45mn

In partnership with the International Federation of Medical Student Associations.

The world is becoming more and more aware of the issues revolving around the Global Health Workforce and its complex aspects. The existing shortage has been further emphasized during the COVID-19 era. As a health workforce of today and tomorrow, many medical students, students of other health-related sciences, as well as early-career professionals experienced something no other generation did: deployment of youth as temporary surge capacity in healthcare facilities and involvement of youth in different COVID-19 initiatives, from raising awareness activities and becoming part of consultancy groups to working in contact-tracing and national COVID-19 phone helplines. Various experiences highlight the adaptability of youth, their resourcefulness as well as general usefulness of youth being involved in pandemic response. These difficult times have shaped a new generation of future healthcare professionals and global health leaders.
This session will address the opportunities and challenges of youth COVID-19 deployment, explore youth-led actions and initiatives that brought about innovative and impactful solutions, and reflect on the way forward when it comes to meaningful and responsible youth engagement in the times of pandemics.