This was the European Meeting for Medical Student Groups under IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War). 150 students met for 5 days in the Peace and Reconciliation Centre in Wicklow. 60 different workshops, films and talks dealt with conflict and health, leadership skills, health systems, discrimination, creating change, as well as specific workshops on advocacy around nuclear disarmament. Epic African band and a Ceili hooley helped shatter the ice.

Conflict and Health Corrymeela, Co Antrim 2005

This Irish meeting focussed conflict situations such as war, and doctors roles in this, as well as mediation skills and dealing with conflict at a local level. No music but a lot of chanting.

Art and Medicine, Gyreum, Sligo 2005

Artists, doctors and med students discussed and workshopped around the interface between two diverse disciplines. We found a lot of common ground and joint projects, such as clown doctorring, Art in Hospitals, as well as therapeutic projects.

Equality and Health, Sligo 2006

Weekend meeting packed with talks and discussions on marginalisation, mostly within Ireland, and how it affects health. Niall Crowley spoke of his experiences working as a doctor in Central America during a coup. Also memorable for a good three piece band and great dancing in a nearby thatched cottage.

PreElectives Symposium, RCSI, Dublin 2007

Med students from all over Ireland spent a very sunny weekend debating ethical implications of being a student overseas, what to do with money, how trade affects health, and whether you should drink the water. We hired a gypsy band for afterwards, but they never turned up..... Dancing was average to good.

Capacitar Training weekend, Sligo 2008

Look at more alternative healing practices particularly the Capacitar method of dealing with post traumatic distress. An eye opener for many of us, with lots of helpful tips for everyday living.

Doctors In Training European meeting, The Sanctuary, Dublin 2009

Sr. Stan’s Sanctuary hosted a much smaller European meeting, 5 years after Glencree. This was for struggling junior doctors trying to keep in touch with the student activism movement. We looked at a history of doctor-activists, from Virchow to Noel Brown and MSF. From the Mind-Body institute in Harvard we had tips on dealing with stresses in life and maintaining balance at work. We also drew inspiration from the atmosphere of the sanctuary to explore our life’s direction so far. Some of the discussions here triggered our most recent concoction: Being the Doctor you wanted to be.