Dear Editor,
We have read with great interest the recently published article by Saiedi Hosseini SY (1) in your journal, which suggested that local medical students’ congresses (2) are not necessary and useful. In this regard, the results of the local medical students’ congresses should be examined from two aspects: One aspect is the scientific production and presentation of the latest scientific and technological achievements (as the final purpose) and another aspect is to educate and provide opportunities for novice researchers. In other words, three groups of students would benefit best from upholding such congresses: 1- The oral & poster presenters 2- The scientific and executive committee of congresses 3- Attendants at the congress.
If we only consider published articles as the result of local medical students’ congresses, as stated by Saiedi Hosseini (1), we will only notice to the first group of students while the second and third groups would be ignored in this regard. In fact, attending congresses can itself be very informative and useful via increasing interest and motivating to do research, broadening students’ view and their understanding of science and research. By attending congresses, younger and novice researchers learn how to present the results of their investigations and acquire better and more effective research ideas (3). Interacting and associating with more experienced researchers could also increase the quality of their future researches (4).
In addition, novice researchers that could not attend and present their research in annual national student’s congresses (2) acquire the chance to present their research in local medical students’ congresses. Such congresses should be quite accessible and open to novice researchers (5) which in turn will enhance the researchers confidence. Moreover, holding congresses provides the chances for training qualified and experienced research administrators, increase their skills and abilities in executive responsibilities and promote teamwork proficiency. It is noteworthy that competition among the various universities and regional networks in upholding local medical students’ congresses would result in higher quality of the presented research. Also, by attending such congresses, younger researchers have the chance to create links between the different regional research centers.
On the other hand, we have about 50 medical universities in Iran (6). Thereby, holding seven local medical students’ congresses eventually increases the possibility of upholding such congresses in smaller universities, which would further increase the chance of attending and gaining the benefits for students’ of such universities.
In the long term, the number of researchers and published papers may also increase as a result of upholding local medical students’ congresses. Consequently, holding local medical student’s congresses can be useful and affordable, especially if we improve the advantages via increasing the quality of presented researches.
