The Montreal World Health Organization Simulation offers students are variety of learning opportunities including:

  • Workshops that orient delegates to the specific conference theme. Past conference themes include: Access to Essential Medicines, Migration of Healthcare workers, Environmental Health, Pandemic Preparedness and Maternal and Child Health.
  • Keynote Speakers and Panelists
  • Simulation of the World Health Organization where participants are expected to develop resolutions on topics of the conference theme
  • Global Health Fair which provides participants the opportunity to share their global health projects and to meet representatives from global health minded NGOs
  • Social events to bring participants together and encourage networking with students and leaders of healthcare

WHO Ambassador

Participants are immersed in an interactive environment where they are exposed, as WHO Ambassadors, to forces that complicate the production of healthcare policy including the Press, NGOs and Pharmaceutical Companies. Participants can assume any of these roles. We develop specific rules and training sessions for each type of player.WHO Ambassadors – Participants assuming the role of WHO Ambassadors from the 194 Member States. They are taught Robert’s Rule of Order, which is the format of debate at the conference, and receive training in diplomacy, debating strategies, negotiation tactics, while becoming familiarized in the proceedings of deliberate assemblies such as WHO. Participants will walk away after the three-day conference with a greater appreciation of the impact the social determinants of health and international politics have on modern global healthcare. They will also become experienced diplomats and debaters.

Journalists


Participants assume the role of journalists, including independent, free-lancing journalists and reporters sent by media conglomerates. They are trained to cover news stories on global health issues and to “angle” their news reports for a number of purposes, e.g. to carry out personal agenda, to voice support for a particular position on current events, to stimulate/discourage interests from countries/organizations, to shift public opinions. Through this experience, participants will become aware of global health media coverage and learn to critically evaluate news source from a number of perspectives. As well, they will become skilled at raising public awareness of current events through strategies employed by modern media.

Pharmaceutical
Representatives


Participants assume the role of large pharmaceutical companies with great involvement in global healthcare. Participants are trained in the art of business diplomacy and to pursue their main objective of advancing the business interests and improving the public image of the pharmaceuticals they represent. Through their role-playing, participants will gain a better understanding of the motives of pharmaceuticals and their multi-faceted involvement in modern healthcare. They will learn to evaluate the pros and cons in dealing with pharmaceutical companies.

NGO Representatives

 Participants assume the role of non-governmental organizations actively involved in global health affairs, such as Project Hope and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They are briefed on main NGO objectives of acquiring funding and ensuring inclusion in global health partnerships. Participants also receive thorough training in the art of persuasion and raising public awareness and support for their cause. Through this experience, delegates will gain a clearer understanding of the administration and operation of NGOs as well as their great influence on public opinion of global health issues.

No matter what role they assume, through the simulation, participants have the opportunity to:

  • Challenge their assumptions about what impacts health outcomes
  • Develop advocacy, critical thinking, problem solving and consensus building skills
  • Practice resolution writing
  • Familiarize themselves with rules of order and the proceedings typically used in deliberative assemblies and adopted by international health authorities such as WHO
  • Apply classroom knowledge in a real life setting to develop better understanding of how the social determinants of health play out

Many medical and public health students are exposed to the social and political aspects of health in the academic setting of the classroom, but rarely do they have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in such an interactive way. When we present our organization at global health conferences and events our number one audience is students looking to apply what they are learning and professors looking to have this learning opportunity for their students. We invite you to contact us if you are interested in sending a group of your students to our conference. We will do our best to accommodate your specific needs.