The Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology receives an award for its outstanding commitment to education.
Delighted to receive the PJ Award (from left): Clinic Director Prof. Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer, Zuzana Boße, PJ students Lukas Fehlau and Julius Egge, Prof. Dr. Klaus Stahl (back), and PJ students Xenia Röder and Moana Witte (front). Copyright: Bettina Dunker/MHH
The high quality of training during the Practical Year in internal medicine at the Hannover Medical School (MHH)—and here in particular in gastroenterology—is well-received by medical students. For their Practical Year in the mandatory internal medicine rotation, the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology has received the 2026 Clinical Internship Award for the first time. With this award, the Federal Representation of Medical Students in Germany (bvmd), the Department student representations, and Ethimedis GmbH recognize exceptional dedication to the training of future physicians each year.
The orientation day, which begins with hands-on exercises, and the personal interview with the chief of staff give students the impression early on that they are not merely tagging along as temporary help, but are being intentionally integrated into the team in a way that aligns with their individual preferences. This approach continues in day-to-day clinical practice. With two to three clinical rotation students per tertial, the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology ensures there is sufficient time for individual supervision by the medical staff. In addition, the Internal Medicine clinical rotation at MHH includes one hour of clinical rotation instruction daily; Friday afternoons are set aside for a teaching block; and there are regular morning meetings featuring lectures as well as scientific seminars.
Appreciation and well-structured processes
The positive feedback from clinical rotation students, the training data reported via the Klinik-Checkup, and the submitted documentation regarding the well-structured training program for future physicians at the MHH Gastroenterology Clinical Department convinced the jury to award the nationwide prize to the MHH Gastroenterology team. “We are very pleased about this recognition of the clinical training at our Clinical Department,” explains Clinical Department Director Prof. Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer. “It is important to us that students become familiar with the extraordinary diversity of the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, infectious diseases, and endocrinology—including transplant medicine, GI oncology, and nutritional medicine—and are integrated into the clinic’s daily routine from the very beginning.” This is only possible with a strong internal structure, organization, and Communications. The entire clinic team is committed to this. “We embrace teaching and naturally incorporate it into our daily clinical routine,” confirms Prof. Dr. Klaus Stahl, head of the Clinical Department’s endoscopy department and Practical Year authorised representative. He serves as a point of contact for students during their Practical Year, coordinates their placement in various areas within gastroenterology, and ensures that students have established routines and designated contacts.
The Clinical Department’s current clinical year students can attest to this special commitment. “When we arrive on the ward or in a specific department, we’re greeted right away and taken through the procedures according to a set plan,” says MHH student Julius Egge. That’s not something to be taken for granted. Practical year student Moana Witte also appreciates the high regard in which the students are held: “Despite the stressful daily routine at the clinic, the friendly team manages to actively involve us in the workflows while also teaching us medical skills and knowledge along the way.”
Eight weeks in “gastro”
The clinical practicum in the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology is a rotation option within the mandatory Internal Medicine term. Students spend eight weeks here: five weeks on the wards, one week each in ultrasound and endoscopy, and one week of their choice in specialized outpatient clinics or the intensive care unit. Zuzana Boße, the clinical internship coordinator for the Centre for Internal Medicine, supports the organization of flexible rotations for clinical internship students within the centre by planning and coordinating student assignments and maintaining an overview of the schedule. “I really enjoy supporting the Clinical Department in its efforts.”
Another award for MHH teaching hospital
Franziskus Hospital Bielefeld, an academic teaching hospital affiliated with MHH, has once again received the award for the best PJ elective course in the Clinical Department of Anesthesiology via the online review portal. Medical students regularly complete their PJ here and are supervised by Prof. Dr. Dr. Niels Rahe-Meyer, chief physician and PJ coordinator at the hospital.
ThepPractical year (PJ)
All students complete the Practical Year (PJ) after passing the second section of the medical licensing exam in the sixth year of their medical studies. Placements are assigned through the PJ portal. The MHH PJ Office is responsible for all students enrolled at a German university who wish to complete a PJ at the MHH.
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Text: Bettina Dunker