Interview with Vice Dean of Students Elie GHATTAS
Hello Elie, for those who don't know you, could you introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Elie GHATTAS, I am 21 years old, and I am in my third year of medical school in Montpellier. This is the first time that a Student Vice Dean has been in their third year. With the reform of the second cycle of medical studies, it was important for me to serve my term in my third year, as we still have time to fully commit to the students. I am also president of the Association of Elected Students for Montpellier-Nîmes in Medicine, Speech Therapy, Orthoptics, and Midwifery (ADEMMOOS), responsible for national representation for the Montpellier campus, as well as the representative for the 2022-2027 medical student class.
I am also an elected member of the educational council for the 2024-2026 term.
What made you want to take on the role of Vice Dean for Student Affairs?
Since my second year of studies, I have served as the representative for medical students since the start of the academic year. This experience has made me aware of the importance of student representation, both locally and nationally. It is with this in mind that I applied for the position of Vice President in charge of Montpellier's national representation within ADEMMOOS.
In taking on this role, I had the opportunity to actively participate in conferences organized by the National Association of Medical Students in France (ANEMF), where I represented students' interests on a wide range of topics, from the Reform of Entry into Health Studies (REES) with the help of the Montpellier Health Tutoring Association to the reform of the second cycle of medical studies (R2C), as well as issues such as the fight against sexual and sexist violence (VSS) and, above all, student mental health.
This experience motivated me to facilitate connections between the local and national levels by bringing together students from all departments of the faculty, across both campuses. It was with this in mind that I decided to run for the position of Vice Dean of Students at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine.
How will you balance your duties as Vice Dean with your obligations as a student and your other positions?
Effective management of these responsibilities requires a methodical approach and a high degree of adaptability. It involves rigorous planning and proactive progress on several issues simultaneously, as was the case for national representation for the summer of 2023, preparing informational publications for students on social media for the entire semester in advance, as well as educating myself on all issues affecting medical students.
Before running for office, I was fully aware of the scale of the work that lay ahead, especially with the start of my term and the renovation of the Arnaud de Villeneuve campus building, as well as the shortage of study rooms. I have tried, and will continue to try, to work with the registrar's office and the administration to find solutions that suit all students at the Arnaud de Villeneuve site, as well as the historic building in the city center, the UPM building, and the Nîmes site.
The synergy between my various roles makes it much easier to manage my activities and allows me to juggle them effectively while keeping a close eye on various issues.
What are your goals and priorities for this term?
Several projects are central to my mandate. Initially, the focus is on the process of renewing the faculty's teaching and management councils, in particular through the election of student representatives. A key objective during this period is to promote high-quality representation by training newly elected representatives and supervising their activities in all departments and at both university campuses. After years of work to implement the R2C, the first class took the EDN exams under the new format in October 2023. Close monitoring is essential to ensure the effective implementation of this reform at both the local and national levels. My commitment is reflected in my close monitoring of all developments and improvements, particularly through my role as National Representative. It is important to explain the reform to students and ensure they understand it, which is being done through a presentation of the R2C to second- and third-year students at the start of the academic year. New this year is that the presentation is open to all students from all cohorts. This synchronization will facilitate the coordination of representation efforts in collaboration with the other vice presidents of the faculty associations.
Close monitoring of the implementation of the sixth year of midwifery training is also essential, with the help of the vice president in charge of relations with ADEMMOOS midwives, as well as elected officials and the entire AMESF office. Another thing that was important to me during my term was organizing a graduation ceremony for the class of 2024 midwifery students, similar to that for medical students, at the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier. This is one of the programs that brings life to the campuses, and recognition of their work and personal development is essential.
Participating in national working groups is essential for me. Students' voices need to be heard more clearly and will be relayed locally and nationally, particularly during educational and management councils, but also at all meetings and conferences.
Student health, particularly mental health and gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV), are central to my mandate. Raising student awareness of the importance of mental and emotional well-being was already a major goal during my first year as class representative, and this initiative will continue throughout my mandate and until the end of my studies. The fight against GS&S, in all its forms, within the hospital and in any other context, remains a central concern of my terms of office. Training association offices to be trusted individuals is being considered.
As president of ADEMMOOS, I organized, in partnership with the Institut Buisson Bertrand and Montpellier University Hospital, a flu vaccination campaign for students in early December on the Montpellier campus. This is an important event eagerly awaited by students from all disciplines, enabling them to practice and undertake internships in complete safety, while also considering the well-being of patients.
Can you explain how you plan to promote student mental health within our faculty, as well as the specific measures you intend to implement as an association to support students facing challenges related to their psychological well-being during their university studies?
ADEMMOOS, the association of elected representatives, deals with a wide range of issues, particularly mental health. It began with a survey conducted by Théo Lacoste, Vice Dean of Students for 2020-2021, who sounded the alarm. This prompted us and all the faculty associations to support students and offer them several projects that could improve their well-being.
I can mention the project to update essential contacts in case psychological support is needed, with the help of ATSM and their guide. We want to inform students of all the resources available to support them in every way possible. Not to mention the "Awareness Month" organized by ADEMMOOS in partnership with several faculty associations, whom we thank very much for their commitment, such as MAP and AMESF. This month consists of raising awareness about several types of violence, such as violence in healthcare, sexual violence, but also precariousness and harassment, with several events throughout the month of March. Round tables, a self-defense workshop, a film debate, and a debate competition will be offered to students.
I will conclude with one of our association's major events, the Forum des Futurs Internes (FFI), which is organized for students in their fourth year of medical school or above, in partnership with the Syndicat des Internes de Languedoc-Roussillon (SILR), to help them choose their specialty and alleviate stress about their future and postgraduate reform. The relationship of friendship and trust with the SILR is more than beneficial for externs and interns, because together, we can improve things and, above all, support externs and interns in their journey, in the fight against sexual violence and harassment in hospitals. That is why I would like to thank Killian L'HELGOUARC'H, a general medicine intern and president of the SILR, who is committed to this cause along with his entire team, who are doing a remarkable job.
