Name
Empowering Medical Students: IFMSA's Impactful Approach to Social Accountability Through the Online Social Accountability Workshop
Description

Presented By: Michelle Lam, The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
Co-Authors: Menatalla Elmallah, The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
Grace Huertas, The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
Kana Kordic, The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)

Purpose 
To ensure that medical schools become and stay socially accountable, continuous improvements are required regarding response to current and future health needs and challenges in society, reorientation of education, research and service priorities, strengthening governance and partnerships with other stakeholders and evaluation and accreditation to assess their performance and impact. Medical education's commitment to social accountability (SA) is crucial for addressing community health concerns. The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) plays an active role in SA , advocating for socially accountable curricula and engaging with stakeholders to create a positive outcome through toolkits, policies, participation in global events and raising awareness among its members.

Methods 
IFMSA promotes SA through an online Social Accountability Workshop (oSAW). Primary goal of this was to enable participants to understand the importance of SA as a tool to mitigate gaps between health needs of populations and resources provided by healthcare systems. oSAW spanned three weeks, encompassing 18 hours of interactive sessions conducted via Zoom. Utilizing diverse teaching methods (interactive lectures, problem-based learning, simulations, debates, working groups, quizzes, reflective circles) participants explored key topics, including social determinants of health, universal health coverage, and stakeholder engagement.

Results 
Twenty medical students participated in the workshop, providing pre-assessment scores for motivations (4.4) and confidence levels (3.1) on a 1-5 scale. Post-workshop, improvements were observed in motivation (4.7) and confidence (4.2). Knowledge increased by 10-20% across the different topics, with 40% consistently rating 4 or 5 on the 1-5 scale.

Conclusions 
IFMSA's innovative approach to SA, incorporating diverse teaching methods and addressing key health-related topics, has proven successful in enhancing participants' motivation, confidence, and knowledge, a meaningful contribution to the broader goal of fostering socially accountable medical schools.

Date & Time
Sunday, June 16, 2024, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location Name
Minneapolis Grand Ballroom Salons ABC