Christoph Schwartz

2019
From: University Hospital Salzburg, Austria
Finnish nickname: Krisu

My experience as a Helsinki Ehrnrooth Fellow

While attending medical school in Salzburg, Austria I was offered the opportunity to participate in a research project on brain tumor genetics at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. During those months, I developed a great interest in neuro-oncology and decided to pursue a career in the field of neurosurgery. After graduation from the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) Salzburg, I completed my neurosurgical residency at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Germany. Subsequently, I was accepted for a position as a consultant neurosurgeon with special clinical interest in neuro-oncology and skull-base surgery at the University Hospital Salzburg.

I had first learned about the "Helsinki Ehrnrooth Clinical Skull-base & Vascular Microneurosurgery Fellowship" while attending an EANS training course, and decided to try my luck and apply for the available position. Fortunately, I ended up being chosen to be the clinical fellow for 2019 and I have since then begun my training in Helsinki.

The offered fellowship represents a unique opportunity for me to train at one of the most renowned neurosurgical departments in the world. The Department of Neurosurgery at the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) is a high-volume center chaired by Prof. Mika Niemelä, MD, PhD, and a vast number of complex conditions are treated and complicated neurosurgical procedures are performed on a daily basis.

The whole neurosurgical team, all consultants, residents and nurses, have been very welcoming towards me. From the first day on, I was able to participate in all surgeries, which I wanted to attend. Furthermore, each case (i.e. patient history, imaging, surgical considerations etc.) is thoroughly discussed pre- and postoperatively. Additionally, fellows are encouraged to and provided with opportunities to contribute to research projects.

I am fully convinced that I will gain a lot from my time in Helsinki on a professional level, but also on a personal level as well.

As my fellowship predecessor of 2018, Sajjad Muhammad, already put it fittingly: "I would recommend everyone to apply and find his/her luck."