Home
Institution
Medizinische
Hochschule Hannover
Host
Institution(s)
University of Toronto, Department of Cardiac Surgery/Research,
Toronto General Hospital
Mentors: R.D. Weisel, R.K. Li
Tissue Engineering - Generation of autologous cardiac patches, using synthetic extracellular matrices and human cardiac cells.
›» Abstract
First of all it should be emphasized that I spend my academic year in Canada, not the USA!!! Compared to my previous experience with the US-American way of life I found Canada, and in particular, Toronto much more European and therefore favorable. But "that's a question of flavor" as we might say in German. Toronto is a fascinating city, providing almost everything one might desire. It is a five Mio metropolis and home to almost every nationality. On my first day in Toronto, as I climbed the stairs up out of the subway station, just by looking around, I wouldn't have been able at all to tell where in the world I was!
Toronto General Hospital is located in the immediate neighborhood of three other hospitals (Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospital) in downtown Toronto. Major shopping malls as well as the entertainment district are just in walking distance! By the way, Toronto's nightlife is amazing. You have not only the choice between a lot of different pubs, discos and clubs, including different styles, but you will also be surprised by the cultural offerings, as we still are talking about a North American city!
Fortunately, Philipp (a wonderful companion throughout the desperate moments and just the right buddy to hang out with and also celebrate the winning hours of this AY with) and I had the pleasure to live right across the street from our institutions! Again, downtown! Life here has been just as intense and 'packed' as it could be - with all the ups and downs that I was warned about by previous participants of the program. I certainly will not regret the choice of Toronto as the host of my AY.
Finding a home that is cozy and not too far from work (paradox itself!). To face the truth that as a BMEP student there is no clinical rotation WITH hands-on and WITHOUT that "ripping-off". Finding a way to spend money that just kept on raining on my account… Particularly in the first three months … I wonder how hard it must have been for the US researchers…
Well, if you should be lucky (or smart?) enough, to find yourself one day here in Toronto, you should try find a downtown accomodation. I would recommend "The Residence" for the previously mentioned reasons.
Once you are in the 'hospital triangle' you should get an overview of the current round and teaching seminar schedule. Depending on your interest(s) you will find a handful of 100% useful clinical rounds, teaching or research seminars all across the four hospitals that are just next to each other. Even labor (and some times also cost) intensive residents teaching rounds are mostly open to your visit - as always - if you ask for it appropriately.
For clinical enrollment (elective) be prepared for an expensive and work intensive application procedure. 'Observations' are commonly free of any administrative fees.
Contact other students and also alumni for assistance in specific cases!