320 medical students and 80 students of dentistry are beginning their studies
A full lecture hall: MHH President Prof. Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner welcomes first-year students in the human medicine and dentistry study programmes. Copyright: André Schweigler/MHH
A warm welcome: Around 600 young people began their studies at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) on Monday. The largest group—320 first-year students—began their studies in Human medicine in the HannibaL model program, including 18 students who received a spot through the rural physician quota. Eighty young people are beginning their studies in dentistry, and 35 are studying Midwifery Science. One hundred twenty-one students have begun master’s programs at the MHH in biochemistry, biomedicine, biomedical data science, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, or public health, and 55 have started doctoral programs at the Hannover Biomedical Research School (HBRS).
“First semester student” welcome for medicine and dentistry
President of the MHH, Prof. Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, welcomed first-semester students in both the human medicine and dentistry study programmes together in the university’s largest lecture hall. “The MHH is still the only independent medical university in Germany. Even though we unfortunately did not become a University of Excellence, the MHH is one of the best locations when it comes to medical research,” she said. “You can look forward to an outstanding education—I’m certain of that,” confirmed Dr. Marion Charlotte Renneberg, President of the Lower Saxony Medical Association, who herself studied medicine at the MHH.
As Dean of Studies for Human medicine and Professor of Anatomy, Prof. Dr. Christian Mühlfeld welcomed the future physicians. He addressed the question of why we humans should still learn anything at all when artificial intelligence exists: “If we stop making distinctions and questioning results, and instead rely exclusively on artificial intelligence, then we lose everything the university stands for.” The Dean of Studies for Dentistry, Prof. Dr. Harald Tschernitschek, added: “In addition to diligence, perseverance, and curiosity, it’s important to always want to learn and know more. Train your mind—even in other subjects.”
Two students who themselves sat in the MHH lecture hall as “First Semester Students” ten years ago shared their experiences. “You need your fellow students while studying dentistry. You need your team to be able to perform at your best,” explained dentist Rahel Leithoff. Dr. Thorben Pape recalled starting his medical studies with a mix of anticipation, uncertainty, and respect. “As a physician, you go home with a positive feeling—the feeling that you’ve done something good.”
More information about studying at the MHH is available here.
Text: Bettina Dunker