It happens every CBL. Someone leans over, looks at my laptop, and asks: “What even is OMSA?” “Why are you on that website?” “Is that actually going to help you match?” “Why do you have 9000 new Anki cards when the semester just started?” I can’t change the last part (and quite frankly, I should get a privacy screen), but I can change the first. My name is Parth, I’m an MS1, and I’m running for VP External because I think a lot of us see organizations like OMSA, CFMS, and PARO as things that exist somewhere in the background of medical school. We see the acronyms in emails, maybe hear about them once or twice, and then go back to whatever lecture we’re behind on. In reality, these organizations advocate for us at the provincial and national level, influence policies that affect our training, and create opportunities for medical students to have a real voice in the system. The biggest challenge isn’t interest, it’s engagement. We’re busy, our inboxes are full, and long emails about external organizations are easy to ignore. After speaking with the previous VP External junior, this was the biggest issue: getting people to actually see what OMSA and CFMS are doing and why it matters. This year I’ve had the chance to get involved in that work myself. I currently sit on two OMSA committees and will be participating in the upcoming Day of Action. Through those roles, I’ve created a policy around AI use in medical education, helped develop a handbook for integrating new medical schools into OMSA governance after meeting with TMU’s student council, and met with three Members of Provincial Parliament here in Ottawa to discuss the family physician shortage. None of that required being in fourth year or having some special governance background. These are opportunities that are open to students starting in first year. If elected, my focus will be on making external affairs easier to follow and easier to engage with. I want to streamline communication by creating dedicated chats or channels specifically for external opportunities and updates from OMSA, CFMS, and other partners, separate from the general ASOC communications. This way students who want to stay informed can do so without information getting buried. I also want to host more short OMSA and CFMS information sessions throughout the year, scheduled intentionally away from exam periods, so students can actually learn what these organizations do and how to get involved. I’d also introduce quick monthly summaries of external updates so the important information is clear, concise, and easy to follow. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: make external affairs accessible, understandable, and worth paying attention to. If you want someone who already understands how these organizations work and who will make sure the information actually reaches you in a way that makes sense, I would really appreciate your vote! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at paror071@uottawa.ca or 647-529-7163.