Roel Haeren

2020¨
From: Maastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Finnish nickname: Rölli

My experience as a Helsinki Ehrnrooth Fellow:

Early during my medical school at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, I developed a special interest in neuroscience. After being involved in neurovascular research, I had the opportunity to do an elective rotation in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia. It was there that I really got fascinated about Neurosurgery.

After finishing medical school, I was accepted as a neurosurgical resident at Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands. As a resident, I continued my neuroscientific work which lead to the PhD-thesis ‘Vascular ventures: an analysis of vascular structure and function in epilepsy’, that I successfully defended in 2018. In my final year as a resident, I included a two-month observership at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. During this observership I learned about the "Helsinki Ehrnrooth Clinical Skull-base & Vascular Microneurosurgery Fellowship" and decided to apply. Fortunately, I got chosen to be the 2020 clinical fellow.

The fellowship gives me the opportunity to be exposed to a high caseload of complex skull base and cerebrovascular pathologies. As a result of their longstanding experience with these complicated cases, the department of Neurosurgery at the Helsinki University Central Hospital offers a unique environment to learn and develop your microsurgical skills. While also being involved in several research projects, the fellowship covers the full academic spectrum.

The whole neurosurgical team is open and warm towards visitors. They enjoy teaching and explaining their surgical choices, while being open to other options at the same time. As a clinical fellow, I am able to participate in all types of surgeries. Cases, indications, approaches, positioning, specific anatomy, surgical pitfalls and techniques are discussed pre-, intra- and postoperatively. Moreover, training facilities to improve your microsurgical techniques are available. I am convinced that this fellowship improves a wide variation of my surgical skills and greatly supports my general neurosurgical experience. In addition, the department truly supports a good work – life balance.

When you are reading this because you are considering to apply, stop considering and try your luck as my predecessors already recommended. This fellowship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.