U of T students represent Canada at model WHO summit in Geneva
Members of the tri-campus Global Affairs Student Association joined teams from across the world for simulated discussions about healthcare issues at the WHO headquarters.
From October 28 to 31, a delegation of University of Toronto (U of T) students from the Global Affairs Student Association (GASA) travelled to Geneva, Switzerland for the 2025 Global Model World Health Organization (GMWHO) conference. The team comprised students from all three U of T campuses and was the only Canadian delegation in attendance.
At the conference, teams of students from across the globe critically and collaboratively addressed key healthcare issues through meticulous and highly analytical discussions and debates.
This conference was historic for the U of T community, having been the GASA’s inaugural year along with the team notably representing national excellence as the only Canadian delegation present. This year’s team serves as an inspiration for future delegations, not only for their foundational efforts, but for their perseverance and dedication to making an impact despite the many obstacles that they faced along the way.
In addition to building their club from the ground up, UTM GASA Co-Presidents Abdul Basheer Arifi and Omid Mashkoor also needed to grapple with the logistical challenges that come with an international trip. For several months, the organization sent thousands of sponsor emails and garnered student interest, receiving hundreds of delegate applications in their campaign.
The organization tirelessly sent thousands of sponsor emails and garnered deep student interest, having received hundreds of delegate applications. Club executives narrowed the application pool to around 17 students through an intensive vetting process. However, given unforeseen funding changes and visa complications, only seven of these delegates were able to represent U of T at the GMWHO.
This delegation included two students from UTM, Keya Patel and Senad Sadik, who shared their experiences in an interview with The Medium.
Patel, an intern at the NATO Association of Canada who has a longstanding passion for health economics, described how “surreal” it was being there, from being in the executive board room “where all of the biggest moments in global health” occurred to learning from experts in the field. Both Sadik and Patel expressed how the event tested their leadership and communication skills, reflecting on how delegates needed to reach a consensus as a committee.
Sadik described how participating in the GMWHO helped him realize the complexity of decision-making processes on the global stage. In playing the role of a representative for Fiji, he realized how a collaborative approach to international relations could be applied to real-world conflicts and issues. More specifically, he described how an increase in collaboration between nations can allow for each individual nation to be more supported and often have a greater say on the global stage.
Similarly, Patel was engaged on the committee discussing the interface of digital health and artificial intelligence. She explained how industry expert Sameer Pujari briefed her during the conference, allowing her to gain insight into its diverse applications and how to bridge current gaps in digital health infrastructure.
Overall, the conference was an invaluable and deeply meaningful experience for the delegates and they encouraged UTM students to look into getting involved. Sadik touched on how students, regardless of their field, can benefit from the conference and the skills, lessons, and real-world learning it provides. The resilience and perseverance along the journey were especially inspiring and meaningful to him.
The GASA is currently preparing for its next conference, which will take place in New York in the spring of 2026. Delegate applications have since closed, but the club representatives encourage students to follow along with the upcoming endeavours of the team on the team’s Instagram, @utm_gasa.
