A Brief Self-Introduction
Hi all,
Greetings from beautiful, sunny, and unbearably hot Malta! My name is Michael Skulimowski. I’ve just finished my second year of medical school at Université de Montréal and am about to embark on the thrilling adventure of doing a Ph. D. I also happen to be one of the newly elected National Officers on Professional Exchanges (NEO) and am due to start my term this coming September 1.
So I suppose a few words about myself are in order. I grew up in the West Island of Montreal. However, I did my elementary and high school in French (thanks to bill 78) as both my parents are immigrants. So I guess I’m not as painfully Anglophone as my Research Exchanges counterpart, Tara. Sports are a very important part of my life. In fact, I don’t think this would be an adequate introduction if I didn’t mention that last bit. I’ve been an athlete for as long as I can remember. Throughout high school and CÉGEP, flatwater sprint kayaking was my self-inflicted torture of choice. Before that, I enjoyed competitive swimming. Ever since med school started, though, I’ve been forced to move on to other sports due to time constraints. Nowadays I like picking heavy things up and putting them back down repeatedly (oh, and also I like cycling). Everybody has their addiction. I suppose I’m lucky mine turned out to be staying active.
My adventure with IFMSA-Québec started back in September 2013. My good friend Peter Maliha, who had just begun his term in the same post I have just been elected to, suggested I apply for the position of Local Officer on Professional Exchanges (LEO) at Université de Montréal. I figured, “Why not? Might be fun, after all.” And honestly, it’s been a blast! Working with Dina Moubayed (the other LEO) over the past two years was very enjoyable. I’ve also gotten the opportunity to meet so many interesting people, both from within and from outside of Quebec thanks to being the LEO. Not for one second do I regret my decision, despite the sometimes hectic schedule.
For the past month, I’ve been in Malta on professional exchange. I’ve been juggling my duties as NEO with my responsibilities in the hospital, as well as the beach, the gym, going out, etc. Clearly, life is hard. Fortunately, my partner back home, Weronika Jakubowska (the other NEO), as well as the old NEOs, Peter Maliha and Mathieu Hains, have been of great in preparing for the upcoming August Meeting (AM) in Macedonia. I was very apprehensive at the beginning of the month that I would not be able to properly get ready for it, having no experience and being on professional exchange. However, now that we are at the end of July and with only a week to go before the AM, things are looking good. We have reached agreements with IFMSA branches of other countries for most of our available exchange contracts.
In a couple of days, I’ll be leaving to Macedonia. I’ve never been to a General Assembly (GA) before, so I’m not exactly sure what to expect. All I know is it will be very busy and hectic and sleepless. Nonetheless, I do have several goals, the main one being to successfully fulfil my function as NEO at the Contract Fair. The priority is to sign as many of IFMSA-Québec’s available exchange contracts as possible to destinations that are desirable for our students and that offer a quality educational experience. I’d also like to get to know my counterparts from other countries whom I’ll be working with throughout the year and to foster new relationships and maintain old ones between IFMSA-Québec and other National Member Organisations (NMOs). Evidently, as the theme of the GA is the migration of healthcare workers, I hope to learn a little about that topic as well. And finally, most importantly perhaps, I’d also like to enjoy this experience. It’s not every day you get to be part of IFMSA-Québec’s delegation to a GA, after all.
Cheers,
Mike