Skip to main content

Christoph Schwartz

MD, PhD

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."

Feedback

Did you find what you were looking for?

Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you for your feedback!

Write your feedback on the website here.

Do not enter your personal information here. Please note that we do not respond to feedback sent via this form. Please visit our feedback site to give feedback on matters other than our website.

Write your feedback on the website here.

Do not enter your personal information here. Please note that we do not respond to feedback sent via this form. Please visit our feedback site to give feedback on matters other than our website.