Jet Spicer

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Australian Medical Students Association Global Health Conference (GHC) in Hobart, Tasmania, from the 8-10 August. 

The weekend was filled with many engaging activities and discussions, ranging from panels on humanitarian aid, to workshops about career opportunities in global health. I particularly enjoyed the keynote address by Dr Jennifer Jamieson, entitled ‘Pathways & Perspectives: the Nexus in Global Emergency Care’. Dr Jamieson spoke about her work in Afghanistan with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), delivering long-term, self-sustaining solutions, and coping with grief and unexpected challenges. I found this to be an incredibly insightful and inspiring address, which reminded me why I am choosing to become a Doctor, as I hope to one day work in humanitarian aid.

From a psychiatry perspective, I enjoyed discussions around the prevention of gambling addiction, the long-term psychological impacts of war, and building health literacy among groups with significant cognitive or mental health challenges. I also had the opportunity to join the Emergency Medicine Challenge, working on simulated clinical emergencies that are relevant in global health. Working in interdisciplinary teams alongside paramedicine and nursing students, I found this to be an excellent opportunity for professional development. 

I would like to thank the Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) and RANZCP for their support in providing me with a scholarship to attend GHC 2025. These experiences are invaluable in supporting my educational and career journey, and I am incredibly grateful for the generosity shown by PIF. Scholarships, such as this one, enable medical students and young doctors to access opportunities for personal and professional development that would otherwise not be possible.