2,500 guests gain exclusive insights into research, everyday clinical practice, new therapies and the healthcare professions of the future.
The needle and thread used in microsurgery are tiny - Johanna Mein looks at them through a microscope. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Finn-Alexander Stockmann practicing a bronchoscopy on a dummy. Respiratory therapist Hilke Lübking helps him. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Joint replacements for hips and knees: Günther and Marion had everything about implants explained to them. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
A look inside the human body: The open day was all about medicine and health. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Hannover Medical School (MHH) is not only a supramaximal care Clinical Department, it is also Germany's only purely medically oriented university and an outstanding research institution; MHH is also one of the largest employers and training companies in the region. At the Open Day on Saturday, November 15, 2025, the university presented itself in all its diversity. More than 40 stands and numerous guided tours focused on topics relating to medicine and health. Visitors were given special insights. Under the motto "Medicine of tomorrow", they learned all about innovative treatment methods, new scientific findings and working in a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The 2,500 or so guests were not only allowed to watch, they were expressly encouraged to touch and participate.
From anesthesia to dentistry
Numerous physicians, nursing staff, researchers and MHH students were on hand to give guests an impression of their respective departments. Nursing, for example, showed a complete treatment room and medical equipment such as a ventilator and dialysis machine as well as a pediatric intensive care bed. The anesthesia specialists provided information on the subject of anesthesia, the neurology specialists demonstrated a lumbar puncture and the trauma surgery team presented news on the subject of joint replacement and the treatment of bone injuries. This caught the attention of Günter and Marion from Lehrte. "A friend of ours recently had a hip operation. We wanted to find out exactly what happens during the procedure," said Günter.
Dentistry, general medicine, medical psychology, neurosurgery, gastroenterology and many other specialties were also represented at the event. Plastic surgery was also present. At the stand, guests were able to see barely visible microsurgical threads and needles through a microscope - Johanna Mein and her sister Sophia from Hanover were happy to take up the offer. "I'm currently doing my practical year at medical school. Today my sister is getting an overview, maybe studying would be something for her too," Johanna explained. One focus of the open day was oncology. On the "Street of Cancer Medicine", guests were able to find out about prevention, early detection and possible therapies for various types of cancer.
Please try it out!
Practice first aid, make your own ointment, control a surgical robot, test your own lung function - there were plenty of opportunities to try things out for yourself. Anyone who wanted to could also use VR goggles to see what happens in the body when infected with cold sores. Or perform a bronchoscopy, i.e. an examination of the airways. Just like Finn-Alexander Stockmann from Salzgitter. He inserted a bronchoscope into the nose of a training dummy and made an interesting discovery. "I saw a small paper ball in the bronchial tubes. You can inhale something like that by mistake," explained the primary school pupil.
Guided tours of real working areas
Those interested in Emergency Medicine vehicles were able to see an emergency ambulance and the Christoph 4 rescue helicopter from the inside. There were also guided tours of the MHH Central Laboratory, the Clinical Department of Radiotherapy and Special Oncology, the Clinical Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, the library and the MTR School - where an extra activity day was held in parallel to the Open Day.
Numerous training professions
The event also offered something for young people looking for a suitable career. The MHH offers a total of 21 training occupations, from A for anaesthesia technician assistant to Z for dentistry assistant. Interested parties were given exciting insights into the different professional worlds by both experienced professionals and trainees. The Voluntary Services provided information about the possibility of a Federal Voluntary Service and a Voluntary Scientific Year at the MHH.
Transplantation and organ donation
Transplantation medicine and organ donation were also a major topic. The MHH Transplant Centre team, organ donation advisors, patient representatives and self-help groups were available to answer visitors' questions and talk to them. Also represented at the open day were the Equal Opportunities Office, the Protestant Hospital Aid, the Patient University and many others.
Text: Tina Götting