Medical event to showcase Townsville as conference destination
Date published: 30 June 2016
More than 1100 medical students will converge on Townsville this weekend for a major conference expected to inject around $3 million into Townsville’s economy.
Townsville City Council is a major sponsor of the Australian Medical Students’ Association conference which will be held in the city for the first time in the event’s 57-year history.
The conference from July 2-9, will host delegates from all 21 medical schools across Australia and New Zealand.
Acting Mayor Cr Les Walker said the conference was a major win for the city.
“Accommodation providers, tourism operators, restaurants and other service providers will be the big winners,” Cr Walker said.
“This event has a packed schedule of conferences, a charity brunch, sports day and emergency medicine challenge planned for the week and a number of social networking functions at Magnetic Island, Palmer St, Quayside Terminal, Flinders St and the Townsville RSL.
“The conference will also offer international and domestic exposure for Townsville and showcase the city as a venue to host more major conferences of this size.
“It also showcases the world-class medical facilities available in Townsville and the role the health industry play as an economic driver for the city.”
AMSA Convention convenor Satyen Hargovan said that his team of 104 medical students were excited to deliver a convention to Townsville.
“We believe the convention will raise the city’s profile as both a tourism destination and an area of significant medical skill, while providing a major boost to the local economy and paving the way for future medical conferences to be held in this unique part of the world,” he said.
Guest speakers include:
* Catherine McGregor; 2016 Australian of the Year finalist and 2015 Queenslander of the Year
* Ronni Kahn; CEO and founder of OzHarvest
* Lucy Perry; founding CEO and director of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia
* Dr Alex Wodak; who established Australia’s first needle syringe program in 1986
* Prof Ajay Rane; director of UroGynaecology at Townsville Hospital
High school students from The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James, Townsville Grammar School and Ignatius Park College have also been invited to attend academic sessions.
“We hope delegates from outside the region will return home with fond memories of their time here in Townsville and return with family and friends in the future,” Cr Walker said.
The conference will be held at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre and at The Ville.
