ECCO 2025 was the 20th iteration hosted by the Otago University Medical Students’ Association (OUMSA). Over 200 students attended the ECCO Conference over Saturday 12th April and Sunday 13th April. This year’s theme, “QUEST: Forge the Future”, aimed to deepen the passion within medical students as they make a start into their exciting yet gruelling careers, and promoted perseverance alongside curiosity into various specialties within the medical field. Forge the Future encapsulated the essence of empowerment and elevation which is what ECCO 2025 aims to provide. 

For the very first time, rural careers were showcased at the conference. Dr Calvin Davies and Elise Perkins, both part of the primary care team in South Westland, and Dr Rosalie Evans, RHM Dunstan Hospital,  presented a series of Rural Health Careers workshops over the two days.  A huge thank you goes out to you guys for giving your time and the mahi that went into this!

~40 delegates attended the Rural Health Careers workshops facilitated by Dr Emma Boddington (Centre for Rural Health). The ECCO team reported,

“Extremely positive feedback was been received from the presentation, attendees felt they learnt important new skills and knowledge which we are not exposed to in preclinical learning. Students loved how engaging and informative the workshop was, and felt truly inspired!”