would also ensure that the signing of contracts and permits on behalf of MMSA is

continually well-documented and archived.
On a more administrative role, I would issue a “Bye-laws and statutes leaflet” to be given
out (for example Medik-T) and shared online. This would explain some of the main bye-laws
and describe the purposes of an AGM and EGM. It is of importance for both the student and
the association alike, since it might attract people who prefer administrative roles. It would
also encourage and inspire students to take more interest in this exciting area of our
association.
Conclusion:
I believe that with these proposals there will be a difference which will be felt by all medical
students, and will take MMSA a step forward towards more inclusion and greater student
participation and involvement. It is for this reason that I am asking for your trust so that as a
secretary general I will be able to ensure that the MMSA will definitely be there for each and
every one of you.
It would be a great honour if you would give me the opportunity to execute my plan of
action, so as to renew MMSA and enhance it to move on with the times.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any feedback or queries which you may
encounter.
Thank you for your time,
Best Regards,
Steve
Email: ssammutalessi@gmail.com
Mobile Number: +35699065204

Appendix – Past Experience:
o Attended the Stroke Management Seminar'11
o Attended the Training Resources and Development Weekend 2011
o Outreached at World Diabetes Day 2011
o Took part in world aids day campaign
o Attended the HIV and Aids Seminar 2011
o Attended the MMSA research day seminar 2011
o Attended the Aches and Pains Seminar
o Outreached at the Valentine’s Day Campaign
o Outreached at the Eating Disorders Campaign
o Outreached at the Global Health Campaign
o Attended the AGM 2012
o Outreached in the Antihomophobia Campaign
o Outreached in the Water Campaign
o Outreached and participated at Healthfest '12 Campus
o Outreached and participated at Healthfest '12 Sliema
o Went to the Medik-T 2012 live-in
o Audit Seminar
o Was one of the coordinators in collecting information for Ideas Café
o Went to Teddy Bear Hospital at St Monica Mosta School
o Took part as cast of the Beat the Burn Video
o Helped in the compiling of the Conference Report Compilation
o Attended the SCORP/NPET workshop - Peace Revolution Workshop

o Helped in the planning of Foreigners' Booklet
o Went to the SCORP Beach Clean Up
o Was the standing committee of medical education assistant for the term 2012-2013
o Took an active role as assistant in both SCOME Chat 1, SCOME Chat – Take 2, and
even SCOME chat 3.
o Was part of the TRD Organizing Committee
o Wrote an article for the Freshers' Booklet Publication
o Helped out in planning of the Freshers' Video
o Gave one of the Freshers' Talks to the first years
o Was a buddy in the Buddy System
o Attended the P.S. Seminar
o SCORP World Mental Health Week outreach
o Was involved in the planning of Practice Makes Perfect- Bandaging Workshop
o Went to the NPET Training New Trainers live-in
o Attended the second Training and Resource Development Seminar
o Helped in the organization of Accident & Emergency Seminar
o Attended and helped out at the World Diabetes Day 2012
o Helped out with World Diabetes Day Flashmob
o Helped in the planning of the SCOME Ideas Cafe' Report
o Gave training sessions at the MMSA - MHSA T.R.A.I.N live-in
o Outreached at the International Men's Day attended and helped in the planning of the
Foundation Programme Seminar.
o Attended and helped out at the Comorbidities of HIV&AIDS Seminar

o Organised as coordinator of World AIDS Day 2012 the Candle Vigil. Also addressing
the press.
o Helped in the collection and conduction of a Sexual Health Survey including Valletta
Outreach.
o Outreached at The Point in collaboration with the Health Promotion Dept. for world
aids day.
o Co-ordinated the outreach on campus -World AIDS Day 2012
o Organized the SCORA MMSA PLAYSAFE Party at XO lounge.
o Attended the preconception Care Seminar
o Outreached in the Human Rights Day
o Contributed to the organization of SCOME MEDIK-T. Also gave a training session at
this same event.
o Attended and helped in the planning of the Time to Care Seminar
o Helped out in the planning of Don't do a House!
o Attended the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting in December'12
o Presented the Fashion show as part of the Eating Disorders Campaign.