MEDICAL STUDENTS' INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
25^th - 28^th August 2024

MEDSICON 2012, was the first research conference that I attended. I was accompanying my friend who was presenting his paper at the conference. I had no exposure to the field of medical research till that time, and it was an excellent introduction. But please don’t come under the notion that MEDSICON is ‘just’ a research conference, no, it’s so much more. From the time we began registering and till the last day of the conference (and even till today) the organizers were very friendly. The organization was par excellence, students were encouraged to take responsibility. It all seemed so well synergized (this was a practical lesson on team building). There were many orations made by eminent speakers, the panel discussions were very relevant (Topics such as “Why are PG coaching classes gaining so much importance nowadays?”), students actively participated in the Q&A sessions. We had several clinical workshops, I opted for the Basic surgical skills workshop, conducted by Dr.Chintamani, Sir explained and demonstrated the techniques and then we got to practice as well! My friend who went for the conference in 2013 said that they have also included basic laparoscopic skill training in the BSS workshop (this is evidence that the conference is evolving as the years go by) The papers presented were from various topics, and the format for selection of the best papers was unique, i.e only those selected from the poster presentation were allowed to make a paper presentation and then answer questions from the panel and students. I made many friends during the conference, with whom I’m still in touch till date. There were several extra-curricular activities- JAM sessions, Nature walk, and a Cultural night. Fun times. To conclude, this conference has actually helped me develop a fair idea of research methodology, various aspects of paper publication, ethical aspects of research work – and these were very useful when I did my ICMR project the next year. So people, do attend the MEDSICON conference regardless of whether you’ve already got involved in preliminary research or are completely naive, the conference will be an enriching experience, and is a wise investment of time for every research oriented UG student.

MEDSICON is a brand in itself. It is a one-stop place to not only meet the pioneers in the fields of medicine and surgery, but also to brush shoulders with top scholars of the world. It lets you interact with your peers across the globe. They offer the most elaborate set of workshops to prepare you in the fields of surgery, pediatrics and emergency care, which not only helps you develop clinical skills but also make up your mind about the specialty you want to pursue. Also you get to hone your paper writing and case presentation skills. It also has loads of cultural activities and fun games. It is a festival in itself. You won’t have a single dull moment in this fun packed academic event. It also concludes with a day-tour around Delhi’s historical landmarks. Efforts of the sincere, hardworking and courteous medical students surely make this conference a once in a lifetime experience. You should definitely not miss this!!

There are a number of conferences which claim to be “international” in nature, but MEDSICON is one of the very few which stands by it’s commitment to be globally oriented. I was a part of the MEDSICON 2013 as an ambassador and my experience during the three days of academic and cultural extravaganza was phenomenally positive. A very well organized conference which saw huge participation from almost all parts of the world. Quizzes, Scientific paper and poster presentations, Symposia, Debates, Lectures, Hands-on training and cultural fest, it was all in a perfect blend at MEDSICON. The orations by various eminent speakers was highly received and questions were answered adroitly by students. It showed like a functional syncytium scenario of students, residents and faculty. The surgical skills workshop was a huge success and it has been one of the most knowledge-enriched moments of my career so far. Hats off to the mentorship of Dr Chintamani, the contribution of the organizing committee and the effortless-efforts of the entire college!

I was a delegate in MEDSICON 2017, and I can affirm that MEDSICON is the one of the best and most exciting undergrad medical conferences in the country. The events are meticulously planned, and an absolute joy to participate in. And whatever can be said about Dr. Chintamani will fail to adequately express the gem of a man he is. One of my most important takeaways from MEDSICON was that I came in contact with a lot of wonderful people, and I’m still in regular contact with them. I went to Delhi alone, and had no acquaintances there, but returned, knowing I have a family there at VMMC. Thank you. All the best for MEDSICON ’18. Onward and forward. :-)