Medical students support Saskatchewan Change Day campaign

The Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan (SMSS) is supporting the second annual Change Day campaign by encouraging health sciences students to make a pledge.

The SMSS is the representative body for all students studying at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) College of Medicine. On Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, 2015, SMSS representatives set up a Change Day booth in the U of S Health Sciences Building, where they encouraged medical students and other U of S health sciences students to make a pledge.

Saskatchewan Change Day is a province-wide campaign organized by the Health Quality Council (HQC). It is part of a global movement aimed at making small health care improvements. The idea is that everyone can make a change for the better, and that together these small changes can add up to make a big difference.

Anyone who provides health care, receives health care, or who cares about health care can pledge to make a difference. A pledge is an idea for improvement that is meaningful to the pledger. People are asked to enter their pledges on the Saskatchewan Change Day website by Change Day on Nov. 5, 2015.

Medical student Jeffrey Poon, who serves as the SMSS VP External, pledged to make his patients feel comfortable and respected.

“I think the doctor-patient relationship is very important,” he said.

“I think it’s really important that patients feel they can trust their health care professionals and open up to them.”

Galilee Thompson, the SMSS VP Internal, pledged to “FIFE” every patient. This means she will ask her patients about their feelings, ideas, function, and expectations. Thompson said she chose that pledge because it will help “ensure that I continue to keep the human element in my interactions with patients.”

The SMSS worked with the Health Sciences Students’ Association (HSSA) to promote the Change Day pledge drive to health sciences students at the U of S. SMSS organizers said they wanted to promote interprofessionalism and collaboration between students from the various health sciences colleges. Students’ photos were taken at the Change Day booth, and those who had their photo taken with a student from another college had their names entered into a prize draw. Students were also encouraged to make the Change Day photos their social media profile pictures in celebration of Change Day on Nov. 5.